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54
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Conducted by B. B. Wilson
WASHINGTON THEME OF OPERA.
Composer Is Otto Wolter and George Hunold Is
the Librettist, Both Residents of Germany.
"George Washington, a Musical and Dramatic
Biography'' is the latest grand opera completed
in Europe. It deals, as the title indicates, with
the American revolution and the Father of His
Country. The composer is a German, Otto Wolter,
whose collaborator, as far as the libretto is con-
cerned, is George Hunold, also a German.
An English translation was made by the ex-
American Consul at Mannheim, J. Leute. The
opera will soon be submitted to American man-
agers with a view to its production in the United
States.
The characters introduced include Washington,
Martha Washington, John Adams, Patrick Henry,
Robert Livingstone, and two foreign soldiers under
disguised names, who represent the Polish and
German patriots Kosciusko and Baron von
Steuben.
There are three acts in the opera. At Mount
Vernon, on the banks of the Delaware on the night
of the famous crossing, and at the State House in
New York. The opera ends with the offering of
the Presidency to Washington and his acceptance.
The composer and author dedicate their work
"In Friendship to the Free American People."
JOIN THE SELDEN CO. STAFF.
Richard Nugent Becomes Sales Manager and
James S. Russell, Professional Manager for
Edgar Selden Publishing and Production Co.
Richard Nugent, for the past ten years con-
nected with the F. B. Haviland Music Publishing
Co., has become sales manager for the Edgar
Selden Publishing and Production Co., and James
Shannon Russell, writer of "Where the River
Shannon Flows" and other successes, has become
professional manager for the same company, which
is featuring Mr. Russell's latest effort, "On the
River Lee." A strong campaign is now being
planned by the Selden Company.
HIS WHISTLE ACTED AS PROOF.
Theater Treasurer Was Called Upon to Con-
vince Lady Patron That Show Was Really
the One She Desired to Attend by Whistling
the Waltz Hit of the Piece.
Following the experience of the treasurer of the
Forty-fourth Street Theater recently it would not
be surprising to see music publishers sending over
pianists and pluggers to the theaters where their
music is being used to teach the treasurers the
principal numbers in case of necessity.
A lady called up the box office of the Forty-
fourth Street Theater one day last week to order
tickets for the evening performance of "The Girl
on the Film." The treasurer answered the call,
and after assuring the lady that "The Girl on the
Film" was the production appearing at the the-
ater, was requested to whistle the waltz song suc-
cess of the piece, "Won't You Come and Waltz
We Are the Publishers oi [ the Waltz Son^
Success
"Just Because It's You"
From Ivan Caryll's New Musical Comedy
Success
"The Little Cafe"
CHAPPELL & CO., L t d .
41 East 34th St., - NEW YORK
TORONTO
347 Yonge St.,
With Me." The treasurer tried hard and succeeded
in giving a fair reproduction of the piece in ques-
tion. It was the first time the ability to whistle
was looked upon as one of the necessary qualifica-
tions of a theatrical treasurer.
THREE IMPORTANT VOLUMES.
Recent issues by the Oliver Ditson Co., Boston,
Mass., include two volumes of interest to teachers
of the violin. One is Berthold Tours' "The
Violin," an authoritative work whose scope has
been broadened through the revision and augmenta-
SONG WRITERS AS PUBLISHERS.
tion of the editor, Franz C. Bornschein. New
annotations, descriptive text and forceful illustra-
Some Interesting Remarks on the Amateur in
tions have been added to conform to modern
the Publishing Field by T. R. Lyons, in
pedagogical ideas.. This volume is admirably
Which He Resents Some Recent Criticism.
gotten up, as might be expected from Ditson.
The second volume is Henry Schradieck's "Scale
Theodore R. Lyons, manager of the Associated
Studies" for the violin, edited and revised by Franz
Song Writers, takes exception to the recent com-
C. Bornschein, who in this work has elucidated the
ments appearing in this section of The Review
regarding the fallacy of amateur song writers en- problems pertaining to the left hand; supplying
tering the music publishing game on the theory theoretical advice on fingering and bowing, with
that they might as well get all the profit as divide suggestions and special directions as to the action
of the right arm, which are invaluable to teachers.
with the publisher. Mr. Lyons after referring at
some length to the combines that apparently "con- These two volumes should be found invaluable to
trol the stage, the department stores, the jobbers teachers who desire to impart a really sound
fundamental knowledge of the study of the violin.
and the large out-puts of music, to the exclusion
Niccolo Vaccais's practical "Italian Method of
of all songs and musical numbers that are not in
Singing" has just been issued by the Oliver Ditson
the ring," takes up the cause of the amateur song
Co., with English text by Theodore T. Barker.
writer as follows:
Not only for the amateur, but also for those who
"Now, supposing you had written a song or sev-
are studying the art as a profession, this work will
eral songs, that were good, that you knew were
prove most useful and beneficial. Its practical
good, that you have sent to critics capable of judg-
exercises and studies will serve to demonstrate
ing, who said they were good, that some even com-
and explain any other method. This volume is
pared very favorably with the ruling rages, in mat-
admirably edited and progressively arranged, and
ters of worth and moment. After that you had
should be found indispensable to vocal teachers.
offered the songs to twenty-five successful publish-
ers without terms, seeking some basis of publica-
tion, and found none—after you had gone the list
of advertising for suckers, publishers (many of
Among those who were included in the official
whom had been on the inside and knew how), and
list of Legion of Honor Decorations, announced in
after some fifteen or twenty of them, had showed
Paris late last week, were Louis Ganne, the popu-
you how you could spend your money with no hope lar composer, who wrote the "Marche Loraine,"
of profit, and after you had still hunted for a pub- and many other famous military marches; Ray-
lisher that would publish and promote (even by
naldo Hahn, another well-known composer; Ca-
paying the freight yourself), and had found him
mille Erlanger, the composer, and Casalis, 'cel-
not—what would you do—go off and die, or take
list.
your chances with the other 'swelled headed ama-
teurs'? We became the amateur.
A PROMISING REMICK NUMBER.
"After publishing, the promotion—we did not
J.
H. Remick & Co. are banking heavily upon
know how it ought to be done. We supposed that
if we had singable songs, they would be sung— their latest song, "Willie Had a Motor Boat," by
Murphy and Marshall, developing into a real suc-
that if it was merchantable stuff, of merit and
cess ; and from appearances thus early in the
promise, that you could at least get one buyer in
game their hopes will probably be realized.
fifty to look at it. But we were told frankly at
many large counters that the store where the
counter was located did not buy any music. 'Yes,
The Beautiful Novelty Song Sensation
your numbers are very nice, I could sell a bale of
them, if I could get them—but this department is
of the Year
controlled by So and So (publisher), and we are
afraid you will not get them in'; and we couldn't
We also wrote letters, we have the reply: 'We con-
trol the party you addressed.' 'So and So fur-
nishes all our music' 'Well, you go over and see
So and So.' 'And So and So tell you that he does
By Fleta Jan Brown
not buy outside matter.' What would you do, sit
down and repeat that elegy written in a country
churchyard, or would jour thoughts turn to David
Already being
and Goliah, and would you sling a few words at
used by hun-
the situation?
dreds of well
"Now, my dear Review, the reason that there
are so many amateur publishers, is that they have
known vaude-
no other place to go—and if they publish at all,
ville
acts, which
they must publish them themselves—they are not
is sure to cre-
usually from the 'inside' of the 'game' (all such
seeming off-shoots are usually competition—seem-
ate a demand
ing divisions of the main bunch)—so he is apt to
for you.
be new, apt to sink some money, apt to have plenty
of trouble without having a trade paper warn the
STOCK UP
trade to look out for him, as being possessed of a
new kind of leprosy—'incompetence and ambition.'
"Or is this punishment for yelling 'Trust'?"
Witmark Bldg., 144-146 West 37th St.
"Did she come to the door when you serenaded
NEW YORK CITY
her with your mandolin?"
FRENCH COMPOSERS HONORED.
"IN THE CANDLE-
LIGHT''
M. WITMARK & SONS
"No; but another fellow came along and brought
her out with an auto horn."
Chicago
San Francisco
London
Paris
Melbourne