Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
66
THE
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
SKPTEMBKR 27,
1924
Iii our songs one can get a close and clear
reflection of our times and our greatness, for
we represent the last word in industrial supe-
riority and therefore prosperity. Quick, prac-
tical and tasty are the three pillars upon which
Walter Douglas, Business Manager of Waterson, Berlin & Snyder, New York, Tells of Some of
our national trade and prosperous pursuits are
the Elements That Go to Make Up the Big Selling Popular Song Hit
founded. In the last analysis, the United States,
as a single unit, is great because in its business
ID Y their songs shall you know them. Basing ber of times, it is somewhat difficult to get a and manufacturing endeavors it has acquired the
their judgment upon this sentence, what iapid impression of it. Such compositions have
wonderful habit of thinking and acting in terms
sort of an impression do the foreign visitors to to be studied with minute care and attention
of short and rapid strides; of traveling the fast-
this country get of the American people? In before the tuneful symbolism of their message
est in business and art because it uses the
other words, how do they see us through the can fully be understood. This is somewhat dif-
straightest line between all its connecting
.spectacles of our popular songs?
ficult to do in our commercial age, when things
points, which is really the road of least resist-
Among the so-called people with a classic are moving at such a rapid pace that things ance.
song complex in their mental make-ups there have a more or less abbreviated form so that
By their songs shall you know them is the
one can read as he runs, and one can listen
are many who harbor the fatuous belief that
mirror that reflects our times. Our popular
popular songs, made up of what is known as while he is in a hurry.
songs are good songs, perhaps the best that we
Most of our popular music—a few ballads have ever had, because they are being produced
jazzy and syncopated music, are representative
of our civilization drifting back to a barbaric might be excluded—is nothing more than a
in accordance with the demands of a happy, in-
series of short rapid tunes that can be mem- dustrious and contented people.
stage. This, however, is absurd, ridiculous and
orized without any effort. In a practical sense
far from the truth.
In order to get a comprehensive insight into they are operas that have been cut into more
the perplexing problem of analyzing the char- palatable sizes. Consider some of our outstand-
acter of our popular music and what is creating ing song hits and you will realize what is meant
it, it is necessary to state a few words concern- by short, rapid tunes. The popularity of "Over
There" was largely realized because it had a New Musical Comedy Produced in New York
ing the way people react to various sorts of
short, swinging and snappy tune that once heard
music.
With Friml Score Wins Critics' Approval—
The human "mind is, metaphorically speaking, could very easily be remembered. Construct
I. Harms, Inc., Publishes Music
like a large plastic slab of clay. Upon this clay the same song on an operatic plan, and, war
are recorded the impressions that we get in or no war, it simply will not go. Sentiment,
"Rose-Marie," a musical comedy in two acts
of course, is a very important factor in all and ten scenes. Hooks and lyrics by Otto Har-
the education that we absorb through our eyes
and our ears. The creases upon this slab rep- songs, but sentiment without quick swinging bach and Oscar Hammerstcin 2d; music by Ru-
resent a record of the things that we have music is difficult to put across. In our personal
dolph Friml and Herbert Stothart opened re-
observed and of the things that have been told experience we find that the popularity of such
cently at the Imperial Theatre.
sentimental songs as "Jealous," "You're in
to us. Any experienced advertising man will
"Rose-Marie" brings a new prima donna to
tell you that a sentence of five words is more Love With Every One (But the One Who Is
the musical play stage in the person of Mary
rapidly observed, and therefore more easily in Love With You)" and "Put Away a Little
Ellis. Miss Ellis, lately of the strictly legiti-
memorized, than a sentence of fifteen words. Ray of Golden Sunshine" is due in a large meas- mate but formerly with th,e Metropolitan Opera
The latter sentence may have a greater message ure to the fact that they have short, melodious
House, has a voice of such quality as to place
tunes that are rapidly conveyed to the memory
to convey, but the former makes the greatest
her at once among the two or three musical
of all normal people. The words are impor-
impression in the shortest space of time because
heroines whose voice is at least some part of
one can practically read it with his subcon- tant, but the rapid sway of the music is supreme. their fortune.
Popular Songs an American Institution
scious mind; that is, with his attention on some-
William Kent plays the comedy honors. He
thing else. With a photograph the same thing
This gives us a clearer idea as to the reason
is the source of much amusement and plays
holds true; small and simplified pictures are why popular songs, even in their jazziest forms well the part assigned him.
more retentive in the mind of a person than are of syncopated tunes, have become an American
Dennis King is the tuneful hero and Arthur
large and elaborate canvases.
institution and will continue to remain one. is Sergeant Malone of the Northern Mounted
Fundamentally we are a quick-moving, fast- Police. Pearl Regay pleased greatly with ec-
Why a Song Secures Fame
In the fields of music the tendency of a working and rapidly acting people. The Amer-
centric and acrobatic dancing and Dorothy
song to acquire national fame is primarily a ican worker is a prototype to the American
Mackaye, in a stereotyped role, was charming
sprinter and college athlete; and the American and convincingly comical.
matter of how rapidly a listener can absorb and
amusement seeker is also very closely related
retain the tunes of that song, providing, of
The score, in part made up of music above
course, that it has worth-while music and lyrics. to rapidity and speed. Kant, Shakespeare and the average standard of musical plays, contained
Spencer may have written immortal books, but
Opera and classic selections are of tremendous
several tunes that will probably become
they are a bit too massive and too slow for the nuisances before long. The numbers include
musical value—no one can deny it. But most
subway and the twelve-cylinder car.
of the classical music is constructed in such a
"Rose-Marie," "Eotler, Tom Tom," and "Why
way that, for one who has not heard it a num-
Shouldn't We." Harms, Inc., are the publish-
ers of the music.
ROBERT TELLER SONS & DORNER
Hitting the Popularity Chord With
the Great American Purchasing Public
"Rose-Marie" Scores a
Success in New York
Jenkins
Outstanding Sellers
Music Engravers and Printers
SEND MANUSCRIPT AND IDEA OF
TITLE FOR ESTIMATE
311 West 43rd Street
New York City
POPULAR
JdorationWaltz
—Recorded-
COME AND WHISPER, DEAR
12th STREET RAG—MEAN BLUES
BUY YOUR MUSIC FROM
BOSTON
Publishers
Walter Jacobs, Inc.
JACOBS' PIANO FOLIOS
STANDARD
A Complete Library for Photo-Play Pianistj
MEMORY'S GARDEN
Oliver Ditson Company
High, Medium, Low
Duet for Soprano and Alto or Contralto and Bait
MY FAITH IN THEE
Hijjh. Medium. Low
Duet
TRUSTING
BOSTON
NEW YORK
Anticipate and supply Every Requirement of Music
Dealers
White-Smith Music Pub. Co.
PUBLISHERS, PRINTERS AND ENGRAVERS OF MUSIC
Main Offices: 40-44 Winchester St., Boston.
Branch Houses: New York and Chicago.
Joe Davis Go. Chartered
The Joe Davis Music Co. was recently
granted a certificate of incorporation by the
Secretary of State of New York. This com-
pany, organized some months back by Joe
Davis, formerly head of the Triangle Music
Co., has entered actively into the publishing of
both standard and popular music. Its latest
publication is a Hawaiian folio containing ex-
clusive copyrighted selections.
Fordan With Fred Fisher, Inc.
Fred Fisher, Inc., has appointed Lou Fordan
as professional manager, and plans to release
a number of new songs during the coming weeks
which are to be exploited by both the band
and orchestra and the professional departments.
The firm has two active numbers in the fox-
trot, "Savannah," and "Pleasure Mad."
High, Medium, Low
Duet for Soprano and Tenor or Soprano and Alto
TRAIL-MATE
High, Medium, Low
Duet for Soprano and Alto or Tenor and Basi
J.W.JENKINS SONS MUSIC COMPANY
Kansas City, Mo.
You can't go wrong with this number
"Moonlight Makes Me Long for You" E I £ S ^
FRANK H. GILLESP1E
Music Publisher
1112 Forbes Street, Pittsburgh, Pa.