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JUNE 19,
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
1920
SECRET OF SONG WRITING^ISJN SELECTION OF THEME
Writer of "Values" Urges More Attention to Lyrics of American Poets, Especially for Ballad
Songs—Modern Song Writers Tend to Be Superficial—Plenty of Material Available
"The modern American song writer—chiefly
the American ballad writer—is for the most
part the product of a superficial class whose
knowledge is based on scanty information and
equally spare experience," asserts Frederick W.
Vanderpool. "The most powerful motive force
toward the artistic and financial success of a
song is the one apparently most neglected—that
derived from the search and study of poems—
singable lyrics!
"The old French, German and Italian song
writers," Mr. Vanderpool commented the other
day, "studied poetry as a complement to musical
technic, and as a basic principle of their musical
education. Mentally they wedded music and
words, much as an oratorio composer thinks of
his libretto and his orchestration as one.
"Unlike the foreigner, no one American song
writer has explored or exploited an American of
English poet, either in individual songs or in a
cycle. The two great Frenchmen, Ravel and
Debussy, for instance, did much for their own
poets, Verlaine, Baudelaire and others. Like-
wise did the German lieder writers with Heine
and Goethe. We Americans have many delight-
ful books of verse, if our composers will only
set themselves to the task of investigating them.
In fact, you will find that foreign composers have
set a great number, of lyrtes in the English lan-
guage; the most notable, perhaps* and likewise
the most popular, is Schubert's "Who Is Sylvia?"
If, instead of setting the light bits of verse found
in contemporary magazines or in the columns
of the daily and Sunday newspapers, the Ameri-
can composers would make a poetical pilgrim-
age, beginning with the Elizabethan poets, I am
certain they would find rare and beautiful, as
well as singable, lyrics.
"As to the exploitation of the American poets,
especially for the ballad type of song, I can
hardly urge it strongly enough. We have had
some excellent modern verse by well-known
contemporaries, I know, because I myself have
found and set lyrics by Jessie Rittenhouse,
Charles Hanson Towne, Arthur Guiterman,
Frank L. Stanton, H. Thompson Rich and
others. These are all young American writers,
with the exception perhaps of Frank Stanton,
who belongs to an older generation, and their
material deserves not ojily passing commenda-
McKINLEY MUSIC CO.'S
New Hit Ballad
18 Cents
Pidsamnnif
tion but a permanent place in American poetical
literature.
"A song in poetry naturally makes a song in
music, and with but little research work, I feel
certain, the American composer will find much
inspiration in our own language that can be
classed as song poetry. Of course the com-
poser must have a natural ear for the beauty
of melody in words as well as in music, but I
find that a great deal can be acquired from study
and search. One's ear and soul become nicely
sensitive through natural development and steady
application. The more one reads and delves into
poetry the more keen of discernment one. be-
comes, and it means little effort on the part of
the earnest student who wishes to contribute
to American song literature to familiarize him-
self with worth-while poets and thereby create
a permanent place for himself in the artistic
world."
Mr. Vanderpool's recent compositions have
won the admiration and praise of the most dis-
cerning concert and operatic singers, on whose
programs are found many Vanderpool songs.
Among ballad lovers the designation "Vander-
pool songs" has become actually a musical slo-
gan. Of the many admirers of this talented
American, the coloratura soprano, Florence Mac-
beth, is one who says of him: "I consider Fred-
erick Vanderpool in a class by himself, for I
feel that he writes the only real ballads in .
America. His compositions .are of an artistic
standard, worthy to be used on any program."
No less an artist than the distinguished Belgian
baritone, Louis Graveure, has said: "It doesn't
seem possible that Vanderpool can be an Ameri-
can, for he writes songs of a type that I have
always regarded as purely English. They are
genuine ballads."
Someone once remarked that Mr. Vanderpool's
success is due mainly to a spontaneous fresh-
ness apparent in all his works.
"There is no secret in being natural," says the
composer. "If my compositions do not appear
labored, it is because they are set to directly
appealing lyrics. A fountain of melody must
be fed by a ceaseless flow of poetical inspiration.
'Discretion in lyric selection' should be the ideal
,of all composers."
PROMOTION FOR JOHN S. MACDONALD
Victor Co. Laboratory Manager in New York
Succeeded by E. T. King
Popular music publishers who have had occa-
sion to carry on negotiations with the Victor
Talking Machine Co. relative to the use of their
songs and instrumental numbers on Victor rec-
ords will receive with interest the announce-
ment that John S. Macdonald, who for a num-
ber of years has represented the Victor Labora-
tory in New York, has been promoted to the
position of sales manager of the company, with
headquarters in Camden. He has been succeed-
ed in New York by E. T. King.
SHIP BY STEAMER TO PORTLAND
In order to reduce the price of freight ship-
ments Louis Mack, of Mack's Music Store,
Portland, Ore., has ordered a big shipment of
music from G. Schirmer, Inc., New York, to
be sent to him by steamer. The music, which
was shipped from New York on May 4, has not
yet arrived. Further orders, said Mr. Mack, will
depend upon the length of time it takes to get
it to the Coast.
F. HENRI KlfCKMAKV
KAROLDGFRCtfT
Music Q>
The new Percy Wenrich show, "Maid to
Love," opened at Atlantic City, N. J., last week.
In commenting upon this new production the
Atlantic City papers spoke enthusiastically of
the music. It is predicted that there wifl be no
less than three distinct hits in the production.
Leo Feist, Inc., publish the score.
ARE YOU
Mr.
Dealer
taking full advan-
tage of the unusual
opportunity for extra
profit offered you by
these big promotion
campaigns? Seepages
6-7 following.
In other words, are
you featuring
Feist Songs
If not, just think it
over—think of the
easy profit you are
overlooking and de-
cide now to "hook up"
with the biggest of all
campaigns.
On page 6 is the full
page ad in the July
issue of the Ladies'
Home Journal. On
page 7 is the full
page ad appearing in
the August issue.
Read both ads on the
next two pages