Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
I
MUSIC TR\DE
V O L . L. N o . 18.
Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill at 1 Madison Ave., New York, April 30, 1910
IN BOSTON'S PUBLISHING FIELD.
Spring Vacations Diminish Sales of School
Music, but Orders Have Been Placed Which
Will Show Results in May—Popular Music
Remains on Stable Basis, with Cut-rate Sales
Lacking—News from Individual Firms.
(Special to The Review. >
Boston, Mass., April 26, 1910.
Spring vacations have had a peculiar effect
during the last week or so on the school branch
of the music publishing business. While the
schools were closed sales diminished a little,
yet at the same time the music instructors in
the various cities were visiting the Boston houses
to select musical programs for the June gradua-
tions. This not only applies to schools but to
the many colleges, seminaries and conservatories
thafare located all over New England Thus there'
was considerable activity at the music counters
that will not bear fruit until during the month
of May. Of course, a small volume of this class
of music was sold, but the bulk of it will be held
over awaiting the decision of the various school
committees and graduation classes that are in-
variably consulted before the actual purchases
are made. Judging from the inquiries and pur-
chasing of single copies, there ought to be an
unusually large amount of business of this char-
acter transacted during the month of May.
Popular music conditions here are on a very
stable basis. No "cut rate" sales have been held
for some time—not even by the department
stores. In fact, the latter seem to recognize that.
popular music can be sold along profitable lines
here and the optimistic reports at many of the
department counters justify their continuation
of this policy. No-profit popular music sales do
not seem to be required to arouse public interest.
There's always a depression following a sale of
this kind that overbalances the acute stage. It's
even worse than the man who told his customer
that he lost ?1 on every sale, and on being asked
how he made any money replied, "It's because we
sell so many of them."
Walter Jacobs' Journalistic Success.
Walter Jacobs, the well-known publisher is
using the same kind of "nervine" in his journal-
istic endeavors that has created and maintained
his large and successful music business, for al-
ready Jacobs' Orchestra Monthly is proving a
big hit with the profession. It is the largest
factor ever issued exclusively for orchestra per-
formers, and even with its circulation in the
thousands, many additional subscribers are being
added daily. Each issue contains a complete
orchestration of a popular number, and that is
one of the principal features that would more
than offset the "value received" that could con-
sistently be added to the subscription blanks.
Likewise, his publication, the "Cadenza," occu-
pies a similar position with mandolin, banjo
and guitar players.
"Aggravation Rag," one of the best novelties
of its kind in the market, has just been issued
under an unusually attractive three-color cover-
by Walter Jacobs. This number is by the writer
of "Rubber Plant Rag," and will undoubtedly
outsell even that popular selection.
Time works many changes but it hasn't even
made a dent in the popularity of the famous
instrumental waltz, "Kiss of Spring," another of
Walter Jacobs' successes. On the contrary, its
steady gain with lovers of music has prompted
Mr. Jacobs to issue it with a vocal adaption, and
advance sales indicate the value of this fore-
sight.
One of Don Ramsay's song hits, "The Star
of Love Is Burning" (Walter Jacobs), is meet-
ing with great favor at the hands of both the
theatrical profession and the trade. This is also
true with "You Look Just Like a Girl I Used
to Know." In fact to list all of "Don's" big num-
bers would take as much space as the "among
those present" at a government function. Some
of the vaudeville musical companies featuring
the above two songs are the "American Comedy
Pour," "Trocadero Four" and " 'Some' Four."
Notes from the Ditson and B. F. Wood Stores.
The Oliver Ditson Co. have issued the much-
looked-for march and two-step, "Follow the
Crowd," by Q. H. Warner. It's seldom that one
hears the term "quality-music," but in this se-
lection is imbued a germ of vivacity that will
quicken the heart of the most cold-blooded music
subject. Sales on this one number alone are
being booked in large quantities, and every in-
dication points to an astonishing volume. James
A. Smith, manager of the music department of
this company, reports an excellent retail and
wholesale business in the many and varied pub-
lications of the Ditson Company.
Three new orchestrations have been issued by
the B. F. Wood Publishing Co., arranged from
the following successful piano solos: "Arbutus,"
"Eglantine" and "Syringa Blossoms." And in
conjunction with their titles, these selections are
being accorded the "flowery" reception that only
greets products of deserved merit. B. F. Wood,
of the company bearing his name, expected to
make a jaunt to Chicago, but at this writing he
has postponed his journey for a short time owing
to a slight illness, npt necessarily confining him
home. Mr. Wood tells of a very seasonable con-
dition of business, both in American and in Eu-
ropean branch houses.
Banks M. Davison, of the White-Smith Music
Publishing Co., states there is a good staple de-
mand for their edition of standard works for
the piano and other instruments. One of the
special departments is devoted to White-Smith
numbers for the teaching profession, and it com-
bines an extensive "vocabulary" that meets every
want of any instructor. Studies of every grade
abound, which, with their many excellent solos,
make it possible for a pupil to be a White-Smith
student for years.
SINGLE COPIES, 10 CENTS.
$8.00 PER YEAR.
With the presentation of "Up and Down Broad-
way" the Messrs. Shubert will resume their regu-
lar custom of offering special elaborate summer
entertainments at their Casino Theater, the new
piece being intended as a legitimate successor of
such productions as "The Mimic World." The
custom was laid aside last summer, owing to
the great success of "Havana," which ran through
the summer months. The new offering will be
the first with music by Jerome and Schwartz
since "Piff, Paff, Pouf," which was a notable
Casino success.
REMICK SHAPIRO COMBINE A JOKE.
Theatrical Paper Embarks on Yellow Journal-
ism and Almost Startles Music Publishers—
Declares Deal Between the Two Firms Has
Been Completed.
"Remick and Shapiro combine" was the an-
nouncement which, on the front page of a promi-
nent publication devoted to theatrical interests,
would have startled the music publishing world
as it has not been jarred for a long time had not
practically everyone connected with the business
known that the present circumstances of the two
houses make such a merger about as remote a
possibility as anything can be. Considerable an-
noyance is likely to result to both firms from the
announcement, however, as members of the the-
atrical profession cannot be supposed to know of
the former Snapiro-Remick alliance, the separa-
tion, and the present good-natured but keen
rivalry between the two houses.
The paper above mentioned stated that the deal
had been accomplished—"the amalgamation of
two of the best known firms in the business."
In view of the slight basis on which the news-
paper had to work the announcement would seem
to surpass in quality the ordinary "yellow jour-
nalism" of Hearst and Pulitzer, and to be of
quite a hectic ochre in the color of its dramatic
splurge.
What actually happened was that Maurice Sha-
piro and F. E. Belcher, the latter being Remick's
general manager in the East, met at lunch re-
cently. A well-known lawyer was the third mem-
ber of the party. Lee Shubert happened to see
them, we are informed, and remarked jocularly,
"If this doesn't mean a merger I miss my guess."
He undoubtedly told his editor to look Into the
matter, and the latter, receiving an assignment
from his chief, determined not to "fall down."
Some poor reporter did not dare to say "nix" to
a story coming to him from two such sources,
we can easily imagine, and he. can hardly be
blamed for the front page "news" that finally
appeared.
LITERALLY A ''BROADWAY" REVIEW.
NEVIN'S OPERA TO HONOR ROOSEVELT.
"Up and Down Broadway" is the name chosen
for the sumer review which will be presented
at the Casino at the conclusion of the run of
"The Chocolate Soldier." It is by Edgar Smith,
with lyrics and music by Jerome and Schwartz,
and will be published by Jerome H. Remick &
Co. Eddie Foy, who has been identified with
several Casino successes of the past, will be a
special feature of the cast of the new review.
Emperor William of Germany has ordered that
Arthur Nevin's Indian opera, "Poia," be given
at the Royal Opera House in honor of ex-Presi-
dent Roosevelt in the course of the latter's visit
to Berlin. "Poia" has already been presented in
Berlin, and was fairly well received, although
the German critics displayed a nasty anti-Ameri-
can spirit in their newspaper notices.