Presto

SHEET MUSIC TRADE
JAZZ TUNES FOR DANCERS
Although Dancing Masters' Association, in
Convention, Has Twice Condemned Them,
the Jazzful Song-Dances Continue to
Appear.
Songs are so closely related to dances that the atti-
tude of the dancing masters is a matter of more or
less importance to the song writers, song publishers
and the people who sell the songs in the sheet music
form. To the music publishers, however, the im-
portance of the attitude of the dancing masters is of
the less kind.
From two recent conventions of the men who cre-
ate the new steps and ordain the new dance forms
the fiat went forth that "jazz must go." 'Tish, and
a few tushes," retorted the sheet music publishers.
"A fig for fiats, declarations and pronunciamentos
from the dancing masters." Of course, they didn't
say it in so many words, but by their actions they
meant it. They were too busy producing pepful fox-
trots and blues to heed the gloomy forebodings of
the dancing masters who believe the unrefined music
is a reversion to the primitive.
The controversy between the dancing masters and
the producers of jazz music is an old one. "Jazz has
its exponents and if you take a ballot on any dance
floor the ayes for jazz will be overwhelming," say
the music publishers. They add, too. that they are
not averse to giving' the public a higher type of
music. The publishers are often rather nifty con-
'noisseurs of art and would love to see the public
musical taste on a pinnacle as high as the Wrigley
Building. But why, they ask, should they spend good
money hopelessly trying to force any particular brand
of music on the people?
The answer is that you cannot separate the modern
dance from jazz or anyway from tunes of the jazzy
flavor. Jazz seems to be essentially the music of the
modern dance. You may hear people, men and
women, reviling the jazzy measure one minute and
gaily cavorting to its strains the next. Refined peo-
ple, too. When the saxophone moans its invitation
to the floor there is a response from the very people
whose trained ears cannot reconcile the jazzy strains
of the saxophone with their standards of good music.
REMICK SONG HITS
Where the Lazy Daisies Grow
Watchin' the Moonrise
I Wonder Who's Dancing With
You Tonight
If You'll Come Back
So I Took the Fifty Thousand
Dollars
Arizona Stars
Until Tomorrow
Somebody's Wrong
You Can't Make a Fool Out of Me
Twilight Rose
Nearer and Dearer
Land of Broken Dreams
Steppin' Out
You've Simply Got Me Cuckoo
Bring Back the Old Fashioned
Waltz
Chicago
But all the dance hits that have allured the dancers
and made money for the publishers have not been
jazzy. Some of the big winners have won on sheer
merit not remotely suggesting jazz. And it is safe
to say they have had an influence for the best on the
people the dancing masters would artistically save.
The tunes are used for dancing and the dancers enjoy
them because they have the element of snap without
jazziness.
So perhaps, after all, the behests of the dancing
masters have had some effect. But so long as the
dance orchestras and the dance clubs insist on the
supply of jazzy tunes, the jazzy song-dance music
will continue to come from the publishing mills.
SHEET MUSIC TRADE NOTES
A Few Items Interesting to People in Sheet Music
Department Are Printed.
The Indianapolis Public Library has been pre-
sented with the Alexander Ernestinoff music collec-
tion by the board of governors and the advisory board
of the old Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. The
collection consists of more than 100 volumes of com-
plete orchestral scores and twelve volumes of music
histories.
Six Portland, Ore., theater orchestras featured
Remick hits in programs last week.
A seasonable feature in the Oliver Ditson Co., Bos-
ton, this week was the "Irish Window." The decora-
tions were in the Irish Free State colors and Irish
songs and dances were featured.
Des Moines, la., sheet music dealers are interested
in the announcement that the State Association of
Music Teachers will hold its annual convention in
that city, April 3, 4 and 5.
Among the best sellers in Portland, Ore., at the
present itme.. according to Maybelle Elliott, manager
of the sheet music department of Seiberling-Lucas
Music Co., on Fourth street, are Remick's "Where
the Lazy Daisies Grow."
A MODEL DEPARTMENT.
The sheet music department of the Seiberling-
Lucas Co., Portland, Ore., has always been a big
feature of the firm. To take care of the large stock,
sixteen files of four drawers each have been installed
in the rear of the sales counter. Each drawer holds
approximately ten boxes of the old filing system.
This makes it possible for the saleswomen to select
a number instead of going through two or three inches
of music. A further advantage in the new system is
that the files only stand four and a half feet high,
which eliminates climbing up and down to reach the
stock. They also give the department a neat appear-
ance and make it possible to keep the music in order
at all times. This is the first music house in Port-
land, and the second in the Xorthwest, to install this
system.
ANSWER IN PUBLISHERS' SUIT
Chicago Board of Trade Questions Legality of Stand
Taken by American Society.
Legality of the stand taken by the American So-
ciety of Composers, Authors and Publishers in its
fight with "unlicensed" broadcasters relative to the
right of the latter to send copyright musical numbers
over the air was questioned last week by the Chicago
Board of Trade, as owners and operators of broad-
casting station W D A P on the Drake Hotel.
In filing an answer in the federal court to a suit
brought by the Forstcr Music Publishing Company
Board of Trade attorneys contend that the copyright
act governs only sound waves in its regulation of the
reproduction of music and does not cover the subse-
quently developed science of broadcasting music with
the aid of electrical waves.
The answer also holds that the American Society
of Composers, Authors and Publishers is a combina-
tion in restraint of trade in violation of the Sherman
anti-trust act.
In the plaintiff's statement it is alleged that WDAP
is used to stimulate business of the trade board and
for advertising purposes.
In the answer it is stated that the object of the
station is to broadcast market reports and disseminate
information that will tend to curb disapproval of the
Board of Trade and the tendency to enact legislation
aimed at its existence and prosperity.
JAZZ MUSIC GONE ASTRAY
Music from Jazz Orchestra in London Intended for
American Ears Dimmed by Distance.
England's threat to inflict jazz on Jazzland by
means of radio was not carried out to satisfaction of
the threateners. A day last week was set aside when
the air waves would be saturated with the jazziest
American tunes, and, although the first organized
attempt at broadcasting from England to America,
by combining all nine of the high power British sta-
tions in one super-system, was not a general success,
it was heard in at least two instances by responsible
amateurs in New York.
Judging from the lack of reports up to a late hour,
it appeared probable that, the country over, the am-
bitious project had not succeeded to the extent antici-
pated. But W. G. H. Finch, radio editor of the New
York American, was able to hear faintly the strains of
"I Love You," announced as the first number by the
Jazz orchestra in London.
PROGRESSIVE TENNESSEE DEALER.
The Tallent Music Company has bought of E.
Waterhouse the Lyric Theater building on Main
street, Dayton, Tenn., and the company's stock of
music, musical instruments and musical merchandise
of all kinds has been moved into the new building.
The new home will be remodeled and greatly im-
proved. In the building Mrs. Tallent has fitted up a
music parlor and a music studio. She will receive a
limited number of pupils for violin, saxophone and
piano.
FAVORS FOR SYNDICATES.
"The small dealer will always be a small dealer if
the publishers continue to discriminate against him by
favoring syndicates with a better wholesale rate. The
syndicate has the advantage inasmuch as ordinarily
they are operating with capital. Now favor them
with a special price and they usually use the music
department as an advertisement from which they
must not necessarily look to for any return, whereas
the dealer is trying to eke out an existence,'' said S.
Ernest Philpit, the Florida music dealer, in a recent
message to the sheet music trade.
DEFENDS PUBLISHERS' SOCIETY.
J. H. REMICK & CO.
New York
25
PRESTO
March 22, 1924.
Detroit
Mort Schaeffer, of M. Witmark & Sons, music pub-
lishers, at the meeting of the Association of Musical
Merchandise Manufacturers in the Chicago Zone, held
in the Hotel Morrison last week, defended the stand
taken by the American Society of Authors, Com-
posers and Publishers in the questions in dispute be-
tween the society and the radio broadcasters.
ERS
MUSIC PUBLISHERS INCORPORATED.
Articles of incorporation for the Lillenas Publishing
Company, an Indianapolis music publishing firm, have
been tiled by Haldor Lillenas and Joe Overmyer, of
Indianapolis, and Emory W. Petticord, of Portland,
Ore. Capital stock, $10,000.
SONGS THAT SELL
"I Ain't No Sheik, Just Sweet Papa,
That's All."
"I've Got a Man of My Own."
"Houston Blues." "The Fives."
"Muscle Shoals Blues." "The Rocks."
"You Have a Home Somewhere."
"Up the Country Blues."
"Shorty George Blues."
"I've Found a Sweetheart."
"Mammy's Little Brown Rose."
and the Sensational Waltz Success
"AT SUNDOWN"
Order From Your Jobber or Direct.
Geo. W. Thomas Music Co.
428 Bowen Ave.
Chicago, U. S. A.
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