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50
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
More Graphic Portrayal
of Musical Ideas
that it writes out the composition line after
line, as in prose, with no heed for the intrinsic
rhythmical grouping. He would like to have it
set down in his own rhythmic signs. His
Russian Musical Scientist Works Out New method, he opines, will be of great value in
Method of Notation, According to Advice in musical education, because insight and memory
Musical Quarterly
operate more effectively when the metrical
structure of the whole composition is clearly
Shall we dispense with the linear line in writ- presented. Indeed, he goes so far as to tran-
ing music, shall the unbroken movement of the scribe the tectonics of rhythm as a graphic sys-
staff from left to right, sanctioned by Bach, tem, and to sketch the structure of the work
J'leethoven and the other immortals, be dis- in polygons and circles, like an architectural
carded in favor of a more "graphic" presenta- plan.
tion of the musical idea and its development?
Oscar Bie, the distinguished author of an arrest-
ing article on Rhythm in the current "Musical
Quarterly," sets forth the theory for our peru-
sal, at any rate, and it is worth considering:
"A Russian musical scientist, Professor Conus, New Firm, Headed by Henry Waterson as
has undertaken the establishment of a scientific
President, to Devote Its Energies to Devel-
system of musical metro-tectonics, i. e., the oping This Field
rhythmical grouping of the entire 'lay-out' of
a composition. With this work he has traveled
The announcement is made of the formation
through Europe, for the purpose of arousing of a new music publishing company which is
interest in it and to secure funds for the dif- to be known as American Composers, Inc. The
ficult task of printing. Everywhere it is lauded offices are at 45 West Forty-fifth street, New
as a great discovery. It will be remembered York. Henry Waterson, who is president of
that Hugo Riemann's theory (his method of Henry Waterson, Inc., is also president of the
phrasing) treated a similar problem. Riemann new company, and associated with him are:
dissected' out of the music, disregarding the Harry Sigmond as general manager, and Sam-
formal bars, the connected melodic phrase, uel Chotzinoff, who is well known as a pianist
whose development and gradations he followed and writer on musical subjects, as editor.
all through the piece. This was a psychological
"The specific field that American Composers,
process, that of Conus being mechanical. Conus Inc., has been organized to develop," said Mr.
has the credit of working out his system in such Waterson, "is that of new orchestral music that
minute detail that he has probably established can win a place beside the best that is now
his principle for all time. He has made a com- being imported from Europe. We expect to de-
parative study of the greater part of accepted vote our entire energies to this field and estab-
musical literature with reference to his theory. lish for the American composer of that sort of
"He begins by excising the leading musical music an adequate publishing outlet. We know
thought in any composition, seeking for the that there is considerable talent in this country
sections in which it is repeated, and likewise and we mean to bring forward music which is
noting the subsidiary themes and the transi- worthy of preservation. The idea behind Amer-
tions; he cuts out all these parts and pastes ican Composers, Inc., is not of national-
them together in a new order, like verse-lines istic pride. We are not overlooking the im-
arranged according to their rhythmical relations. portance of musical production in other coun-
He finds parallel correspondences, or contrast- tries, but we do want to encourage the American
ed ones, close or remote; an orderly mathe- composer by according him the same recogni-
matical arrangement is always discoverable. The tion that is given the foreign composer of
connecting-links in the composition are con- equal merit."
ceived as cadences, either preparing for or pen-
etrating into the next section, or holding an
intermediate position between sections. Conus
opposes our system of notation, for the reason
PARIS, August 22.—The Associated Press says :
John Philip Sousa's stirring marches of Spanish-
American War days are enjoying an unusual re-
vival in the dancing resorts of the Montmartre
AT THE HEAD OF ITS CLASS!
and the newly opened pleasure haunts in the
Latin quarters and Montparnasse. It is not the
visiting Americans who demand encores of such
old favorites as "The Stars and Stripes For-
ever" and "National Emblem," but the native
French and Europeans attracted to Paris by
the exposition. The revival has amply proved
that the old works of the band master are just
FIFTEEN CENT
as good for the modern one-step as they were
for the two-step of earlier days. Furthermore
they provide a welcome change from over-
done jazz, languorous tangos and "the Java."
American Composers to
Encourage Orchestral Music
Sousa Marches in Paris
World Famous
McKINlEY
MUSIC
GROWS
and GROWS and GROWS!
Mil. DKAT.KR: Arp You Hitnritine the Kasy
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All of the lirst Iteprints uncl More Itig
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McKINLEY MUSIC CO.
1501-1517 E. 55th Si.
CHICAGO
ROBERT TELLER SONS & DORNER
Music Engravers and Printers
SEND MANUSCRIPT AND IDEA OF
TITLE FOR ESTIMATE
311 West 43rd Street
New York City
BUY YOUR MUSIC FROM
BOSTON Publishers
A U G U S T 29,
Schirmer Adds Numbers
to Its Concord Series
Well-known Boston Publishing House AdJ_;
Attractive Numbers to Their Well-known
Series
E. C. Schirmer Music Co., 221 Columbus a\v
nuc, Boston, Mass., publisher of "The Concord
Series," composer of music ;m
teaching of music, has added some new publi-
cations to this series. Among I lie important
additions are twenty-five chorales by John Se-
bastian Bach, selected, edited and provided with
English texts by Elsmith and Surette, '"I he
Home and Community Song Book" and "140
Folk Tunes for School and Home," also issued
with p.ano accompaniment. These are special-
ly for young children in the first, second and
third grades. "A Book of Songs for Unison and
Part Singing" for grades four, five and six,
"Twenty Marches for Use in Schools," "Robin
Hood," a play with music for children, "A
Kindergarten Book of Folk Songs," and "Har-
vard University Glee Club Collection" (part
songs for men's voices), are also included.
Mehner Wins First
Prize in Swift Contest
Pennsylvania Composer's Setting of Milton's
"Blest Fair of Sirens" Winning Work in
Firm's Annual Contest
CHICAGO, IIX., August 22.—Gustav Mehner, of
Grove City, Penn., won the fifth annual compe-
tition in music composition offered by the Swift
& Co. Male Chorus.
Mr. Mehner's composition sets to music the
poem, "Blest Fair of Sirens," by John Milton,
fie has had honorable mention in previous
competitions of the Swift chorus, but this is the
first time he has taken a prize. The chorus of-
fers annually $100 for the best musical setting
of a poem and composers from all over the
United States enter the contests each year. It
is announced that the chorus is arranging to
have Mr. Mehner's composition published.
Consult the Universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
free of charge for men who desire positions.
WORTH WEIL TUNES
WORTH WHILE HAVING
NO OTHER
(No One But You)
HEADIN' FOR HOME
SOMEONE IS STEALING YOU
FROM ME
IF I EVER CRY
(You'll Never Know)
LADY OF THE NILE
(Ish Jones' Best)
WHY SHOULD I BELIEVE IN
YOU
AT THE END OF A WINDING
LANE
INSUFFICIENT SWEETIE
OLD VIRGINIA MOON
DADDY BOY
SPAIN
Published by
MILTON WEIL MUSIC CO., Inc.
81 W. Randolph St., Chicago, 111.
Oliver Ditson Company
BOSTON
NEW YORK
Anticipate and supply Ererr Requirement of Music
Dealers
White-Smith Music Pub. Co.
PmniHritSf
Pmurnss AHD EKGKAVKKS OF MUSIC
Main O&cei: 40-44 Winchester S t . Boston.
Branch Houses: New York and Chicago.
1925
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