Music Trade Review

Issue: 1915 Vol. 60 N. 17

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
75
Conducted by B. B. Wilson
NOW THE "UNITED SONG WRITERS."
SELECT SONG FOR REUNION.
Song Writers' Organization Changes Name to
Meet Desires of Musical Comedy Composers.
"I'se Gwine Back to Dixie," by C. A. White, to
Be Sung at "United Confederate Reunion"
in Richmond, Va., in June—A High Honor.
The term "popular" in the music game has a
meaning all its own, as indicated by the announce-
ment that the title of the Popular Song Writers'
Association has been changed to the United Song
Writers of A.merica, in order that such composers
as Victor Herbert, Raymond Hubbell, Silvio Hein,
Henry Blossom and others might join the organi-
zation without discredit to their professional
standing. All the gentlemen named have won no-
table success as composers, but their work was
"production stuff" and not "popular." There is a
distinction; their music is popular, but it isn't.
However, it is well to see all branches of the
song-writing craft in one big organization, re-
gardless of the standing of the individual in the
field; and, as Bill Shakespeare said, "What's in a
MAY ADOPT NEW PARCEL POST PLAN.
Post Office Department May Install "Collect on
Delivery" System if Permission Is Granted.
It is reported that the Post Office Department
has in contemplation a plan for installing a "col-
lccr on delivery" system in connection with the
parcel post similar to the system in effect with
the. express companies.
The Comptroller of the Treasury, in a decision
o'.i the matter, said he doubted the Department's
authority to put the plan into operation, but that
it might be possible under the law, if the Inter-
state Commerce Commission's consent, which is
required, can be obtained.
Under the proposed plan the postmaster at the
receiving office would affix and cancel "postage
cine" stamps to a parcel, and on its delivery the
postmaster at the receiving station would refund
to him an equivalent in uncanceled postage due
stamps.
It has been known for some time that the De-
partment desired to put the parcel post on a
closer competitive basis with the express com-
panies, and the matter of prepayment of postage
has been an obstacle in its way.
The proposed system, if put into effect, should
prove of much benefit to the music publishers and
jobbers in cutting down their delivery expenses.
McKINLEY SUCCESSES
SONG HITS
One Wonderful Night (You Told Me
You Loved Me)
The Kiss That Made You Mine
Roll Along, Harvest Moon
In the Evening by the Moonlight in Dear
Old Tennessee
I'll Return Mother Darling to You
The Hours I Spent With Thee
They All Sang "Annie Laurie"
Sing Me the Rosary
In Honolulu by the Sea
I Long to Hear the Old Church Choir
Again
Sue of the Cumberland*
DANCE SUCCESSES
Original Fox Trot (Klickman)
Daddy Long Legs Hesitation Waltz
Dream Waltz from "Tales of Hoffmann"
One Wonderful Night Hesitation Waltz
Hesitation Waltz (Klickman)
"FAMOUS McKINLEYTENCENT MUSIC"
McKINLEY MUSIC CO.
Chicago
New York
ONE MILLION COPIES
will be told of these 3 big instrumental hits. We picked
them as our "Big" ones for 191S and we are going after
"good and forte." You know what that means.
(Special to The Review.)
BOSTON, MASS., April 19.—It has been learned
here that at the annual "United Confederate Re-
union" to be held in Richmond, Va., on June 1, 2
and 3, the children of the public schools of that
city will sing a number of the old Southern songs
for the entertainment of the visitors. Among the
old-time melodies already programmed is included
"I'se Gwine Back to Dixie," by C. A. White,
which should stamp it as one of the official songs
of the South. C. A. White, composer of "I'se
Gwine Back to Dixie," is a member of the White-
Smith Music Publishing Co., of this city, who pub-
lish the music of the piece, and the selection of
the number for the reunion is especially gratify-
ing.
SING YOUR PHONE NUMBERS.
Scientist Discovers New Plan for Remember-
ing Telephone Numbers by Setting Them to
Music—A Chance for Good Arrangers.
Most people have more or less trouble in re-
membering telephone numbers, and some ingenious
scientist has suggested thai the easiest way to re-
member telephone numbers is to whistle them, or
hum them.
Suppose that the ten numerals represent an oc-
tave and a third in music, from C natural to E
natural (leaving out sharps and flats). Then such
an awkward number to remember as 1358, for
example, would be the regular arpeggio.
The tune of the word "Tipperary" in the song
"It's a Long Way to Tipperary" would be the
number 6780. Who, having that numbe'r and know-
ing the tune, could ever forget it? In the same
way the tune to which you sing the words "red,
white and blue," in the song of that name, would
be number 2543.
There are a large variety of numbers which
naturally make a very pretty whistle call. The
New York Fire Department number 4100 whistles
just like a fire call and in other cities, quite queer
and significant melodies will show up when com-
pared with this scale of notes.
Really good musicians, or those who have a good
ear, even though they be not musicians at all, will
be able to carry the idea much further than this,
for they will be able to give the correct scale pitch
to every exchange. You can try this on your
piano.
Thus one exchange could be in the key of C
natural, another in the key of E flat, and so forth.
Then minor and major changes might be rung
if desired.
It would appear that the scheme affords the
busy Broadway songwriter an opportunity for
weaving the telephone numbers of his friends into
a tuneful little number without creating undue sus-
picion.
It might bring back the old days in West Thir-
ty-eighth street when the whistling of "The Merry
Widow Waltz" would result in d bombardment of
latch keys.
"
,-..'',.
LEO FEIST'S HAWAIIAN SONG.
A new Feist number that is coming along strong-
ly is "Hula, Hula Love," a number of the
Hawaiian type that is being featured by a num-
ber of prominent performers. Reinie Davies sang
the song in Chicago with such success that several
paragraphs in the regular review of the show were
devoted to her excellent work and to praise of
the song.
SILVER FOX
FOX TROT
An instantaneous sure fire Rag^y Fox Trot,
-it by Henry Lodge. We are having calls for |
it everywhere.
A LA CARTE
ONE STEP
Abe Holimann's jingling, tingling, ringing
ne step. A sensational instrumental number,
GERALDINE
VALSE HESITATION
The catchiest, most melodious and charming
•alt* published. A musical masterpiece by
Henry Lodge.
JEROME H. REMICK & CO.
THB HOUSE THAT MADE INSTRUMENTAL
MUSIC FAMOUS IN AMERICA.
.DETROIT, MICH.
NEW YORK, N. Y*
NEW MANAGER IN BUFFALO.
Murray Whitman Takes Charge of Waterson,
Berlin & Snyder Co. Store—Jack Yellen
Back from Vacation in South.
(Special to The Keview.)
BUFFALO, N. Y., April 17.—Murray Whitman,
well known and popular in the sheet music trade
here, is now manager of the new Waterson, Berlin
& Snyder Co. store in Main street, Mr. Whitman
replacing "Billy" Shirley. Mr. Shirley is now di-
recting the destinies of the big Waterson, Berlin &
Snyder Co. store in New York.
Jack Yellen, a song writer of note of this city,
who with George I.. Cobb, also of Buffalo, lias
written several Reniick and Shapiro, Bernstein &
Co. hits, has just returned to Buffalo after a three
weeks' sojourn in the South. "On the Road to
Dublin Town," which is warbled sweetly by Evelyn
N'.'sbit, is a Yellen-Cobb concoction, as is "Ala-
bama Jubilee," a song that Elizabeth Murray has
made popular, and also other well-known songs
of the daw
JOIN THE BOARD OF TRADE.
Two recent and important additions to the ranks
of the Music Publishers' Board of Trade are G.
Schirmer and G. Ricordi & Co., both concerns of
high standing. The two new names brings the
membership of the Board of Trade up to four-
teen.
We are the publishers of
THE SONG OF SONGS
(Chanion du coeur brite)
Music by Moya
Three Keys: Ab, Bb and D
Send 12 Cent, for Sample Copy
CHAPPELL & CO., Ltd.
41E. 34th St., NEW YORK
CanadUn Branch
347 Yonge St., TORONTO
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
76
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
A REAL IRISH SONG THAT HAS WON OUT ON MERIT.
How "When It's Moonlight in Mayo," the Latest Success Among the Numerous Publications of
Leo Feist, Inc., Was First Featured and How It Achieved Popularity—A Leading Feature
of Fiske O'Hara's Latest Play "Jack's Romance"—Highly Praised by Critics.
The psychology of song popularity has long
been tlr> study of those who have to do with the
publishing of the bulk of our music of to-day,
the sort known as "popular," though it is not
usually referred to in that particular way. The
idea of rinding out what the public wants and
endeavoring to make a good guess at it is the
real basis of the music publishing business to-day
—the basis upon which sales totals are built,
despite all the talk there may be regarding the
"forcing of hits."
Some popular songs have sought success and
won it. Others have won success through their
intrinsic merit, not suddenly and over night, as
it were, but gradually, the sort of success that
generally means a long and profitable life. One
of the numbers to be included in this category is
"When It's Moonlight in Mayo," the beautiful
Irish ballad by Jack Mahoney and Percy Wenrich,
two of the stars in the music game.
For considerably over a year "When It's Moon-
light in Mayo" has been moving along quietly with-
out being featured very strongly. Then one night
Percy Wenrich, the composer, and his partner,
Dolly Connelly, sang the number while appearing
in vaudeville at the Majestic Theater in Chicago
so effectively that several of the critics gave more
favorable attention to that one song than they did
to the balance of the show. From that time on
"When It's Moonlight in Mayo" has enjoyed a
high place among popular music in the West.
Before the Wenrich triumph, however, Van and
Schenk, the popular pair of vaudeville artists, were
singing the number while on their tour of the
Keith houses in the Eastern cities, and winning
encores at every performance.
The greatest tribute to the vaJue of "When It's
Moonlight in Mayo" as a song, however, came re-
cently when Fiske O'Hara ran across it accident-
ally and introduced it in his Irish comedy drama
"Jack's Romance," which is proving one of the most
successful vehicles in which Mr. O'Hara has ever
appeared. The theatrical critics were quick to show
their appreciation of the value of the new number
in their reviews of "Jack's Romance," and a writer
in the New York American went so far as to say:
"Fiske O'Hara, the popular romantic actor of
O'Hara's delightful comedy at the Bronx Opera
House this week agree with him."
The cartoonists also found an opportunity to do
some excellent work in connection with "When
It's Moonlight in Mayo," both in connection with
the singing of the number by Fiske O'Hara and the
featuring of it in vaudeville. The spirit of old
Ireland that pervades the song is strongly indi-
cated in the work of the cartoonists, several exam-
ples of which are reproduced herewith. The car-
toons appeared in the dramatic section of the lead-
Loving Irish arms will press me,
With true Irish love caress me,
And sweet Irish lips will bless me
When it's moonlight in Mayo.
The most convincing proof of the genuine suc-
cess of "When It's Moonlight in Mayo" is afforded
m
A Cartoon of Fiske O'Hara Singing 'When It's Moonlight
New York Journal.
ing New York and Chicago papers, where they
were viewed by millions of readers.
Of the several writers who were enthusiastic re-
garding the sentiment of the song, one analyzed
the spirit in a particularly interesting manner as
follows:
"Environment has a whole lot to do with the
successful singing of a song. You can spoil an
honest-to-goodness diamond with a bad setting,
but is always feels at horn, 1 in an 18-kt. gold band.
So the man who knows how to set things, espe-
cially the man who has the real thing, nine times
out of ten puts over a winner.
"Every Irish heart swells up with war sentiment
at the strains of 'When It's Moonlight in Mayo,'
A Cartoonist's Conception of How Van and Schenck, Prominent Vaude-
villians, Featured "When It's Moonlight in Mayo."
the good-natured Irish go-lucky types, had plenty
of songs in his new play, 'Jack's Romance.' But
the other day he accidentally came across another
called 'When It's Moonlight in Mayo.' And Fiske
O'Hara an hour later was glad that he did hear it,
for he had picked for himself the ballad hit of
the season.
"'When 1 heard "When It's Moonlight in Mayo,"
played for the first time,' said Mr. O'Hara. 'I
knew instinctively that it spelt success. Played
over, I naturally sung it and, singing it again in
the full strength of my voice, I felt it fit me like
a glove. And then I- saw I had in my play, "Jack's
Romance," just the ideal setting—just a place where
the hero wants to sing his love to his sweetheart.
I'm sure now I never had a better ballad.'
"Surely the large audiences enjoying Mr.
haunts your car like some witching folk song
you've learned as a child, yet not suggesting any
definite one, because it is purely original and not
in the least an imitation."
The words of the chorus are:
Now two Irish eyes are shining,
And an Irish heart is pining,
j
!
Where I kissed her and caressed her,
In the gloaming long ago.
in
Mayo" as It Appeared
in the
by the sales reports of Leo Feist, Inc., the pub-
lishers, who state that the demand for the number
from dealers in all sections of the country reache >
a volume that exceeded all expectations. Commu-
nication with a number of active dealers serves to
bear out the statement that they regard "When
It's Moonlight in Mayo" as a great and lasting
song hit. Certainly wherever Fiske O'Hara has
traveled a heavy demand for the song follows.
The same rule holds good in connection with the
appearances of a large number of prominent vaude-
ville singers who are using the number.
In handling "When It's Moonlight in Mayo," as
is the case with others of their publications that
show signs of a promising nature, Leo heist, Inc.,
Another Artist's Idea of the Sentiments Aroused by the Lyrics and
Melody of "When It's Moonlight in Mayo."
and every music lover of whatever extraction who
enjoys the entrancing Celtic melody that runs
through such masterpieces as 'Believe Me If All
Those Endearing Young Charms' and the 'Kerry
Dance' will be delighted with this newest success
in the realm of Irish ballad music.
"There's a winsome, plaintive sweetness in the
tune of it that gets right down into the cockles of
your heart and makes you feel a thrill of sympathy
with the emigrant lad who is singing so wistfully
of the darling little colleen he left 'Just a Year
Ago in Mayo.'
"It is an Irish love song as pure in its sentiment
as the mountain dew, and as fetching in its appeal
as the big limpid blue eyes of Erin's comely daugh-
ters. Like all successful ballads it combines great
beauty of melody with simplicity of form. The tune
proceeded to have the song thoroughly tested out
through professional channels, through the me-
dium of their large department devoted to that
work, before the song was taken up as a .sales
proposition, which means that the element of
chance has been largely eliminated.
In addition to the extended reviews in the the-
atrical department of various prominent news-
papers, the number has also been advertised ex-
tensively through the regular channels and will
be featured still more extensively in the future.
These efforts, combined with the merits of the
song itself, cannot fail to have an excellent effect
in stimulating the retail demand.
It is very seldom that a song of any character,
wins so much popularity on its own merits, which
means that it wiU bear watching,
!

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