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THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
Edward Madden enjoys the distinction of being the creative instinct will not down, and again he
the highest paid writer of popular lyrics in Amer- is at it, and if he has prolificness and sticktuitive-
Short Sketches of Four of Them Presented in
ica. He is under contract with Gus Edwards at ness combined, the erstwhile cruel publisher will be
New York Paper—Being in Print It Must
$10,000 a year. He is required to turn in two confronted soon again with another of the com-
All be True.
poems a month. He wrote "Silvery Moon," "Blue- poser's efforts.
There is a psychology in composing which per-
bell," "Up in a Cocoanut Tree," "Down in Jungle
"Men Who Write Lyrics" was the subject of
Town," "I've a Feeling for You," "Cousin Caruso," haps the lay world does not comprehend. Very
a special article in the City Life Section of the
"Colon Town." "Lucy Anna Lou," "Jimmy Valen- likely it does not care about the whys and where-
New York American last Sunday. It makes inter-
tine" and "I'd Rather Be a Lobster Than a Wise fores; it has its own business to attend to, and
esting reading, especially to those who can win-
accepts the composer's efforts as it does the actor's
now the wheat from the chaff. Sucrf expressions Guy." He wrote the lyrics for "Barnyard Romeo," acting, with a view to enjoyment. It enjoys the
"He
Came
from
Milwaukee,"
and
"Rogers
Brothers
as "has written more hits than any man alive"
composer's work when it plays it, hears it sung or
and "gets $10,000 a year from Gus Edwards" make in Panama." Here's what he thinks of a popular performed by a singer, orchestra or other vehicle
ditty:
the article one of considerable interest to the
of interpretation, of which there are many varieties
music publishers. The American takes the re- "Just write a great poem, then order the crepe,
these days. It enjoys whistling the popular air or
Whether dignified classic or witty;
sponsibility for the statements, and we are glad
humming it in its daily routine of business and
to let that journal have it. The sketches of the But the thing that will bring you the juice of the pleasure, and the world may possibly know who
grape
lyric writers were as follows:
wrote such and such a composition, and there may
Is the maudlin, popular ditty."
Billy Jerome is a master at popular Irish verses.
exist an admiration, which oftentimes does not
Look this list over; "Bill" wrote 'em all: "Be-
Will D. Cobb was a reporter on a Philadelphia rise above the level of general consciousness; but
delia," "Mr. Dooley," "Irish Rosie," "Irish paper and then clerk at the Waldorf-Astoria. He otherwise it does not want to understand.
Molly O," "Make a Ring Around Rosie," "When gave all jobs up when his first song made a hit.
As for the composer himself, his mental atti-
Shakespeare Comes to Town," "Rip Van Winkle," He wrote the words of "Waltz Me Around Again
tude
after a time becomes changed. Whereas at
"I'm Tired" and "Ghost of a Coon." Jerome has Willie," "Yip-I-Addy-I-Ay," "Good-Bye Dolly
made a fortune through his wit and his ability to Gray," "Schooldays," "I Can't Tell Why I Love first the birth of an idea came to him like a flash
make it rhyme. The money comes easy, too, ac- You," "Sunbonnet Sue," "Could You be True to of Heaven-born inspiration, coupled with innate
egotism, as time goes on these ideas come to him
cording to "Billy." Just listen to what he says:
Eyes of Blue," "I'll Be With You When the Roses
as naturally as verbal expression, and he jots them
"For 'Paradise Lost' old Milton got
Bloom Again," "Mamie Don't You Feel Ashamie,"
down in a scholarly or slovenly way, as is his
"Way Down Yonder in the Cornfield" and "Zanzi-
Just twenty silver dollars;
habit. Perhaps he is never to know that fame
bar." When asked if song-writing is profitable,
But I spend that and more beside
which comes to some composers, who have the
Mr. Cobb replies in verse like this:
Each week on cuffs and collars.
people by the ears with their soul-stirring airs or
The moral of the ditty is,
"Where once was wont the passing throng,
melodious strains; still there is always a chance
If you would dine at Sherry's,
To say he sold It for a song.
that he may produce something that will win uni-
Just try and write a little song
They now, xvow! wow!! turn 'bout a bit,
versal approbation, and with that idea in view he
To please the Mauds and Marys."
And say he sold a SONG for it."
continues to write and write.
"Al" Bryan has written more "hits" than "any
It has always been a source of speculation to
man alive to-day. His friends say he is the run-
WHY
IS
A
COMPOSER?/
me what an interesting book could be written if
ner-up to poor Paul Dresser. Bryan composed
all composers would collaborate in giving their
the verses for these songs: "Won't You Fondle An Interesting Article Written by Frank H.
unique experiences in how a melody or idea for a
Me?" "Sympathy," "Lonesome," "And a Little Bit
Grey in Jacob's Orchestra Monthly.
composition first dawned upon them. Some I un-
More," "A Friend of Mine Told a Friend of
derstand contrive to have a piece of manuscript
Mine," "I'm Going to Do What I Please," "Just
A title of this sort would almost suggest some-
paper always at hand on which to jot down any
for the Sake of Society," "Please Mama Buy Me thing in a jocular vein, or a conundrum like the
ideas that may arrive. For my part, they have
a Baby," "Good Luck, Mary," "Cheer Up, Mary," well-known "When is a goat nearly?" to which
come to me in the middle of the night, and I have
"Angel Eyes," "Somebody Else," "You'll Come the answer is, "When he is all butt." Both ques-
deserted the luxury of a warm bed, eagerly grab-
Back" and fifty others. Bryan is a rapid worker tions seem equally foolish, but my dear reader, our
bing my pen, to write down what then seemed to
and dashes off verses like the following for his title is more serious than one might at first sup-
me to be a sure-fire hit, only to find at a more
friends while they wait:
pose.
rational moment that the idea was far from good,
"Old Nero was the cruelest man who ever lived
To begin with, like a poet, a composer is born, for, believe me, composers have as a rule more
they say—
not made, although I will not deny that the knack irrational moments than the ordinary business man.
To vent his spleen he fired a Roman city;
of jotting down melodies may be acquired, to- Otherwise there would be as many well-to-do com-
But if he lived in nineteen ten, he'd fnd a better
gether with the rest of the science of musical in- posers as there are publishers—but as Mark Twain
way;
struction. But I believe, and I have no doubt so says, "That is another story." Also on the street
He'd just sit down and write a popular ditty."
do my contemporaries (if
applied, even in lightest vein), that the true test to me to be quickly jotted down; or perhaps at a
of a composer rests in the fact that he is pos- musical comedy or concert something played might
NOW
READY!
sessed of an insane desire to create melodies, act as a suggestion (not necessarily in the same
TWO GREAT NEW
whether they take the form of a symphony for vein, as skeptics might suppose, although plagiarism
COMPOSITIONS
orchestra, an operatic score or the many lighter is usually looked upon as first aid to the needy
By HARRY D. KERR
forms of composition such as waltzes, mazurkas, composer), for music well rendered is a tonic to
"YOIR LOVE IS MY GUIDING STAR"
marches and songs. Always his raison d'etre, as the jaded brain and affords fresh inspiration.
High class ballad outranked by none.
the French say, consists in propagating his ideas
" P L A l U r HONEYMOON"
in musical notation, behind which exists the ardent
A dainty, classic child song.
desire to have the general public take cognizance
These songs are of the kind that never grow old.
Send for our standing order proposition and price
of the fact, that, marvel of marvels, here is an-
BUY YOUR WUJSIC FROM
lists when you order the above pieces.
other Heaven-born genius knocking at the door
for recognition, spreading his wings for a first
MILLER MUSIC PUBLISHING CO.,
flight of fancy, and mounting aloft his Pegasus to
515 So. Hermitage Avenue, Chicago.
join the ranks of others of his ilk.
As the mother admires her child, carefully nur-
ROIERT TELLER SONS * DORNER
tures it, and watches it grow from infancy to
JOS. M. DALY
childhood, and thence to full-blown maturity, so Gaiety Theatre Bldg., 665 Washington St., Boston, Mass.
Mislc Elf rivers ni Prliteri
Publisher of
does the composer seize upon the kernel of an •CHICKEN REEL," "SCENTED
ROSES" WALTZES,
H M D MANUSCRIPT AND IDEA OP TITLB
And Many Others
idea, a pet motive, perhaps we will say, and with
FOR ESTIMATE
growing enthusiasm develops the idea until he has
OLIVER DITSON COMPANY
ui WBT it* trim, now YMI a n
completed his score.
BOSTON
NEW YORK
PHILADELPHIA
Now to show the world he must enlist the pub-
lisher's sympathy, and here the task begins. Some Anticipate and Supply Every Requirement of Music Dealers
S O M E OF
are successful at the first interview, while others
WALTER JACOBS
are coldly turned down—and what a bitter pill to
BOSTON. MASS.
swallow! The child of his brain refused and ig- 167 Tremont St..
Publisher of
"Some Day When Dreams Com* True.
"Somebody Else, It's Always Somebody
nored ! What a numbskull of a publisher, and how 'Kiss of Spring."
And Some Others World Famous
unappreciative of budding genius! So, with such
Else."
embittered feeling, the composer seeks a new pub-
"Cupid's I. 0. U. M
lisher, and anon another one, until at last he may PUBLISHERS, PRINTERS & ENGRAVERS OF MUSIC
"You'll Come Back."
Main Offices: 62-64 Stanhope St., Boston
rind one who is willing to take a chance. Then
Branch Houses: New York and Chicago
"That Chinatown Rag."
r.is first happy day on earth begins. His name is
Our New Issue proposition will be of interest to you—
to be in print, and his music in other people's
B. F. WOOD MUSIC CO,
write us for it and our special bulletin of big hits.
"EDITION WOOD"
bands.
But
if
he
unsuccessfully
tries
the
rounds
N E W
THE F. B. HAVILAND PUBLISHING CO.
BOSTON
YORK
of
publishers,
and
must
lay
his
manuscript
on
the
EMt
246 Summer S t
,
•
•
"
*° th S
1 2 6 W«»t 37th Straal, N«w York.
J
T
shelf, will you find him long despairing? Not so;
Also at London and Leipzig
ABOUT "MEN WHO WRITE LYRICS.'
Publishers
HAVILAND'S HITS!
WHITE-SMITH MUSIC PUB. CO.