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THE MUSIC TRADE
FACTS OF "TA=RA=RA'S" REAL ORIGIN.
Discussion Incident to Death of Lottie Collins
Seems to Have Brought Forth Real Informa-
tion—King George Orders Theaters Re-
opened—Dinner Tendered to Departing Man-
ager of Chappell & Co.'s Australasian Branch
—Some New Songs Being Featured.
(Special to The Review.)
London, Eng., May 25, 1910.
Amid all the conflicting stories as to the origin
of the once famous song, "Ta-ra-ra-Boom-de-ay,"
which have been written or told since the recent
death of Lottie Collins, the one that is generally
accepted here as giving final and definite facts is
that of Richard Morton, who wrote the words as
sung by Miss Collins. Mr. Morton has contrib-
uted to John Bull an account of the origin and
development of the song. He shows that it came
here from an American writer, but he also shows
that the melody was not originated in that coun-
try. Mr. Morton says:
"It was Mr. Cooney who sent to his wife from
America a copy of a song called 'Ta-ra-ra-boum-
der-eY described as written by Henry Sayer. It
contained two verses only, and the melody did
not indicate the famous 'boom,' which, with the
clash of the drum and cymbals, was the feature
of the production. Miss Collins showed me the
song in its original immature state, and, with
the genius of the true artist, pointed to the weak
spot and told how she would remedy it. 'Write
me some fresh verses,' she said. 'These Ameri-
can ones are no good—they never are—and leave
the dance to me.' I wrote the song of 'Ta-ra-ra-
Boom-de-ay' as sung by Miss Collins while we
sat at the dinner table, altering and adapting
the lines of the American edition, and adding
third and fourth verses of my own. One adapted
verse and my two original verses formed the
song that Miss Collins produced with electrical
EDITORIAL
The following epigrammatic edi-
torial appeared in one of our
great weeklies:
"The high cost of living is
coming down. Beethoven's
Sonatas, in excellent edition,
now can be bought for ten
cents a copy."
It referred of course to
REVIEW
effect within seven days. It was one of the
quickest 'studies I have ever known.
"Regarding the age and origin of the air 'Ta-
ra ra' I proved at the time in the columns of
Truth that the melody was that of an old folk-
song from the neighborhood of the Balkans.
Taken to America by emigrants it became a kind
of rough cnorus in the negro houses. The rest
of the story I have now told here. I need only
add that, in the days of the 'Boom,' Punch wrote
my epitaph. I have not yet had occasion to use
it."
The Death of the King.
The death of King Edward cast a temporary
gloom over musical and theatrical circles, as
was proper. The late King would have been the
last to wish his death to be the cause of gloom
and disaster, however, and King George, in
ordering the reopening of the theaters, acted in
the true spirit of his beloved sire.
At Leeds, at the Queen's, Miss Florrie Forde
has been the recipient of almost regal receptions
and has easily held her right to the style and
title of being one of the greatest chorus singers.
Her new songs, " 'Tis a Faded Picture," "Rip
Van Winkle" and "Flanagan," form a trio al-
most unsurpassable in popular estimation, and
David Day's publishing firm anticipate a large
inquiry for the same.
Francis, Day & Hunter are making a special
feature just now of two songs that have evidently
had a wide vogue in America. They are "Cuba-
nola Glide," by Harry Von Tilzer, and "If I Had
the World to Give You," by J. Hayden Clarendon.
Dinner to One of Chappell &. Co.'s Managers.
An interesting gathering took place on Tuesday
evening, May 3, at the Restaurant Frascati, when
nearly one hundred of Ernest F. Lashmar's col-
leagues and friends entertained him at a com-
plimentary dinner, prior to his departure to take
up the management of the Australasian branch
of Messrs. Chappell & Co. C. K. Blackett, a di-
rector of Chappell & Co., was in the chair, sup-
ported by Martin Handon, secretary of the com-
pany, in the vice-chair; W. R. Pearce, Albert
Smith, Herbert King, R. A. Kemp, Walter East-
man and Harold Elvins (of Melbourne). An ex-
cellent musical programme was provided under
the direction of H. Albert Browne. The health
of the guest was proposed by the chairman in an
excellent speech, and was received with great en-
thusiasm. Telegrams wishing Mr. Lashmar all
success were received from William Boosey,
Miller Wilson, R. J. Hawkins, and others. The
son and namesake of Walter Eastman, by the
way, is the manager of Chappell & Co.'s Ameri-
can branch, with headquarters in New York.
George Lashwood's Success.
George Lashwood has recently been highly suc-
cessful with his finished presentation of Benja-
min Hapgood Burt's naive comedy song, "Mister
49
Pat O'Hare." Mr. Lashwood will also shortly
exploit the same well-known American author's
song, "Sing, Kate, Sing," with verses specially
written for the English star by John P. Harring-
ton. Both songs are published by B. Feldman
& Co.
An American Song in Favor.
In a telegram from Miss Ada Reeve is recorded
the pleasing intelligence that Chas. K. Harris'
great American ballad, "Nobody Knows, Nobody
Cares," is "enormously successful" with her at
thp various theaters where she is appearing.
This is one of Feldman & Co.'s finest ballads.
ENGLISH SINGER ACQUIRES SONG.
Daisy Harcourt, the English comedienne, who
has been singing at various local burlesque
houses, has purchased the exclusive performing
rights to the song, "There Are Nice Girls Every-
where," by the payment, it is announced, of $150
to Francis, Day & Hunter, the publishers. This
was the only song in Miss Harcourt's repertoire
of which she was not the owner. It has been
fairly successful by reason of the singer's knack
of "putting songs over the footlights." It asserts
that "on the mountains of dear old Broadway and
in the wilds of Herald square there are nice girls
everywhere," but has been marred by a rather
coarse reference to a well-known actor who was
the star of a recent Broadway musical produc-
tion.
A syndicate has been formed for the presenta-
tion in London next season of "Die Forester-
christl" ("Christine of the Forest"). This very
successful German musical comedy is to be pro-
duced in New York, also, under the management
of the Messrs. Shubert. The piece had a run of
more than five hundred performances in Vienna
and has been presented with success at two hun-
dred other theaters in Germany, Austria, Russia,
Scandinavia and Italy.
THAT
ITALIAN
RAG
By AL PIANTADOSI,
Creator of Italian Character Songs.
CENTURY
EDITION
CENTURY MUSIC PUBLISHING CO.
1 178 BROADWAY, NEW YORK
A Hit of Hits!
EVERY LITTLE
MOVEMENT
H
By OTTO HAUERBACH and KARL HOSCHNA
Writers of the Big Successes,
A POSITIVE HIT!
A PROVED SELLER!
Orders poured in the very day after this
song was first sung at Hammerstein's
Victoria Theater.
GOING STRONGER EVERY DAY!
PUBLISHED BY
LEO. FEIST, NEW YORK
" T H E THREE T W I N S " and "BRIGHT EYES"
The
HEAD HAS HITS
(George W. Head, Jr.)
WORLD'S GREATEST BALLAD
"Without You The World
Don't Seem The Same"
An Endless Chain of Sales of This Song Will Start
From First Purchase.
Best Ballad Since the Time of Jenny Lind
THE HEAD MUSIC PUBLISHING CO.
1416 Broadway, Cor. 39th Street,
New York
reigning Musical Hit from
"MADAME SHERRY"
Now Playing at Colonial Theatre,
Chicago
Sung, Whistled and Hummed Everywhere
Greatly in Demand.
Order Now
SONGS FOR EVERYBODY!
"PLAYTHINGS
THAT'S ALL"
By John W. Bratton.
"MOTHER"
By Cooper & Frederics.
" I N THE SAME OLD WAY"
By Nat D. Mann.
"WHEN YOU DREAM OF THE GIRL YOU LOVE"
By Leo Edwards.
M. WITMARK & SONS, Publishers
NEW YORK
CHICAGO
LONDON
PARIS
"CO ON, GOOD-A-BYE "
By Brown & Murphy.
VICTOR KREMER COMPANY
108-1 10 Randolph Street, CHICAGO, ILL.
(Opposite Garrick Theatre)