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THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW/
Conducted by B. B. Wilson
A MAGNIFICENT GIFT.
Chas. H. Ditson, Head of the Oliver Ditson Co.,
Presents an Entire Series of "The Musician's
Library" to Musician's Club of New York.
Charles H. Ditson, head of Oliver Ditson Co.
and C. H. Ditson & Co., Boston and New York,
gave to the Musicians' Club of New York recently
a gift that means much to the members. It was
the entire series of volumes known as "The
Musicians' Library," bound in cloth, together with
a special cabinet to hold them. The presentation
was made by Joseph M. Priaulx, manager of the
music department of the New York end of the
Ditson house, and there was an enthusiastic recep-
tion of the gift on the part of those present.
STARTING REMOVAL.
Jerome H. Remick & Co. Will Soon Be at Home
in the New Remick Building, 219-221 W.
46th Street, New York City.
Jerome H. Remick & Co. are starting the re-
moval of their headquarters to the new Remick
Building at 219-221 West 46th street, which has
been in process of building for some time. This
new building will give the Remick Co. the necessary
space for expansion required by its rapid growth.
Three floors and basement comprise the size of it.
A detailed article of this new building will appear
in The Review when the company has its house-
warming.
Jerome H. Remick, head of the company bearing
his name, was a visitor at the New York head-
quarters recently. Mr. Remick's summer home is
at Bass Rocks, Mass.
SCHMITZ WRITES AN OPERA.
'The Lily of Poverty Flat" Work of Former
'Frisco Mayor.
Eugene E. Schmitz, former Mayor of San Fran-
cisco, and his chief counsel in the graft prosecu-
tion, Attorney Frank C. Drew, have collaborated
on an opera of '49 life, entitled "The Lily of
Poverty Flat," which they hope to produce next
year.
HENRY W. SAVAGE'S PLANS.
All the week friends have been congratulating
Meyer Cohen, manager of the Charles K. Harris
Music Pub. Co.,' New York, over the fortunate
escape from death of Mrs. Cohen, her prize ruby
spaniel, Champion, and her chauffeur, John Clerk,
when her automobile just missed being struck by
a fast Long Island railroad train at the Hamilton
avenue crossing, Hollis, L. I. As the car ap-
proached the crossing, the flagman waved a white
Hag, which the chauffeur interpreted as a clear
road. He saw the mistake the instant he was on
the tracks, with the train only fifteen feet off.
With a mighty twist he swerved the machine al-
most parallel with the track and saved them both
from almost certain death. One of the rear wheels
of the car was damaged and the back of the
tonneau was smashed. Clerk was uninjured, but
Mrs. Cohen's arm was bruised. The Cohen home
is in Husson avenue, Hollis.
Hans Pfitzner is gradually coming into vogue in
Germany as an opera composer. His "Rose vom
Liebesgarten" is to be sung next season at Leipzig
and Strassburg, while his "Armer Heinrich" will
be staged in Vienna, Brunn, Cologne and Frank-
fort. He is now at work on his third opera, "Pal-
estrina," of which he is writing both the poem
and the music.
ENGLAND'S NEW COPYRIGHT LAW.
TRADE IN THE "WINDY CITY."
Some Interesting Comments by a Writer in the Title Page Tendencies—Pierce with Lee—Mc-
Kinley Up-town Office—Other Notes.
"Thunderer" Regarding England's New
Copyright Law Which Makes Timely Read-
(Special to The Review. 1 )
ing for Members of the Trade Located on
Chicago, 111., July 30, 1912.
This Side of the Big Pond.
A noticeable tendency is noted in Chicago music
publishing houses to confine title-page decorations
Discussing the new copyright law, now in force, to simple black and white designs. These are
which protects musical works half a century, the
more attractive and add dignity at least to the
London Times says: "What is a 'musical work'? appearance of the publications. It was the rage
The act does not attempt to define it, and it is when "rags" were in the heydey of popularity to
very difficult to define. It has to be 'original,' but
make the title pages as multi-colored as the pub-
originality seems not necessarily to connote crea-
lisher's purse would stand, and it ofttimes hap-
tive originality; if it did, a large part of the most
pened that the title page artist's conception of an
popular music could not obtain copyright at all. appropriate composition did not conform in any
It must be regarded as original if sufficient labor
great measure to the sentiment of the song, and
and skill have been expended upon it to make it a thus it was given a black eye even before its real
distinctive work, one which is substantially novel contents and musical qualities were discovered.
in spite of the unoriginal elements from which it
Too, the idea that the title-page drawing should
has been compiled. The ordinary musical comedy, "illustrate" the song js fast becoming obsolete and
for instance, probably contains few bars which dis- now the tendency is to plain, attractive,- legible
play creative originality, but the combined labor lettering and the only suggestion of the song per-
and skill of the authors who put together the missible is that which the artist can impart in con-
piano score and of the individuals, if any, who ventional design. This change is commendable
arrange it for the orchestra, make up a work
and may prove profitable as a moneysaver, any-
which is distinctive enough to entitle it to copy- how. Then, besides, many people choose to select
right. So, in a higher rank of music, variations their works of art rather than to have them
on, and other original treatment of musical mat- thrown in "for a song."
ter are entitled to copyright, whether such matter
Charles Pierce, formerly with Ted Snyder and
be copyrighted, or not. Whether a work is 'mu- in the western branch of the Remick Co., has gone
sical' or not is a question into which the courts
with Marvin Lee in the capacity of professional
would probably not inquire too closely. To an manager.
unmusical judge some of the best of modern
The uptown office of the McKinley Music Co.,
music would appear to be merely a noise, but he established this spring in charge of Rodger Lewis,
would probably accept the opinion of an expert
is proving to be quite an adjunct in advertising
that it really was music. The German Imperial the McKinley and Root publications.
Court, it may be observed by way of instance, have
Henry Klicmann, arranger in the professional
held that the splendid leading theme of 'Ein
office of the McKinley Music Co., is now at the
Heldenleben' is not a 'melody,' but fortunately
German-American Hospital recuperating from an
for the purposes of the act of 1911, we are not
operation for appendicitis.
called upon to discuss whether they were right or
Jules Von Tilzer, of the York Music Co., is
wrong, or merely ignorant. A musical work for
now in New York, and will remain there during
the stage is both a dramatic work and a musical
the rehearsal season.
work. It therefore cannot be converted into a
"There Is No Little Girl Like You," by Herman
non-dramatic work without infringement of copy-
Binner and Gene Walz, is now on the press and
right, neither can a non-dramatic musical work be
will be ready for distribution in two weeks.
dramatized."
TED BARRON RETURNS FROM MAINE.
HENRY W. SAVAGE'S PLANS.
Ted S. Barron, general manager of the Jer-
Henry W. Savage announced this week that ome & Schwartz Pub. Co., Broadway Theatre
among the several novelties which he has in Building, New York, is back from his Maine recre-
preparation for the coming season is a musical ation wearing a double thickness of tan and look-
fantasy entitled "Somewhere Else," by Avery Hop- ing the model of the fellow called "Health." Mr.
Barron says business is thumping along in regular
wood and Gustave Luders, which will be his first
new offering. It is an unconventional work which early fall fashion.
will need a large cast, and which, it is said, will be
Not a Hit that will die but a seller that will live
very interesting from a musical standpoint. "The
Prince of Pilsen" and the "Merry Widow," which
are controlled by Mr. Savage, will again take the
lead this season.
THE LATEST RUSSIAN COMPOSER.
I WILL LOVE YOU WHEN
THE SILVER THREADS ARE
SHINING AMONG THE GOLD
The latest Russian composer which is attracting
a great deal of attention in London is Igor Stra-
vinsky, who wrote the clever and fascinating music
of the ballet, "F'Oiseau de Feu," recently intro-
duced by the Russian players. This young Rus-
sian was born in St. Petersburg, is only thirty,
and is a pupil of Rimsky-Korsakoff. Mr. Stra-
vinsky has written a symphony in E flat, .which
he completed in 1906, following it up the next
year with a "Fantastic Scherzo" for orchestra,
while in 1908 appeared his -"Funereal Song,' in
memory of Rimsky-Korsakoff.
Hugo Felix, who composed the score of "Mme.
Sherry" and also "The Love Shop," who is one
of the best known of the light opera composers
abroad, is due in New York next week to takt
charge of the rehearsals of "Tantalizing Tommy."
ROGEB LEWIS
,
*>'."
. • •
• •
E HENRI KLICKMAN
Frank K. Root & Co.
CH1CAOO
MIWYMUt
Published Iby McKinley Musio Co., Chicago.