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THE
EDWARD LYMAN BILL - Editor and Proprietor
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
J . HAYDEN-CLARENDON, E d i t o r
Published Every Saturday at 1 Madison Avenue, New York
SUBSCRIPTION, (Including postage), United States and
Mexico, $2.00 per year; Canada, $3.50; all other coun-
tries, $4.00.
Telephones—Numbers 4677 and 4678 Gramercy
Connecting all Departments
NEW
YORK, DECEMBER 2 6 , 1 9 0 8
COMMENTS B Y ^ \ ,
THE
H prosperous IRew HJear Zo HIl
To our many friends in the music publishing
and retailing world, who in a thousand different
ways have helped to build up this section, which
The Review is forever striving to make worthy
of the important industry which it represents,
the writer wishes the brightest and most pros-
perous of New Years and a continuance of
prosperity and good fortune in the years to come.
A Pertinent Inquiry.
So many communications reach this depart-
ment weekly, relevant as well as irrelevant to
the publishing and retailing of sheet music, that
to "read, mark, learn and inwardly digest" their
contents and answer them fully in these columns
would be a task far beyond the capacity of any
one individual. It is unnecessary to say that the
writer is always glad to receive letters from the
readers of this section, and though individual
communications are rarely dealt with separately,
their contents are carefully noted, oftentimes be-
ing made the subject of inquiry, and usually pub-
licity is sooner or later given them in some form
or other. A recent letter from Tomaz F.
Deuther, a well-known Chicago retailer, however,
is deserving of individual consideration for the
reason that he asks a number of pertinent ques-
tions, not the least important of which are the
following: "Are you sincere in your seeming
endeavor to try and correct the evils (i.e., of the
sheet music trade) as now existing?" And
again: "Is the advertising that the publishers
give you worth enough for you to refrain from
getting after them?" (i. e., if they cut rates).
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
In short, Mr. Deuther questions the sincerity
of The Review in its desire to help the dealer
against the "cut rate" methods of some of the
"popular" publishers, at the same time inferring
that as the publishers alone are our advertisers,
and consequently a source of revenue, they and
they alone are the ones to whom we cater.
Where Thought Is Necessary.
While Mr. Deuther propounds an interesting
question, maybe he could have spared himself a
good deal of writing had he given his subject a
moment's thought. He might have figured out
that the value of any newspaper lies primarily
in its circulation, and to get that circulation, a
newspaper—be it a trade paper or otherwise—
must necessarily give its best efforts towards the
interests of its readers as a whole and not to any
particular class. Mr. Deuther might also have
figured—that is, if figuring is in his line—that
advertisers do not pay their good money for pub-
licity unless they get a quid pro quo for their
expenditure, that they would not advertise in
The Review unless they were certain it reached
and was read, by the entire sheet music trade,
and that reaching the entire trade as it does, it
must be obvious to them that the readers of The
Review have confidence in its editorial policy.
Maybe Mr. Deuther requires a flat unequivocal
answer to his question. Gladly does the writer
give it: The "Music Section" of The Review is
sincere in its endeavor to try and correct the
evils now existing in the sheet music trade, and,
moreover, the amalgamated music publishing in-
terests of the entire country have not enough
money or influence to buy a critical opinion
within its pages. If a publisher, no matter
whom he may be, departs from what The Review
regards as the median line of trade equity,
whether he be our largest advertiser or an un-
known quantity in the publishing world, he has
been in the past and will be in the future ex-
posed without fear or favor. Moreover, the
writer goes on record as saying that if anyone
advertising in this section imagines that their
advertising carries with it any special privileges
or favors so far as our news columns are con-
cerned, then they are invited to withdraw their
advertising as soon as it is convenient for them
to do so.
Special Privileges for None.
The "Music Section" of The Review is not run
for the publisher, neither is it run for the re-
tailer, but for the trade as a whole, and its un-
alterable policy is to benefit the trade as a whole
so far as lies in its power. True, its critical
opinion may at times be untutored. Oftentimes,
indeed, it may be faulty, but it is the best it has
to offer and is given squarely and honestly with-
out fear, favor or prejudice. Mr. Deuther may
THE MOST POPULAR. PIANO PIECES
We are the Publishers of
"HAVANA"
Leslie Stuart's Latest Opera
"THE GIRLS OF GOTTENBERG
AND
"MISS HOOK OF HOLLAND"
Chappell & Co., Ltd.,
37 West 17th Street
N E W YORK
A collection of 85 standard
piano pieces arranged and in
some instances simplified by
the famous American com-
oser and musician, George
osey, intended especially for
the use of second and third
year piano students, and for
the use of amateurs who wish
to have good piano music
which they can play without
any great degree of technical
ability. The contents include
a wide variety of composi-
tions and is of such a nature
as to appeal to every lover
of piano music. Regular price,
75c.
Price to the trade,
27%c. per copy; 25 copies or more at 25c; 100 copies or
more at 22 %c.
Published by HINDS, NOBLE & ELDREDGE
g
31-35
T. B. Harms & Francis, Day
& Hunter
"FLUFFY RUFFLES"
MUSICAL COMEDY
HARRY LAUDER'S
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Successful Songs in
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BEAUTIFUL
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By CHAS. K. HARRIS.
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Sold by your music jobber or direct
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CHAS. K. HARRIS, 31
MEYER COHEN, Mgr.
read, but that his mental digestion is lacking ia
self-evident. A slight tax on his memory would
have answered his questions, to which, however,
he has a right to demand an answer. To make
up for this lack of memory, we have files of this
section of The Review on hand which are at all
times open to his inspection—files which prove
beyond possibility of contradiction that our
policy is and has been "equal rights for all and
special privileges for none."
DETAILS OF OPERA CONTEST
Established by the Metropolitan Opera Co. to
be Observed by the American Composer Who
Desires to Write the Best Opera.
Mr. Gatti-Casazza recently announced the de-
tails of the contest established by the Metropoli-
tan Opera Company for the best opera by an
American composer. The winner of the contest
will receive a prize of $10,000, and the opera will
be produced the following season at the Metro-
politan Opera House. Here are the rules govern-
ing the contest:
The composer must be a native citizen of the
United States of America; his residence is im-
material.
The opera must be what is known commonly
as grand opera.
The entire performance, including intermis-
sions, must not exceed three and one-quarter
hours.
The libretto must be in English. If it is an
adaptation of any existing literary work, it must
be a new adaptation.
The contest opens on December 20, 1908, and
closes on September 15, 1910.
All scores must be anonymous, containing a
mark of identification corresponding with an
identical mark on a sealed envelope containing
the names of the composer and librettist.
The award will be made by a jury of recog-
nized authorities selected by the Board of Direc-
tors of the Metropolitan Opera Company.
The agreement of at least two-thirds of the
jury is necessary for a decision, and the jury
may reopen the contest for a period of eighteen
months.
The opera receiving the award will be staged
by the Metropolitan Opera Company in New
York the season following the making of the
award.
The opera company shall be entitled for it-
self and its affiliated theaters to the exclusive
performing rights in the United States, Canada,
Cuba and Mexico for a period of five years after
the first performance without payment of any
royalties. The opera company reserves the op-
tion to extend the exclusive performing rights
DEMANDED BYTHE PUBLIC
EVERYWHERE
The Musical Gems of
Henry M. Blossom and Victor Herbert's
New Musical Comedy Success
The Prima
Donna
Mme. FRITZI SCHEFF'S
STARRING V E H I C L E
Stock Up Now! You Will Get
Calls for Them!
M. WITMARK & SONS
144 West 37th Street, - New York City