Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REIVIEIW
Conducted by B. B. "Wilson
A PROTEST FROM_NEW ZEALAND.
Charles Begg & Co. Complain of Importation
of American Music Books Containing Selec-
tions Covered by British Copyright—Various
Phases of the Question.
Charles Begg & Co., Ltd., Wellington, New
Zealand, have written to The Review, complain-
ing of the actions of a number of publishers of
music books in America who use in compiling
the volumes music that is protected by British
copyright. The chief cause for complaint is the
fact that the books in question are distributed
throughout the British possessions, which, it is
claimed, constitutes an infringement of copyright.
Begg & Co., in their letter cite several names of
offending publishers and the books regarding
which they object.
The Wellington house says, "We have written
to these publishers and asked them to refrain from
sending their books into this country, and have,
at the sa*me time placed the matter before the
Commissioner of Customs here, who will seize
any further copies sent here and will take pro-
ceedings against the importers."
It would appear that, in view of the contem-
plated action through the Commissioner of Cus-
toms, the American publishers would well watch
their shipments to the British possessions, particu-
larly New Zealand, and avoid trouble in that di-
rection.
According to certain of the publishers they do
not go after the trade of the British possessions,
being well satisfied with the sales of their books
in the United States. What business is done out-
side is handled by various jobbers on their own
accounts, with the possible exception of a few mail
orders for certain books received direct.
GETTING READY TO COLLECT.
Composers and Music Publishers in Great
Britain Preparing to Protect Their Interests
Under the New Copyright Bill, Which Will
Soon Become Effective—A Plan of the Me-
chanical Instrument Manufacturers to Re-
duce the Royalties—A Warning Sent Out
to Authors and Composers.
(Special to The Review.)
London, Eng., March 30, 1912.
As the time for the new copyright bill to become
effective approaches the composers and music pub-
lishers of the country are much interested in the
consideration of effective methods for the protec-
tion of their interests under the new law and as
against the actions of the manufacturers of rec-
ords for mechanical reproduction. Although no
set plan has been agreed upon the publishers have
been disconcerted to a certain extent through
learning that one of the favored among the collec-
tion societies that have sprung up for the purpose
of collecting royalties for the publishers and com-
posers was in reality backed to a large extent by
certain factors in the mechanical music trade. In
short the society would collect royalties from its
own members and then secure a rebate for those
same members by charging a commission for the
collection service. The result has been the organi-
zation by a committee representing the leading pub-
lishers of a new society for their own protection.
Following this action the Incorporated Society
of Authors and the Society of British Composers
issued a manifesto drawing the attention of the
composers of the United Kingdom to their powers
and rights in regard to mechanical reproduction
of their works as defined by the Copyright Act,
1911. The society urges upon composers not to
"THE GIRL AND THE BOY" PREMIERE. part with the property which is exclusively theirs
by act of Parliament, not to employ any agents
New Musical Comedy Opens in Los Angeles and or agencies without careful inquiry into their finan-
Will Tour Pacific Coast.
cial position and stability, and not to enter into
any contract for sheet publication which contains
A new musical comedy entitled "The Girl and any conditions whatsoever with regard to their
the Boy" was produced recently at Los Angeles, rights for mechanical reproduction.
where it met with a pleasing reception. The lyrics
The regulations governing the collection of roy-
and music are by Walter De Leon, author and com- alties as prescribed by the act have not yet been
poser of "The Campus," a musical comedy of col- issued by the Board of Trade, but I am given to
lege life produced last season, and which is still understand on official authority that the plan to
playing to phenomenal business in the Northwest. be adopted is under consideration and will be
The production of "The Girl and the Boy" was made public in the near future. '
made by the Ferris Hartman Production Co. under
the management of Charles V. Kavanah, and is
booked for an extended tour of the Pacific Coast. THE LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
It is described as a vivacious affair, with bright
Now on Tour of the United States a Most In-
and sparkling music of the popular class.
teresting Organization—A Co-operative Or-
M. Witmark & Sons publish the music.
chestra of Music Lovers.
HAVE TWO SONGS IN NEW SHOW.
The Jerome & Schwartz Publishing Co., pub-
lishes two of the promising numbers in "A Win-
some Widow," the new production which will
mark the reopening of the New York Theater as
Ziegfeld's Moulin Rouge. The numbers in ques-
tion are "Beautiful Drum," sung by Emmy Weh-
len, and "String a Ring of Roses 'Round Your
Rosie," sung by Brice and King. Jean Schwartz
is at the present time working on two new songs
for Fanny Brice, who will enter vaudeville at an
earlv date.
STEINERT QUARTERS NOT READY.
(Special to The Review.)
Providence, R. I., April 8, 1912.
Although M .Steinert & Sons expected to occupy
their new quarters in the Steinert Building on
April 1, when the time came they were only able
to use a small section of the warerooms owing to
the delays of the workmen in finishing the balance.
The house will not be able to use the full space
for several weeks to come.
One of the real events in local musical circles
this week has been the concerts given by the Lon-
don Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall on Mon>-
daj and Wednesday evenings, with Arthur Nikisch
as conductor, and the subsequent departure of the
oichestra on a tour of the country as far west
as Chicago, and from which they will return to
New York on April 28.
The history of the orchestra, which was formed
in 1904, is a most interesting one. It is com-
posed of a hundred men who are not dependent
upon the proceeds of the symphony concerts for
their livelihod, and each of whom holds one share
valued at £10. The affairs of the orchestra are
conducted by a board of directors consisting of
nine members, including a treasurer, a manager
and secretary and a chairman of the board, the
latter office being held by Edwin Frederick James,
a musician of note, who played in the private
orchestra of the late Queen Victoria and at the
coronations of both the late King Edward and
of King George. Arthur W. Payne, concert-
meister of the organization, and who conducts in
the absence of any special conductor, is also con-
ductor of the Royal Amateur Orchestral Society
of London, the prominent societj organization in
which the late Duke of Edinburgh at one time
played the first violin, and is and has been con-
nected with a great number of the most promi-
nent musical organizations in Great Britain be-
sides giving music lessons to a selected list of
students.
The orehestra up to the present time, has given
in London 156 symphony concerts and 300 re-
hearsals, all free of charge, and has given concerts
in Paris and other Continental cities. The orchestra
is we'll supported, and due largely to the fact that
its members receive no salaries, has never faced a
deficit, there always remaining a considerable
amount of money to be divided among the stock-
holders, that is, the members, at the end of each
fiscal year. Of the hundred men in the orchestra
there is only one who is not an Englishman, the
majority of them being British by birth and the
balance through naturalization.
Michael Keane, manager for Boosey & Co. in
America, met the members of the orchestra upon
their arrival, and as the majority of the musicians
were old friends of his, their coming was like a
breath from home.
FIND LOST BALLOT BY GLUCK.
Interesting Discovery Said to Have Been Made
in the Cellar of the Bibliotheque Nationale,
Paris.
An interesting find recently made in the cellars
of the Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, is said to
have been a lost ballet by Gliick on the theme of
'"Don Juan." It is composed in four parts, the
first of which deals with the duel between Don
Juan and the Commander; the second with Don
Juan's fete, the third with the statue of the Com-
mander, and the fourth with the descent into hell.
From notes found with the music it appears that
the ballet was played in Vienna in 1765 and never
repeated. The find has aroused much interest in
musical circles, and the music, which is pronounced
by those experts who have seen it to take a high
place among the master's compositions, will be
presented at a special concert at an early date.
DOWNTOWN MUSIC STORE GROWS.
The Hitchcock Music Store, 25 Ann street, New
York, one of the very few music stores in the
downtown business district handling sheet music
as a specialty, is now being enlarged for taking
care of the increased business.
Not a Hit that will die but a seller that will live
I WILL LOVE YOU WHEN
T H E S I L V E R T H R E A D S ARE
SHINING AMONG THE GOLD
ROGER LEWIS
F. HENRI KLICKMAN
Frank K.Root 6 Co.
CHICAGO
MEW TORE
Published by McKinley Mnslo Co.,