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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
The Witmark & Sons "Know the Series"
Contest Won by Mrs. A. Crooker-Anderson
First Prize Goes to Canadian Member of Trade—Second Prize Won by J. J. Neuman, Third
Prize by Clifford W. Carter, and Fourth Prize by Miss Emma Sanderson
HP H E first prize of $100 in the "Know the
•"• Series" Contest, promoted by M. Witmark &
Sons, in New York, in connection with the Black
and White Series, was unanimously awarded to
Mrs. A. Crooker-Anderson, of Mason & Risch,
Mrs. A. Crooker-Anderson
Winner of First Prize
Brantford, Ontario, Canada, who won first place
in part on the strength of her selection of ten
best sellers among forty numbers in the series,
but mostly upon the finely reasoned exposition
of the reasons for her choice. The letter which
accompanied her selections follows:
"The Contest Manager—In submitting my list of best
sellers, I wish to say that Brantford, for a city of its
size (about 25,000), has very, very few trained singers,
and only about three vocal teachers. The Mason & Risch
Co. is the only firm carrying the Black and White Series,
Clifford W. Carter
Winner of Third Prize
or, in fact, any sheet music. I have been with the com-
pany for several years, and, although the Black and White
Series has always been popular with me, I will always be
glad I entered this contest, even if I am not fortunate
enough to be a prize winner, because I have played over
and studied these songs, and now realize that several of
the beautiful songs in this series I have previously over-
looked.
"I am glad to note that we are to select the songs that
we consider will be the besi sellers, because that eliminates
numbers such as 'I Come to Thee' and 'Resignation,'
which otherwise would head the list of best sellers, but
which in this city have been sung repeatedly in every
church by the very few trained singers and the many
would-be singers in this community.
" 'Sunrise and You' will head the list, no doubt, in
many larger cities, but at an amateur concert in this city
some time ago three singers came and handed the ac-
companist the song they intended to sing that evening,
and in each case the dumber was 'Sunrise and You.' So
I think it is too well known here to be classed with the
future best sellers.
" 1 . 'I Am Thy God' is my first choice, selected because
it is new here, because the words are beautiful, because
the compass of the song is moderate, not exceeding nine
notes, and because the accompaniment is not difficult and
the melody can be played with the accompaniment in
demonstrating, which is a most important feature in selling
a song.
"2. 'Comfort Ye One Another,' because the words are
good, because it presents no particular technical difficul-
ties. It will appeal to the amateurs and the general public,
who comprise our music buyers. The three-eighths time
is simple and also a little out of the ordinary in sacred
music. It is particularly singable.
"3.
'Others.'
Although the poem is familiar, few
people know that it is set to music, and the words are
an important selling feature. The music seems to fit the
words so well, and the compass is good. In this com-
munity people are very tired of the heavy, recitative type
of sacred songs, and these three are my personal choice
because they are simple, melodious and tuneful, and be-
cause they are really 'sermons in song.'
" 1 . 'Litttle White Cot in the Lane'; 2. 'In a Little
Town Nearby.' These two numbers are chosen because
they are the 'homey' songs that are universally popular,
the type of sentiment which never fails to appeal. The
first number has the suggestion of an Irish lilt to it that
makes it particularly singable.
"3.
'Just Been Wond'ring' is well written, and the
beautiful harmony contains so much 'pathos' that if the
demonstrator has a soft, sympathetic touch it will always
sell. Personally, I have never yet demonstrated that song
without selling one or more copies. We very seldom
sell a song because it has violin obligato because there
are so lew violinists here, but this song is charming with-
out the obligato and wonderful with it.
"4. "Sing Along,' because it is one of the few 'general
utility' songs. It has a real swing to it that is irresistible.
It is very bright and the school and community version
is rare and especially good for Kiwanis luncheons, lodge
meetings, socials and all forms of community gatherings.
The ballad version, I have observed, is particularly
suitable for wedding anniversaries, etc., and will be in
great demand, as songs for such occasions are scarce. It
will also sell as a march because of its splendid rhythm.
"5. 'I Never Knew How Much God Gave to Me';
6. 'Skies Are Dark When You're Away'; 7. 'The Night
Wind,' are my personal choice as the next three best
sellers here. These were chosen principally by the process
of elimination, because there are so many good songs
it is difficult to choose. However, the sea songs and the
dialect songs are eliminated because they are for the few,
not the many. Some of the others, such as 'Let the Rest
of the World Go By,' 'That Wonderful Mother of Mine'
and 'Who Knows,' are older and too well known here to
be classed with the future best sellers. It is difficult to
sell a song that the customers call 'slushy.' Numbers
S and 6 have just the right amount of sentiment without
being in that class. Number 7 ('The Night Wind') is an
artistic little gem and is nice for a recall number, or to
be used in a group."
Second prize of $75 was awarded to Joseph J.
Neuman, of Lyon & Healy, Inc., Chicago; third
prize of $50 to Clifford W. Carter, of Charles W.
Homeyer & Co., Boston; fourth prize of $25 to
Miss Emma Sanderson, of F. A. Winter & Son,
Altoona, Pa. Twenty-five other cash prizes
went to as many successful contestants dis-
tributed all over the continent. The judges
were so impressed with the high standard of
excellence revealed by many of the contestants
that they deemed it only fair to include the
names of over 100 entries under honorable
mention. All these names, together with those of
the twenty-five smaller prize winners, are given
in another part of this department. The judges
found it no easy task to make final awards of
the twenty-nine prizes competed for. Time and
again they found themselves almost wishing
there were enough prizes to cover all those con-
testants whose names appear in this week's
issue.
The judges were as follows: William J.
MARCH 20,
1926
Dougherty, of Music Trades and Musical
America; Alvin L. Schmoeger, of The Musical
Courier; B. B. Wilson, of Music Trade Review;
Adrian Boylston, of Music Trade News, and
Alfred Human, of Singing.
The contest, which began last November and
which continued up until February 15, had
more competitors and aroused more enthusiasm
than any other contest ever before held in the
sheet music trade, resulting in a large number
of replies of very high standard being placed
before the judges. This made their task a
painstaking one, for their analysis of the re-
Joseph J. Neuman
Winner of Second Prize
plies showed a remarkably high average of in-
telligence and knowledge on the part of the
retail sales personnel of the trade.
M. Witmark & Sons, in addition to the direct
and indirect interest which will accrue to the
many meritorious works in its "Black and
White" edition, have through this contest, which
in reality was an educational
campaign,
sounded a new note in sales methods. One that
not only produces interest in sales, but a plan
Miss Emma Sanderson
Winner of Fourth Prize
that adds to the intelligence and efficiency of
sales persons everywhere and which in its
larger aspects will redound to the benefit of
much other material. In fact, it is true, as the
executive members of M. Witmark & Sons feel,
that the contest has produced tangibilities.