Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1924 1982

PRESTO
24
CHINESE CHIN DESCRIBED
Old Seven Stringed Instrument Played by
Confucius 500 B. C. Topic of Letter
from Bliss M. Wiant.
In a recent letter to the Weaver Piano Co., Inc.,
York, Pa., Bliss M. Wiant, head of the music depart-
ment of the Peking Union University and representa-
tive in that part of China for the Weaver instruments,
described the old Chinese instrument, the Chin, and
the manner of playing it. The possibilities of the
instrument for church work are considerable and
Mr. Wiant has taken up its study and promises
President Bond of the Weaver Piano Co., Inc., a
demonstration when he returns home on a visit. This
is a quotation from Mr, Wiant's letter:
A few days ago we had the privilege of spending
an afternoon with a Chinese musician of the old
school. Through the courtesy of r two of the Chinese
professors in the University I w as invited to go to
visit with this man. William Hung went along and
acted as interpreter, although his knowledge of musi-
cal terms was at times rather inadequate.
This man is an old gentleman who has devoted his
life to the study of his own country's music. He is
the master of the ancient Chinese instrument, the
seven stringed chin, which was the favorite of the
sage Confucius. In his home he has 60 of these old
instruments, several of which are over one thousand
years old. After talking for a while and drinking
tea he took down his favorite chin and began tuning
up on.it and for an hour or so he entertained us with
the old classical music of this old race. It was truly
fascinating to see him play on it and to hear him hum
along as he played the tunes. This old chin is played
somewhat like a Hiwaiian guitar, for a string is
plucked and then the finger slides up and down the
vibrating string, thus making a sliding melody.
The test of every instrument of this kind is in its
ability to sustain the various tones made by slipping
over the vibrating string. It has a very low and soft
tone. On the side of the instrument are white dots
which indicate the places where harmonies may be
found—that is, the places where the string is divided
into vibrating segments to produce the octave and
other intervals which vibrate on the fundamental.
This man is a master of the chin—one of a very
few in China. He has written a great deal of music
for it and showed it to us. He has also studied
harmony and has discovered lost books on the sub-
ject. No one had ever talked to him about the
theoretical side of it before and he was intensely in-
terested in it. He wants to learn although he is an
old man so we have agreed that we will mutually
teach each other.
The chin only plays well the fine-toned scale which
is the classical scale of Chinese music. All the other
tones can be played but do not sound pleasing to the
Chinese ear. To develop an interest in this ancient
instrument will be a pleasant undertaking and to
adapt it for use in the Chinese Church. He also had
the pipes of pan and the ocarina and other instru-
ments the like of which do not exist in western coun-
tries. You will have to wait until we get home to
have a demonstration.
SUMMER HITS, MONEY MAKERS
Two Specials for Electric Pianos Prove Profitable to
Electric Piano Owners.
Rolls No. 1849 and No. 1852 are summer hits
which are proving great money earners for electric
piano users, is the report of the Columbia Music
Roll Co., 721 Kedzie Ave., Chicago.
No. 1849, Special Review (Selected) contains
Spain—Fox Trot; Adoration—Waltz; Blue Evening
Blues—Fox Trot; What'll I Do—Fox Trot; Never
Again—Fox Trot; It Had to Be You—Fox Trot;
Shine—Fox Trots It Ain't a Gonna Rain No Mo'—
Fox Trot; There's "Yes-Yes" in Your Eyes—Fox
Trot; Bringing Home the Bacon.
No. 1852, Very Latest Popular Dance Hits (Mid-
Summer Special), contains "Sally"—Waltz; Manda-
lay—Fox Trot; In the Evening—Fox Trot; May-
time—Fox Trot; I Hate to Think What Would Hap-
pen to Me—Waltz; Jitnminy Gee—Fox Trot; I Need
Some Pettin'—Fox Trot; Echoes from My Old Plan-
tation Home—Fox Trot; Back o' the Yards—Waltz;
Oh! Eva—One Step.
MAHOGANY EXPORTS.
Mahogany in the log imported into the United
States amounted to 2,973,000 feet in May, 1924, as
compared with 1,348,000 feet in May, 1923. The
principal countries supplying these logs were Central
America, 1,337,000 feet; Mexico, 1,043,000; Africa,
378,000; and the United Kingdom, 154,000. Philip-
pine mahogany lumber to the amount of 2,432,000
feet, 1,731,000 feet of cedar logs, and 5,228,000 feet of
hardwood lumber were imported during the month.
July 19, 1924.1
SITUATION IN SUPPLIES
Facts in Various Lines of Commodities Which Et
Into Musical Instrument Manufacture.
The British leather industry is experiencing sea-l
sonal dullness, but American business is more active]
The American Gut String Mfg. Co., Chicago]
has purchased the business of the Hart Bros. Mfgj
Co., manufacturer of gut strings and drum heads, tenj
nis strings and surgical gut.
"Fiddlestrings" is the name of a house journal pub-1
lished by Muller & Kaplan, manufacturers of strings]
154 East Eighty-fifth street, New York, Louis
Fisenne, sales manager, is editor. Among the features
of the second number just issued are an excellent
article on the care of contra-bass strings and an ar-l
tide by Otto J. Muller, member of the firm, on cov-
ered strings and how to use them.
One hundred and twenty-five mills reporting to
West Coast Lumbermen's Association for the week
ending June 21 manufactured 90,565,184 feet of lum-
ber, sold 97,393,932 feet, and shipped 95,696,008 feet.
New business was 8 per cent above production. Ship-
ments were 2 per cent below new business.
WISE VOCALSTYLE DEALER.
The Vocalstyle Music Company, Cincinnati, Ohio,
in a message to dealers, asks: "Wouldn't you like
to enjoy increased sales in playerpiano rolls this sum-
mer? One of our Ohio dealers doubled his song
and dance roll sales last summer by hitting on an
interesting plan. This Vocalstyle dealer used window
displays to call particular attention to special sum-
mer numbers. He advertised "Summer Hits" in his
local newspapers. His sales people used the 'phone
aggressively. He "talked" them to his customers.
'There are a lot of functions during the summer at
which the playerpiano is used. There's porch parties,
week end gatherings, garden fetes, out-door dances,
etc' he told them. By calling attention to the many
uses of playerpiano music in the summer he sold more
rolls than during some of the supposedly busy sea-
Plans are being developed for the' second annual
radio exposition of the Wisconsin Radio Association
which will be held in the Milwaukee Auditorium be-
ginning November 11.
T
HE commonest challenge by many advertisers concerns
the paper's circulation.
It is with them a question
altogether of quantity. But the best things about piano
advertising, from the manufacturer's point of view, have other
arguments besides quantity.
In a trade paper quality circulation is more important than
quantity circulation, for bulk of circulation is not what sells pianos
at wholesale. Nevertheless, Presto is certain that in quantity, as
well as quality circulation, it will compare favorably with any of
the piano trade papers.
Presto produces results for its advertisers. It does not ask the advertisers to
pay for waste paper or mere bulk. It covers the field, and its advertising rates are
as low as any trade paper, with anything like the same circulation, can accept.
PRESTO
The American Music Trade Weekly
417 So. Dearborn St.
CHICAGO
Carries Advertising For More Live Piano Manufacturers Than Any Other Trade Paper
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
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PRESTO
July 19, 1924.
SHEET MUSIC TRADE
MOVIE FILM PRODUCERS PLEA
Vitagraph Wants Old Sea Tunes for Special Musical
Score for "Captain Blood."
"Captain Blood," the nautical romance by Rafael
Sabatini, which Vitagraph is picturizing on a heroic
scale, is to have a special score created by one of
America's foremost composers.
Vitagraph is collecting old English, French and
Spanish nautical tunes; old Yankee sea chanteys
and legendary pirate songs, whose airs will be woven
into this proposed "symphony of the sea," and used
as its theme and motif.
Vitagraph is now engaged in exhaustive research
for this "marine musical material" and will welcome
suggestions and information, which may be addressed
to the Musical Director, "Captain Blood," Vitagraph
Pictures, 1400 Locust avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Musicians' scrap books may give up many charac-
teristic bits that may be appreciated by the musical
director.
SHEET MUSIC TRADE NOTES
A Few Items Interesting to People in Sheet Music
Department Are Printed.
A reciprocal copyright arrangement has been con-
cluded between the United States and the Union of
South Africa effective July 1. A presidential procla-
mation and a proclamation by the governor general
made the law effective.
William McDermott, of Jerome H. Remick & Co.,
district manager for northern Pennsylvania and
western New York, on returning from Erie, Pa.,
where he was feature soloist on the steamer "Ameri-
cana," said the dealers everywhere report success
with the Remick line. He has returned to Buffalo
and is working on the boat plying between Buffalo
and Crystal Beach, Ont. He has arranged a number
of window displays and placed window posters in
many stores throughout the city, creating a big de-
mand for Remick hits.
The Baltimore Music Publishing Co. was recently
granted a certificate of incorporation by the Secre-
tary of State of New York. It has a capital of $10,-
000. V. and A. Lauria and E. Levy are the incor-
porators.
In deference to the memory of Victor Herbert a
fantasy composed of a number of Victor Herbert's
most prominent and popular compositions was intro-
duced in the '"Ziegfeld Follies," which recently opened
at the Amsterdam Theater, New York.
Lyon & Healy, Chicago, reports the sale of stand-
ard and popular sheet music and books as well ahead
of last year. At the present rate of gain, it is esti-
mated that this year will exceed last by many thou-
sands of copies.
Ruth Ahern, international vaudeville headliner, was
recently heard on the KPO program in San Fran-
REMICK SONG HITS
Where the Lazy Daisies Grow
I Wonder Who's Dancing with You
Tonight
There's Yes Yes in Your Eyes
Hula Hula Dream Girl
It Had to Be You
Mandalay
Bring Back the Old Fashioned Waltz
Until Tomorrow
Twilight Rose
Watchin' the Moonrise
Counting the Days
Not Yet Susette
Arizona Stars
If You'll Come Back
Land of Broken Dreams
cisco. She sang a full program of Sherman, Clay &
Co. song hits, including "Whispering," which she
made popular in England a few years ago, "Oriental
Love Dreams," "Rock a Bye My Baby Blues," "I
Don't Know Why," "I Don't Want You to Cry Over
Me" and "I Cried for You."
ORCHESTRA PLAYED OLDTIMERS
List of Requests Nearly Stumped Leader of Paul
Specht Orchestra.
Harold Oxley, director of the Paul Specht Post
Lodge Orchestra and Okeh record artist had this sad
story to tell this week:
"The other night one of the patrons at the Post
Lodge dropped in and requested that we play 'Dar-
dennella,' 'Lily of the Valley,' 'Mon Homme,' 'Cherie,'
'Margie,' 'Georgette,' 'Do You Ever Think of Me,'
'Smiles,' 'Old Grey Bonnet,' 'Poor Butterfly.'
"I think this includes all hits of the last ten years.
At least he missed very few, and when we had fin-
ished we didn't even get thanks. All of which goes
to show that an orchestra's work is not all play."
CHANCE FOR COMPOSERS.
American composers who have hidden their cher-
ished works in the privacy of desks may now brush
the dust off their manuscripts and get them ready
for presentation, advises the Pacific Coast Musical
Review, San Francisco, which says: Josiah Zuro
announces that his orchestra, the Sunday Symphony
Society, will be glad to consider for performance the
meritorious symphonic music of native musicians.
The compositions should be original and new, though
there is no objection to pieces that have been played
once or twice before.
COLLEGE SONGS RECORDED.
A welcome addition to the collection of college
song records has been made by the Starr Piano Co.,
Richmond, Ind., with Gennett record No. 10089, for
which the Criterion Quartette sang two Kansas Uni-
versity songs, "Crimson and the Blue" (George Bar-
low Penny) and "I'm a Jayhawk" (George "Dumpy"
Bowles, '08-'ll), bubbling over with life, spirit and
youthful energy of a college crowd. Both songs haye
band accompaniment and were recorded under the
supervision of Claire L. Deitrich.
PLAYS DAWES MELODY.
The first rendition in Philadelphia of the melody
recently composed by General Charles G. Dawes,
Republican candidate for the Vice Presidency, was
given last week at the Lemon Hill Concert by the
Fairmount Park Symphony Orchestra. The first
playing of the melody was by Fritz Kreisler, who
selected the melody on its merits, not knowing the
name of the composer. Nathan Franko, conductor
of the park orchestra, said the piece is a finely written
violin composition.
REMICK SONG FAVORED.
The sales of records in the Danes-Beebe Music Co.,
Salt Lake City, Utah, arc indications of the favor for
the sheet music of the favored songs. According to
G. Todd Taylor, manager of the phonograph depart-
ment in the house named, the biggest record seller is
'There's Yes, Yes in Your Eyes," a Remick suc-
cess. The sheet music of the same song is favored
in a similar lively degree.
STATE SONG RECORD SELLS.
A big and continuous sale is reported for the Gen-
nett record of the Oregon state song, "Oregon
State," which was recorded by Walter Jenkins, of
Portland. On the reverse of the record is "My Own
United States." Mr. Jenkins is well known for his
fine voice in the Pacific Northwest section, and the
state song has the proper lyrical and musical appeal.
REMICK CONVENTION MUSIC
"Until Tomorrow" Was Tune Most Frequently
Played by Band at Recent Democratic Event.
"Until Tomorrow," a widely selling hit of J. H.
Remick & Co., was the tune most frequently played
by the band during the days and nights of the
Democratic convention in Madison Square Gardens,
New York. The count of the different tunes played
was kept by a newspaperman who became interested
in the music from its effects on the emotions of the
warring delegates. The ability of music to soothe
the savage breasts of disappointed balloters was con-
tinuously shown and the humor in the band leader's
selections often keyed up the crowd to a more genial
frame of mind.
Remick's "Until Tomorrow" was often appropriate
but the band leader had other Remick hits to use,
whose strains were familiar to most people in the
convention. "If You'll Come Back," played at ad-
journment, always evoked a good humored howl of
appreciation. Another Remick tune that got the
crowd on several occasions was "A New Kind of
Man with a New Kind of Love for Me." "Steppin'
Out" often fitted when some hopeful candidate was
losing in the balloting. Towards the end of the con-
vention the delegates with a sense of humor saw the
appropriateness of "Land of Broken Dreams."
While "Until Tomorrow" was the tune most fre-
quently played, according to the observant reporter,
"There's Yes, Yes in Your Eyes" was the one the
younger portion, the fox-troting majority, seemed to
like best.
HAROLD FLAMMER IN CHICAGO.
Harold Flammer, music publisher, New York, was
in Chicago this week. Mr. Flammer is the publisher
of the works of many prominent composers, includ-
ing Cadman, De Koven, Friml, Hadley, La Forge,
Sousa, Scott, Oley Speaks, Harriet Ware and
James H. Rogers.
HEARST HITS
You Can Take Me Away From Dixie
Forget Me Not
(Means Remember Me)
Bringin' Home the Bacon
My Dream Moon
Waiting for the Rainbow
Only a Butterfly
June
Broken Dreams
Lovers Lane Is a Lonesome Trail
If I Had You
I'm Falling in Love With a Shadow
Just a Lullaby
In a Wonderful World of Our Own
Someone Else
(Took Your Place in My Heart)
Boost Your Sheet Music Sales. Record Releases Announced.
Victor, Columbia, Brunswick, "Vocation, Okeh, Paramount
and other records played by the famous orchestras, including
Vincent Lopez, Paul Specht, Ben Selvin, Jack Chapman,
Don Bestor, Carl Fenton, Ray Miller, etc.
Q. R. S., U. S., COLUMBIA, ETC. PLAYER PIANO ROLLS
HEARST MUSIC PUBLISHERS
of Canada, Limited
HEAD OFFICE—WINNIPEG, Canada
>"ew York
-
Chicago
-
Vancouver
-
Toronto
J. H. REMICK & CO.
New York
Chicago
!
Detxvit
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/

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