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THE: MUSIC TRADE
SIMILARITY OF SONGS.
REVIEW
POPULAR IN CHICAGO.
Differences Over Words of Song May or May Gene Greene, Clever Character Singer, Scores
Not Result in Legal Proceedings.
with "Mocking Bird Rag."
It is possible that there may be some legal pro-
ceedings between the houses of Shapiro and Feist
over a similarity of songs, "When I Got You
Alone" (Feist),.and "All Alone on Broadway"
(Shapiro), being the numbers in litigation. It is
said that the trouble is due more to the changing
of the song writer from the house of Shapiro to
Feist, although several people who rank as musi-
cal authorities in the trade and who view the mat-
ter impartially, claim that there are five notes the
same in both songs. But to have five notes the
same in any two songs has never been considered
"'copying," as that may arise in any two com-
positions.
In the telephone book under the heading of
"Lawyers" are given 76 cdlumns of names with
telephone numbers, to say nothing of the hun-
dreds of lawyers scattered around the city with-
out phones. It is troubles real or imaginery that
keeps this list so large, when a "get-together"
spirit would do as well and save time and money.
What Sherman said about war applies likewise
to legal battles, and the trade would no doubt
prefer to see an amicable adjustment of the fore-
going case than to see hostilities.
News comes from Chicago that Gene Greene, the
clever character singer, is creating a sensation in
that city with "Mocking Bird Rag," a new and
melodious novelty number published by M. Wit-
niark & Sons. Mr. Greene, who, as a popularizer
DR. ETHEL SMYTH IS SET FREE.
of character and novelty songs has to his credit
scores of highly successful numbers, claims that
"Mocking Bird Rag" is one of the quickest hits he
ever had, the city is fairly alive with it and the
singer is congratulating himself on securing a num-
ber which, in the twenty-fifth week of his engage-
ment there, has turned out to be the sensation of
the hour.
The words, by J. Brandon Walsh, author of that
world-wide success, "For Killarney and You," are
bright and clever, and the music, by Charles T.
Straight, is of the whistling kind that will not be
denied. "Mocking Bird Rag" looks like one of the
unsurpassed hits of the year.
BURT'S NEW MUSICAL PRODUCTIONS.
Ntw WHEN WE WERE SWEETHEARTS New
New
UNDER THE OLD OAK TREE New
New
WAY DOWN SOUTH
New
New
RAG RAG RAG
New
New
THAT SUBWAY RAG
New
New
FRANKIE AND JOHNNY
New
TELL TAYLOR, MUSIC PUBLISHER
WlLL BE MUSICALLY IMPORTANT.
Down By The Old Midstream
Also New Hiti
NEW YORK
CHICAGO
BUY YOUR
IVUISIC FROM
BOSTON
Publishers
WALTER JACOBS
1«7 Tremont St,
BOSTON, MASS
Publisher of
"Kiss »f Spring." "Some Day When Dreams Come True."
And Some Others World Famous
OLIVER
DITSON
COMPANY
BOSTON
NEW YORK
Anticipate and Supply Every Requirement of Music Dealer*
WHITE-SMITH MUSIC PUB. CO.
PUBLISHERS^ PRINTERS & ENGRAVERS OF MUSIC
Main Offices: 01-04 St
St. Boston
Branch B t u c i : Nei
and Chicaao
Flo Jacobsen, the Well Known Song Promoter,
Joins Marvin Lee Staff.
*
Chicago, 111., July 29, 1912.
What can be accomplished in music publishing
business by enterprise is demonstrated by Mar-
vin Lee, head of the Marvin Lee Publishing Co.,
of this city. Lee until a few months ago was
striving for a foothold until he hit on a popular
success dedicated to the Titanic disaster, entitled
"Just as the Boat Went Down." So successful
was this number that Lee immediately followed it
with another smashing ballad, "When I Dream of
Old Erin." These two numbers earned Lee a small
fortune. His newest and perhaps his best number
is "My Beautiful Doll, Good-By." His latest an-
nouncement comes as a surprise. Lee has added
to his local promoting staff Flo Jacobsen, known
nationally as the foremost woman song promoter
in America. Miss Jacobsen has been credited with
doing more for the success in Chicago of the house
of Ted Snyder than any other worker, and later
for Jerome H. Remick & Co. Meanwhile Lee
secured Miss Jacobsen's signature to a contract.
It is not expected she will attempt to break this
contract though she made a hasty visit to Detroit
to confer with Remick.
John Cort, in announcing his new musical pro-
ductions for the coming season, states that he has
secured Lena Abarbanell to sing the title role in
"The Gypsy," a new comic opera by Pixley and
Luders, that will be presented in November, after
a preliminary road tour. He will also produce
John Philip Sousa's new operetta, "The Glass Blow-
ers," from which great things are expected. It
will be presented at the new Cort Theater, which
is now being erected on West 48th street, and will
be ready for occupancy early in October.
MILLION COPY HIT
WILL SINQ FOR MARVIN LEE.
(Special to The Review.)
WAGNER FESTIVAL AT BAYREUTH.
The Wagner festival at Bayreuth has brought
together the usual great crowd of visitors from all
parts of the world. Despite the increase in the
price of tickets this year no more seats are ob-
tainable.
Among the prominent musicians in attendance
is Engelbert Humperdinck, the composer of "Han-
sel . und Gretel," who has apparently quite recov-
ered from his serious illness of last Winter. He
criticises the opening performances and speaks re-
gretfully of the not wholly satisfactory work of
the soloists, but praises the ensemble work and
general effect unrestrainedly.
It is of interest to note that unless a special law
be enacted, which is unlikely, this is the last time
that European pilgrims will be obliged to journey
to Bayreuth to hear "Parsifal." The thirty-year
term, for which it has been protected expires at the
end of 1912. Wagnerites are organizing a move-
ment to obtain legislation to preserve the opera for
Bayreuth, but there is not much chance of succeed-
ing, according to the present outlook.
tative of the management, who was sent to China
to secure material for the production, is bringing
back with him a complete set of Chinese musical
instruments.
The forthcoming production of "The Daughter
of Heaven," the spectacular Chinese drama to be
staged at the Century Theater, New York, in the
fall, will be musically important, not only in that
some composer of note will have written the
entr'acte music but because real Chinese music
will be introduced in the course of the action.
Chinese music has hitherto been neglected in Oc-
cidental countries. In "La Livre" for 1884 is re-
corded the results of some elementary research
in this field, but this was never carried to the
point of public performance of the specimens that
were translated from the Chinese system of nota-
tion to our own. Mile. Judith Gautier (Mme.
Gatulle Mendes), the daughter of Theophile
Gautier, and collaborateur with Pierre Loti in
writing the play, has taken up the work where it
was left off, and has transcribed the Imperial
March and the Court Chant for use in the palace
scenes in the production. Moreover, the represen-
Dr. Ethel Smyth, the prominent English com-
poser and suffragette leader, who was arrested
last week on the charge of attempting to set fire
to Nuneham House, the historic residence of Lewis
Harcourt, Secretary of State for the Colonies, was
discharged Friday, owing to the failure of wit-
nesses to identify her as the woman who accom-
panied Miss Helen Craggs.
The Prussian Prince Joachim Albrecht is the
composer of two orchestral works, "Raskolnikoff"
and "Die Ahnengruft." which have won applause
at Carlsbad. The other day he went to the same
resort to hear the first performance of his latest
work, a phantasy in D minor. He seemed to be
apprehensive as to the outcome, asking the conduc-
tor if he thought the work would be hissed. Man-
zer reassured him, and the reception proved to be
cordial.
Heard
Everywhere!
PIROUETTE
By HERMAN FINCK
Composer of the celebrated
"In the Shadows"
Your customers will be asking for it
ORDER UP IMMEDIATELY AND
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M. WITMARK & SONS
New York
Chicago
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London
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