Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
VOL. LIII. N o . 8. Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill at 1 Madison Ave M New York, Aug. 26, 1911
JAY WITMARK'S VIEWS OF EUROPE
And Especially Conditions in Musical Circles
Abroad—Popularity
of
American
Music
Overshadowing Work of European Compos-
ers—Arranges for Production of Several
American Musical Comedies During Coming
Season—Times of Activity with M. Wit-
mark & Sons.
Jay Witmark, of M. Witmark & Sons, the prom-
inent New York music publishers, returned on
Friday of last week from a seven weeks' tour of
England and the Continent, during which he took
occasion to observe at first hand the prevailing
conditions in the musical field abroad. Inciden-
tally. Mr. Witmark came home enthusiastic re-
garding the future of American music in Europe,
ar.d predicted that it would soon surpass the Vien-
nese and German productions in popularity.
"The American invasion of the European musical
field is already an accomplished fact." said Mr.
Witmark, "and it is surprising the number of times
one hears the popular American numbers, especially
'Every Little Movement,' played on practically
every form of musical instrument.
"Victor Herbert appears to be the coming strong
man in the European musical circles, and his com-
positions are already superseding those of many
foreign composers, even in their own countries.
Karl Hoschna and other American composers are
also gaining a strong hold abroad.
"I might mention that arrangements were com-
pleted for the production of 'Mile. Modiste 1 in
London this fall, 'Babes in Toyland' in Berlin dur-
ing the holidays, and 'The Three Twins' in Munich
in February. I secured the American rights of
the musical comedy "Thermidore,' by Digby La
Toiiche, which will be produced in this country at
an early date under the title of 'La Countess
Denise,' by a prominent New York manager.
'To show the present trend of European taste
I might remark that there is a strong possibility
of 'Mme. Sherry' being played abroad again. It
will be remembered that when this musical com-
edy was originally produced in London it proved a
fiasco, but it seems sure'of success with the new-
score, for the music is already familiar in the Brit-
ish capital.
"As the craze for foreign operas in this country
reached its zenith the demand of the foreign com-
posers is increased accordingly, aided to a large
extent by the rivalry among the publishers to se-
cure the American rights. The composers have
frequently received advance royalties running into
thousands of dollars, and the demand of $8,000
for the American rights is a rule rather than an
exception.. It seems to be a clear case of over-
production, and there are many publishers holding
rights for foreign operas which will never be pro-
duced in this country.
"I am particularly pleased at the conditions as I
found them at our London branch. The prospects
there were never better, ami the success of many
of our numbers is truly remarkable.
"On returning home I found the situation here
most encouraging; our popular catalog was never
better, and our growing catalog of standard high-
grade numbers is meeting with increased success.
A great many of the musical productions ot
which we control the publishing rights will take
the road again this season, and with our newer
productions make a formidable list, as wjll be indi-
cated by the following:
"There will be five companies of "Madame
Sherry' this season, three 'Three Twins' com-
panies, and three 'Naughty Marietta' companies, as
well as other productions which include 'The Girl
of My Dreams,' in which Hyams and Mclntyre are
starring; 'The Red Widow,' with Raymond Hitch-
cock; 'The Wall Street Girl,' with Blanche Ring;
'Macushla,' with Chauncy Olcott; Victor Herbert's
latest operetta, 'The Enchantress'; the Hippodrome
lriammoth production 'Around the World,' "The
Campus,' 'The Heartbreakers," 'The Grape Girl,'
'Navy Blue," 'The Mollycoddle,' and others too
numerous to mention here.
PREMIERE OF "MISS JACK."
Given
in
Long Branch
this
Week—"The
W i f e H u n t e r s " October 1.
"Miss Jack,"' a new musical comedy, with book
and lyrics by Mark E. Swan, and music by William
Frederick Peters, who wrote the music for the
"Mayor of Tokio," had its premier at Long Branch
on Thursday night, and will begin the regular
season in Philadelphia next week. The music is
published by Leo Feist.
"The Wife Hunters," the music of which will
be published by the same house, will be produced
for the first time in New York- on October 1.
The professional department of the house of
Feist has grown to such an extent that Felix Feist,
formerly captain, mate and crew, has been com-
pelled to take on two assistants, namely, Earl Car-
roll and Charles Eggett.
IN THE MUSICAL COMEDY FIELD.
"A Cinderella Girl," with an entire new score
by Horwitz & Bowers, opens in Pennsylvania on
September 1T>. "Louisiana Lou," which proved so
successful in Chicago, opens in Milwaukee to-
morrow night. "He Came From Milwaukee," in
which Sam Bernard starred so successfully last
season, reopened at the Casino Theater on Mon-
day night, and after a short run on Broadway,
will start on a tour to the Pacific Coast. The
music of all the above productions is published
bv Chas. K. Harris.
SI NGLE COPIES, 10 CENTS.
$2.00 PER YEAR.
"THE ENCHANTRESS" PROMISING.
Victor Herbert's New Operetta in Rehearsal—
Pleases Everybody Connected with the Pro-
duction.
Rehearsals of "The Enchantress," the new oper-
etta composed by Victor .Herbert, are progressing
rapidly to the entire satisfaction of all concerned,
and a big success is looked for. The book and
lyrics by Harry B. Smith and Fred de Gresae, me
said to contain ideas regarding the requirements
of light opera, which are somewhat out of the
ordinary. The story is a novel and romantic one.
The scene is laid in a mythical present-day king-
dom where the ruler, a young man, falls in love
with an opera singer. The plot is alive with clever
complications in which love and politics play an
important part. In the end, the king marries the
singer—played by Miss Kitty Gordon—and all
ends happily. The libretto abounds in subtle hu-
mor, which, it is said, is sure to find favor even
from a misanthrope, while the music is distin-
guished by that refinement and artistic taste of
which Mr. Herbert is past master. The producer,
Joseph M. Gaites, will give the piece a sumptuous
production. The music of "The Enchantress" is
published by Witmark & Sons.
OPERA BY EMPEROR WILHELM.
The War Lord Busy On Score—Story Woven
Around Polish King.
It is reported from Berlin that Emperor Wil-
helm is busily engaged in composing an opera, the
story of which is woven around Augustus II., a
King of Poland. The Emperor is most enthusi-
astic over the work, it is stated, and declared it will
be most brilliant. The new work will be full of
Polish music and dances, including mazourkas,
poloniases and cracowiases.
It is well known that the Emperor is fond of
composing music, frequently writing bits of operas
or parts of librettos to amuse himself, and that
several operas (including one by Leoncavallo) owe
something to his suggestions. Yet in court circles
it is not thought that there is any likelihood of a
genuine imperial opera being produced in Berlin.
J. I. TINDALE IN THE WEST.
(Special to the Review.)
Detroit, Aug. 21, Mil. '
J.
L.
Tindale,
president
of the Music Publish-
ANOTHER PRIZE CUP FOR HAVILAND.
ers' Association of the United Statees, and man-
The F. B. Haviland Publishing Co., through able ager of the wholesale department of G. Schirmer,
assistants, are apparently on a prize winning cam- Inc., of New York, sheet music publishers, spent
paign. Following the winning of a handsome lov- a couple of days in Detroit this week on his West-
ing cup by Jack Drislane's trio recently, Murray ern trip. He said he had found business the best
Whitman, singing "That Was Before I Met You," he ever had known it for this time of the year,
captured another cup in competition for the best which leads him to think that the fall and win-
ballad at Gilligans, Clausen Point, on August 1">. ter business will be unusually good.
The late Sir W. S. Gilbert was unusually canny
and saw to it that he received every penny that he
was entitled to. His savings from the most
successful partnership in comic opera on record
amounted to $r>(>0,0oo, the sworn value of his estate
after his death. Sir Arthur Sullivan, who died ten
years earlier, left $280,000.
Harry Lander, the Scotch comedian, will make
his next appearance in New York with a vaudeville
company on October 9, at the Manhattan Opeia
House, where he will play an engagement of six
days. William Morris, who has brought Lander
to this country on several occasions, will again be
the manager.