August 30, 1924.
25
PRESTO
SHEET MUSIC TRADE
SHEET MUSIC OPPORTUNITIES
publishers went into effect when the resignation of
the New York manager, Frank Hanselman, became
effective last week.
The Daynes-Beebe Music Co., Salt Lake City,
Utah, recently celebrated its sixty-fourth anniversary
of its founding.
The Fenton Music Co., Chicago, now has two
stores, one at East 53rd street and Lake Park ave-
nue, and the other at Broadway and Lawrence
avenue.
"We lead where others follow," advertises R. P.
Seiler, 804 Chillicothe street, his new location, "next
door to gas office. The old, reliable piano store—
the safest place to buy."
SPECHT EXPLAINS JAZZ
In Talk Over Radio, Orchestra Leader Replies
to Critics of the Syncopated
Stuff.
In a radio talk on American Music recently Paul
Specht, the Alamac Hotel Orchestra leader and
phonograph artist said: "I want to reply to the jazz
Too Many Dealers Disregard Sure Profits Following
critics and old, learned professors and the like who
Effort to Sell the Standards.
continually splurge into the press in fits, declaring
that 'jazz music is like whisky—a powerful stimulant
Too many sheet music dealers are satisfied with
with a depressing reaction.'
the spontaneous demand for the popular songs and
"Well, briefly, if you refer to jazz of the past,
do not make an ambitious effort to stimulate in music
noisy, slam-bang style, the critics have a good, fair
of less temporary favor. The charge applies not
reason to shout, but if you or I refer to the present-
only to music dealers with a sheet music sideline but
day jazz music, I prefer to think of it as 'rhythmic
to dealers desirous of being known as exclusive sheet
symphonic syncopation,' now commonly called
music dealers.
classical jazz, a particular brand of music fit for the
The stock of the ambitious sheet music dealer is
ear and fit for the feet; in other words, it sounds as
a comprehensive one and the popular songs that
pleasing as it feels to the feet of the dance enthusi-
"Sell themselves" are but a small part of it. Standard
ast; something that is elevating instead of degrading.
songs and music, church music, teachers' books and
"Many people today seem to be surprised when I
other items go to complete the interesting stock.
tell them that members of the top-notch dance or-
The populars are all right to handle, but there are
commodities allowing bigger profits to the sheet Observant Sheet Music Department Manager Com- chestras of today must be schooled musicians, con-
servatory trained in every respect, technic, who have
music dealer.
ments on the Strange Indifference of Publishers.
taste to phrase and color their own parts. Then, too,
After all dividends are paid from profits not from
rehearsals are necessarily an important factor in the
sales. And where the dealer keeps this fact in view
Many orchestra leaders and not a few sheet music development of 'clock-like' synchronization of every
he makes a constant effort to sell standard high class dealers complain that within the past few years too
books and sheet music. It is the rule in the live many fox-trots have been produced and not enough syncopated detail, and so when you hear a rendition
sheet music department that as far as possible every waltzes. Notwithstanding that the dancing masters of modern rhythmic, symphonic syncopation, in the
patron who comes in to buy the latest popular hit in annual convention have twice declared their joint high-class cafe, hotel, ballroom or over your radio,
don't forget that it is a work of art and critics have
should be shown the better class of merchandise.
and individual favor for the waltz, the dance music no right to confuse it with the old noisy jazz that
composers have taken no suggestions from the an- originated with the African negro. This symphonic
nouncements. The fox-trot product continues a tor- syncopation was founded by scholars like Bach and
rent, while the outflow of waltzes is a dribble.
Brahms, and so by adding a good share of spicy
That the favor for the waltz has returned is proved rhythm we define modern American dance music the
A Few Items Interesting to People in Sheet Music by the generous selection of waltzes on dance pro- greatest musical educator of the masses or art has
grams everywhere. The fact was pointed out by ever known. Modern dance instructors all endorse
Department Are Printed.
the manager of a sheet music counter in a big Chi- rhythmic symphonic syncopation as the savior of
Sherman, Clay & Co., San Francisco, has issued a cago music store this week. The favor for the their business, as it gives esthetic dancing an oppor-
thematic circular called "Songs Worth Singing" and waltze, too, has been expressed in the programs of tunity to develop new steps and dances.
containing the titles of many songs published by the the theater and movie house orchestras, which gener-
When you consider what the public today expects
ally reflect the current musical tastes of the people. from
company and other publishers.
a modern dance orchestra and its leader in the
But the evidence does not seem to have any effect way of deportment, personality and showmanship, I
A. Golding, advertising manager for Hearst Music
Publishers of Canada, Ltd., has returned to the home on the music publishers, who seem to be influenced am sure you will admit the advancement of this form
office in Winnipeg, after an extensive tour in the by the momentum of the fox-trot craze days. They of music has made great strides. Orchestras are no
seem to be working automatically to keep up the longer set back in a corner, in back of sheltering
United States.
fox-trots. The music roll and talking ma- palms, as though they had to be ashamed to be seen.
One of the successes of the sheet music counters flood of
record makers seem equally indifferent to the Instead today they become the attraction and a posi-
is "Topsy," issued by the Duncan Sisters Publishing chine
popular craving for more waltzes. Fox-trots and tive necessity, for all high-class, respectable amuse-
Co., Chicago.
blues predominate and the tuneful waltz is hardly ment enterprises, hotels and restaurants.
Villet Monet, Inc., is a new music publishing firm visible with the naked eye in the long monthly
Now, then, if this form of music is like that critic's
which recently opened offices at Room 600, Pantages bulletins.
whisky, with a lasting effect, then I prefer the stimu-
Theater Building, San Francisco.
lant, although I am not a drinker, since I am con-
Harold Flammer, Inc., New York, has purchased
COMPOSERS EVERYWHERE.
vinced that modern dance music occupies a perma-
the catalog of Christian Science Songs by Francis
No particular section of the country can claim a nent place in the development of America's progres-
Porter Ross.
monopoly of music composers, especially those with sive spirit.
The sheet music department of the McDougall- the prompting to compose songs, to judge by the
Conn Co., Portland, Ore., formerly operated by F. R. origin of a large number of the compositions sent to
SONG RIGHTS IN DISPUTE.
Austen, is now conducted exclusively by the Mc- Rayner, Dalheim & Co., music printers, 2054-2060 W.
The rights to a popular song written by Edward
Dougall-Conn Co., with Stanley Bayliss as manager. Lake street, Chicago. The mid-west and southern
Tillman, Milwaukee, is in dispute between Harry
Leonberger's Music Store, recently opened at 926 states have many ambitious people, who, believing Rosenthal, trading under the name of the National
New York avenue, N. W., Washington, D. C, has they have written something worthy in the words Music Co., Milwaukee, and Carl Lipman and Ben
added a sheet music department.
and music of songs, are not afraid to try their for- Guttenstein, of the same city. It is alleged by the
Jerome H. Remick & Co. has discontinued its New tunes as music publishers. A great amount of the latter that Rosenthal broke a contract made with
York office and will concentrate its sales activities in orders for music printing received by the Chicago them by the terms of which they were to issue the
the Detroit office of the company. The action of the music printers are from music goods dealers acting song and pay him eight cents per copy. Rosenthal
for neighbors and customers or from the composers justifies his action in issuing the song himself by ex-
themselves.
plaining that Lipman had gone beyond the provisions
of the contract.
CHAS. PRAGER'S DEATH.
Bernard Prager, sales representative of the Edward
DANCE JAZZ DOOMED.
B. Marks Music Co., regrets to inform the trade that
Louis F. Chalif, New York, president of the
owing to the death of his brother Charles, who died American Society of Dancing Teachers, on arrival in
of pneumonia on August 14th, he has postponed his Chicago this week to preside at the forty-seventh
customary western trip at this time of the year until annual convention of the body, said modern danc-
Where the Lazy Daisies Grow
after Labor Day.
ing is killing and must go. And doomed along with
I Wonder Who's Dancing with You
the kicks and nudges, the shakes and shivers, is the
Tonight
REMICK BEST SELLERS.
"jazz" music that Mr. Chalif and his associates claim
There's Yes Yes in Your Eyes
"It Had to Be You," "There's Yes, Yes in Your made it so wild, and if devotees of Terpsichore don't
Eyes" and "Mandalay" hits in the Jerome H. Rem- stop "jazz dancing," "jazz dancing" will stop them!
Hula Hula Dream Girl
ick list were the best sellers last week in the sheet
It Had to Be You
A new retail music business at 312 North Second
music departments of Buffalo, N. Y. All the depart-
ment managers conceded that the best seller among street, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, was opened recently
Mandalay
under the name of Boden's Music Stores.
the three was "There's Yes, Yes in Your Eyes."
Bring Back the Old Fashioned Waltz
NOTES SCARCITY OF WALTZES
SHEET MUSIC TRADE NOTES
REMICK SONG HITS
Until Tomorrow
Twilight Rose
Watchin' the Moonrise
Counting the Days
Not Yet Susette
Arizona Stars
If You'll Come Back
Land of Broken Dreams
J. H. REMICK & CO.
New York
Chicago
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