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THE
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW,
June-July, 1932
STRONG TELLS HOW VOGUE OF MUSIC
INFLUENCES DEMAND FOR INSTRUMENTS
E
MERSON E. STRONG, secretary of the
Fred Gretsch Manufacturing Co.,
Brooklyn, N. Y., broke into print late
last month with an interesting interview in
the Brooklyn Eagle on the shifting popular-
ity of various types of musical instruments.
He stated, for instance, that the craze for
Cuban music which developed a little over
a year ago brought in its wake a demand
for various new types of instruments. In
discussing this matter, Mr. Strong said:
" 'The Peanut Vendor' ushered in a com-
plete new cycle of popular music, and
overnight a new market sprang into exist-
ence—a market for queer West Indian instru-
ments which found the business totally
unprepared."
Orders began to arrive from all parts of
the country for guiros, the seasoned native
gourds, which play an important role in
"rumba" rhythms. There were orders, too,
for claves, or rhythm sticks, for bongos
(tom-toms) and maracas (shakers).
"It's pretty hard to say what tomorrow
will bring forth in musical circles," declares
Strong. "One sensational song like that in-
troduced over the radio by a nationally
known band can change the whole trend of
the country's musical taste in a single night."
The same holds true, he says, in the mat-
ter of individual performers. If an enter-
tainer manages to score a country-wide "hit"
over the radio, the instrument he plays will
immediately spring into popularity. As a
case in point, he recounts the amazing story
of the Jew's harp, that unpretentious little
instrument that long suffered almost com-
plete neglect by the public. A player made
a hit with one a year ago and since, it is
estimated, 100 tons of them have been sold.
Another instrument to which the radio
has given great popularity, according to
Strong, is the piano accordion. It is now
rated at the top of the list of "best sellers."
A third instrument for which a well-known
radio star has created a great demand is
the steel guitar, according to Strong, This
instrument is another "best seller." Strong
points out that it is a much different instru-
ment from the type used by the great guitar
virtuoso Segovia, however. Segovia and
other artists play a guitar made of rare
light woods and gut strings, whereas the
popular entertainers use a heavier instru-
ment with steel strings.
"One of these artists' guitars would last
a typical jazz player about half of one per-
formance," Strong says.
The guitar has replaced the banjo to a
large extent in popular favor, according to
Strong. A few years ago the banjo and
the ukulele were very much in demand.
WISCONSIN MUSIC TOURNEY
PROVES A GREAT SUCCESS
OPEN NEW MUSIC STORE
IN FOND DU LAC, WIS.
About 3,500 public elementary and high
school children, representing 93 bands, or-
chestras and choruses, and 206 solo and en-
semble entries competed at the various events
of the music tournament sponsored by the
Eastern Wisconsin Music Association, in
Milwaukee, Friday and Saturday, May 20
and 21. This tournament, the largest of its
kind ever held in this part of the country,
brought to Wisconsin for the first time a
contest including all phases of public school
music, vocal, orchestral and band, according
to J. E. Skornicka, secretary. Nearly 12,000
visitors were present at the various events.
The association was organized last fall.
Joseph Bergeim, of North Division High
School, Milwaukee, is president.
A. H. Laehn and D. O. Erickson have
formed a partnership as Laehn & Erickson,
at Fond du Lac, Wis., and are engaging
in the music and accessories business at 21
Forest avenue in that city. Both were em-
ployed at the Sande Music Shop for several
years. Mr. Laehn was previously with the
Haddorff Piano Co., of Rockford, 111.
NEW DEPARTMENT ADDED
TO THIS MUSIC STORE
The Wright Music Co., Marshfield, Wis.,
has moved from 320 South Central avenue
to the Hotel Charles building. H. S. Wright,
who has operated a similar store at Wausau,
Wis., for the past 26 years, is in active
charge. A special radio sales room has been
C.F.MARTIN&CO.Jnc.
23
installed in the balcony of the store. In ad-
dition to the music business, the store deals
in electric refrigerators. A novel depart-
ment for a music store is a soda fountain,
candy and nut retailing section, which has
been installed in the music store.
Charles W. Homeyer & Co., Inc., the
prominent music house of Boston, Mass., has
been incorporated with a capital stock of
$50,000 by Charles W. and Frank F.
Homeyer and Fred V. Tessin. B. Flanders
Music Co., of Rapid City, S. D., has opened
a branch store in Hot Springs, S. D.
Jack Mills, president of Mills Music, Inc.,
left on the Bremen for London, Paris and
Berlin, on June 6, with Samuel Jesse Buz-
zell, the firm's attorney. The trip is both
for business and pleasure and will last about
six weeks.
After a busy day or a long
motor trip, y o u crave the
comforts that The American
and The Annex afford. Good
rooms with bath, circulating
ice water, telephones and a l l
modern conveniences. Beds
that assure restful sleep. A n d
at rates of but $2.00 up.
Here you can really relax
when you visit St. Louis.
ABSOLUTELY
PIREPROOP
NAZARETH, PENNA.
Established 1833
Makers of the original MARTIN GUITAR
Guitars, Mandolins and
Ukuleles in many styles
Send for illustrated
catalogue
WILL PRODUCE THE MOST BRILLIANT TONE
AND HAVE UNSURPASSED DURABILITY
TO GET THE BEST OUT OF
YOUR INSTRUMENT USE
THESE 8TRING8.
GIBSON MUSICAL STRING CO.
Belleville, N. J.
In ST.LOU1T