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THE MUSIC TRADE
MARCH 13, 1920
11
REVIEW
THE MUSICAL STANDING AND TRADE
DEVELOPMENT OF NEW ORLEANS
E. P. Van Harlingen, Western Manager of The Review, Gives His Impressions of
the Leading Personalities and Houses in the New Orleans Trade
IH
imbued with the idea that there has been a South a n d t h e o t h e r surely destined t o b e c o m e
writer's three months' stay in the South he has wonderful rise in public sentiment, and, besides, so. T h e N e w c o m b M e m o r i a l College, o n e of
heard several men engaged in the selling those who have always deplored certain condi- the d e p a r t m e n t s of T u l a n e University, h a s c o n -
of pianos and player-pianos and talking machines tions and tendencies here now possess the cour- nected with it a music school of excellence a n d
make some very significant statements. The age of their convictions, and a change is speed- r e n o w n . L e o n Rider M a x w e l l is t h e c o m p e t e n t
head a n d associated with it is D o c t o r Giuseppe
thing that has impressed him the most is the ily coming.
The history of New Orleans is very, very F'errata, a m a n of i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e p u t a t i o n a n d
emphasis on a belief that the Northern manu-
facturers in these lines as they approach nor- French. Naturally, there is very much of the a c o m p o s e r of m a n y i m p o r t a n t s y m p h o n i e s .
mal outputs again should figure the South in on musical connected with it. Not all of it
T h e N e w O r l e a n s C o n s e r v a t o r y of Music a n d
a radically different basis than they have before; Frenchily musical, but musical. Leaving out of Dramatic Art was opened last September. It
in other words, the allotment given the South consideration for a moment the famous French occupies commodious quarters in a fine old
should not only be greater in actual numbers of opera, which for so many years had its home in
instruments shipped, but, the Southerners be- the wonderful Opera House which burned re-
lieve, in percentage of total production assigned cently, you find evidences of the thing musical
wherever you go. In the French quarter and
elsewhere y6u have pointed out to you the birth-
places or residences of composers, pianists and
singers.
The original Northern and Southern Versions
of Dixie were both first published in New Or-
leans. When Jenny Lind was in this city she
lived in a house which occupied the center of
one of the rows of Pantalba buildings flank-
ing the Place d'Armes opposite the Cabildo.
The French Opera and Its Decay
New Orleans, we are told, was the first home
of opera in America, maintaining its own im-
ported company throughout a season as far
back as when Washington was President. In
French Opera House, New Orleans
1859 Boudousquie, the manager, who had been
to the South. They are not dogmatic on the conducting opera at the old Orleans Theatre,
latter point, but they do think, and they back formed a French Opera Association, with a
their belief up by extended and convincing de- capital of $100,000, and the famous building was
scriptions of conditions down here, that the erected at the corner of Bourbon and Toulouse.
present wonderful prosperity of the South is on It was formally opened in December of
a firm basis. Many of them also believe that, '59, with "Guillaume Tell." French drama al-
ternated with opera for some years until the
even if the predictions of Babson and others of
the fearists come true to some extent, it Civil War, when the building was dark until
will not affect the South very much. All these 1866. The new director was then on his way from
Parham Werlein
matters will be gone into in extenso, as far as France with a large company of artists on board building at the corner of Felicity and Coliseum
the ability of the writer permits, in future let- the "Evening Star." Accompanying them were streets, which is noted, among other things, for
ters, but he simply wishes to register the atti- James Gallier, the architect, and his wife. The having been General Sheridan's headquarters in
tude of thinking men all over the South, and ship was lost, and every one on board perished. the Civil War. Parham Werlein, present head
to state the belief that this prosperity means, L. Placide Canonge, Max Strakosch and de of the music house of Philip Werlein, Ltd., is
and will mean, the sale of vast numbers of musi- Beaupian were among the succeeding directors. largely interested in it financially and is the
cal instruments. It should also be said that the
The opera thereafter never resumed its for- executive advisor. The director is Prof. E. E.
big, conservative men who give voice to these mer prestige. Some very good principals were Schuyten, graduate of the Brussels and Antwerp
impressions—the result of frank and careful study secured, but the performances lacked the artistic conservatories, the former head of the violin
of conditions—are not blind optimists. They merit and the unity which existed when the en- department of the Newcomb School of Music.
recognize the existence of reactionary tenden- tire companies, chorus and all, were organized
The New Orleans Trade
cies. They also believe that the general and in France and imported in their entirety. The
The New Orleansian measures time by cen-
vital urge is towards gradually increased pros- attendance fell off, and the final heart-breaking turies and half centuries, not by decades. Still
perity along the lines now evident and along in blow was delivered when the old opera house. he can be a little meticulous if he wants to.
some lines not superficially manifest, but which
the man who sees below the surface knows con-
stitute strong potentialities which soon must be
translated into facts -that all the world may
recognize.
NEW
ORLEANS,
LA., March
6.—During the
Many of these potentialities are profoundly
spiritual in their nature, but mean much
in that they presage the creation of an ethical
and aesthetic atmosphere which will cause the
development of music in the South along higher
lines than ever before, with its inevitable re-
sultant increased sales of all kinds of musical
instruments.
A visit to New Orleans during the recent rac-
ing season and during Mardi Gras would hardly
realize the force of these statements as applied
to this city. But one who talks with leading
business men of this city, and with the leaders
in academic and musical thought, knows that all
these things are. merely superficial. He becomes
FOR TONE, BEAUTY
AND LASTING
A
ACCOMPLISHMENT
Managerial Staff of Philip Werlein, Ltd.
Left to right: Paul S. Felder, secretary and treasurer; P. M. Harris, sales and advertising manager; Mrs. Maude M.
Wilmot, manager country sales piano department; J. D. Moore, manager wholesale Victor department
with its historic and personal associations, was
burned.
Music Schools
There are two important music schools in
New Orleans, one already known all over the
The native here cannot forgive Bienville for
having given New Orleans its start in 1718,
seven whole years after he founded Mobile.
But with this exception the New Orleans man
{Continued on page 13)
P I A W O S
AND
TheWERNER INDUSTRIES CO.