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IN THE WORLD OF MUSIC PUBLISHING
Conducted By V. D. Walsh
Transformation in Musical Desires of
Younger Generation and the Industry
Number of Problems Closely Related to This Discussion Likely to Be Prominent in
Programs of the Coming Conventions in the Trade
A I.THOUGH reports from standard music
* * publishers would indicate that there is not
any decided growth in business relating to the
consumption of teaching music, on the other
hand, there are very good reports as to the
health of business of music teachers.
Seemingly those who have adopted the music
teaching profession as a career find a sufficient
number of new pupils each year not only to
justify a continuance in those activities but
make it more than worth while. The ranks
of music teachers, however, are not being aug-
mented in normal proportions, that is to say,
that the increased population each season
should require more and more of this profes-
sion.
While it is true that the number of piano
teachers has not increased in proportion to the
increased population, there is no doubt that
there has been an increase in music students.
This increase, however, consists in those who
have taken up other instruments than the piano
and is noted in the number of enthusiasts for
the saxophone, tenor banjo and other small
instruments.
All of this from the music merchant's stand-
point can be considered a healthy situation.
His clientele and perhaps his volume of business
have increased and the number of those who
are interested in music in his territory has
been greatly enlarged.
The standard music publisher, however, can-
not look upon the situation with such an eye.
Much of his business in the past has been
wrapped around the use of the piano. And a
considerable portion of this business and his
interest has been with the piano student. Any
change in the musical desires of young students
makes necessary adjustments in the business
of standard publishers.
Many of the standard publishers have been
watching this changed situation as regards
musical tastes so closely that they have been
enabled to take advantage of the desires of
this new type of student. However, they are
handling a problem that has not yet attained
a permanent character, and for that reason they
have been unable to cater to these wants along
lines that would be considered the most effi-
cient.
Several of the popular houses earlier noted
this changed situation, and the consequences
are that several that heretofore were chiefly
noted for their popular publications have be-
come very important publishers of teaching
music for specialized instruments.
This business has been steadily growing with
a few popular type publishers so that they are
now considered important producers of teaching
music. For such houses the changed situation
has been ideal because it made possible a
steadily growing, standard business, in addition
to the activities of their popular catalogs.
At the coming meetings of the National
Association of Sheet Music Dealers and the
Music Publishers' Association of the United
States consideration will undoubtedly be given
to the new problems connected with the
changed musical desires of the young. The
volume of business for the merchant or for
the publisher who is wide awake has evidently
not been jeopardized. But its character has
been changed, so that it does call for a new
viewpoint, new methods and new sales ap-
proach. No doubt an exchange of experiences
of past months will be beneficial.
"Nut Cracker Suite"
in Modern Arrangement
Opera House, East Sixty-seventh street, New
York City. The meeting was unusually well
attended. The plans for the annual outing of
the Association, which will be held on June 25,
at Elks' Lodge, Oakwood Heights, Staten
Island, N. Y., were brought to completion. At
the outing, besides the annual dinner, the guests
of the day will be amused with baseball, prize
bowling, swimming and other sports. The ad-
vance sale of tickets for the coming affair has
been quite large.
Tschaikowsky's Well-known Composition Pub-
lished in Dance Arrangement by Alfred & Co.,
New York
Louis Katzman, the well-known and popular
arranger, has just arranged Tschaikowsky's
"Nut Cracker Suite" for the modern dance or-
chestra. This is being published by Alfred &
Co., 1658 Broadway, New York City.
These numbers have, from time to time, been
broadcast over the WEAF chain of stations
through Katzman Anglo Persian Orchestra
This has created a demand for them by other
modern dance combinations.
Alfred & Co. are issuing the compositions in
the following form: No. 1 Overture Miniature
(fox-trot). A. Danse des Mirlitone (fox-trot).
No. 2 B. Dance Chinoise (fox-trot). No. 3 Danse
Arabe (fox-trot). No. 4 Danse Russe Trepak
(fox-trot). No. 5 Valse des Fleurs (fox-trot).
They are published for both large and small
orchestra combinations and available for photo-
play and concert orchestras.
Music Men Meeting
The Association of Music Men, composed of
salesmen and clerks of standard music publish-
ing houses in the metropolitan area, held its
monthly meeting on April 26 at the Central
"A Kiss Before the Dawn"
Featured in "The Spider"
Number Published by E. B. Marks Music Co.
Played in New York's Latest Dramatic Suc-
cess
One of the feature numbers of the Spring
catalog of the Edward B. Marks Music Co. is
a song called "A Kiss Before the Dawn,"
originally introduced in the dramatic produc-
tion, "The Spider," now playing at Chanin's
Forty-sixth Street Theatre, New York City.
The show is one of the biggest dramatic novel-
ties in years. It is of the mystery type, the
work of Fulton Oursler and Lowell Brentano.
The song "A Kiss Before the Dawn" is used
as a love theme by Chatrand, the magician,
and the central figure of J^he drama. It is
originally introduced in the show as a waltz
and near the close of the show is played as a
32
lively fox-trot. The words and music of "A
Kiss Before the Dawn" are by Ray Perkins.
"Slow River" Scores
an Instant Success
Number From "The New Yorkers," Published
by Edward B. Marks Music Co., Takes Public
Interest
The Edward B. Marks Music Co. has what
is acknowledged an unusual hit in "Slow River,"
a number in the musical revue, "The New
Yorkers." The song is by Harry Myers and
Charles M. Schwab. Other numbers in the
same show include "Side Street Off Broadway,"
"Floating Through the Air," "You're My So
and So," "Welcome Home Your Hubby,"
"Romany" and "Nothing Left But Dreams."
The Marks Co. recently took over and issued
its first song, of which Gas Kahn supplied the
lyrics, the music being by Alfred Solman and
Jay Gorney. It is entitled "You Said Good-
night But You Meant Good-Bye."
The new dramatic production, "The Spider,"
uses as a dramatic musical novelty the song
by Ray Perkins, called "A Kiss Before the
Dawn." This is an unusual waltz, and, as "The
Spider" is an acknowledged stage success, it
should produce a wide sale.
Irving King Now Visiting
America With New Number
Writer of "Show Me the Way to Go Home"
Responsible for "The More We Are To-
gether," Published by Harms, Inc.
Irving King, young English composer, is now
spending several months in this country. Mr.
King, who is in his early twenties, will be
chiefly remembered for the popular song, "Show
Me the Way to Go Home." His latest offer-
ing which he has brought over is called "The
More We Are Together" and dedicated to "the
Ancient Order of Froth Blowers." The Ameri-
can publisher, Harms, Inc., only recently in-
troduced "The More We Are Together," but
since that time the number has jumped into
wide popularity.
Probably no song in recent years reached
such wide success in a short space of time as
"Show Me the Way to Go Home." This new-
est offering, by the same writer and of similar
character, promises to attain even wider popu-
larity in a shorter space of time.
New Feist Numbers
Among the new publications added to the
catalog of Leo Feist, Inc. is a new waltz ballad
by Abel Baer and Al Bryan called "Love Is
Just a Little Bit of Heaven." There is a new
number called "Just Wond'ring," which is also
of the waltz variety, written by Gus Kahn and
Grace LeBoy Kahn. Dolly Morse and Mabel
Wayne are responsible for "I Always Knew I'd
Find You," a number that has been recently
featured by Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra.
There is an unusual novelty number called "The
Cat." written by Isham Jones and Gus Kahn.
The Charles E. Campbell Music Co. has
moved from 357 Third street to another Third
street address, Niagara Falls, one block nearer
Falls street, believed to be one of the finest
business blocks in the Falls city. Mr. Campbell
says he has had a splendid year, and with the
new location expects better business.