July 4, 1925.
PRESTO
CHRISTMAN
"The First Touch Tells"
ENCOURAGING THE
MUSIC WRITERS
New York Publishing House of J. Fischer &
Bro. Puts Forth Entertaining Series of
Booklets in Which Living American
Composers Are Given Their Due.
MOVE IN RIGHT DIRECTION
CHRISTMAN
Reproducing Grand
Equipped with
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Is a marvel of tone and expressive
interpretation of all classes of com-
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performances of the world's great-
est pianists.
Put New Life Into Your Trade
By Selling the Famous
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(only 5 ft. long)
It will Fascinate any Discriminat-
ing Customer and Insure the Sale.
CHRISTMAN
GRANDS, UPRIGHTS
PLAYERS
AND
REPRODUCING PIANOS
"The First Touch Tells"
. U. t. Pat. Of.
Christman Piano Co.
597 East 137th St.
New York
At Last There Seems to Be a Chance for Our Native
Musicians to Secure the Kind of Recognition
Their Talents Deserve.
Here's something worth while—really worth while.
Tt has been common enough to read slushy praise of
unknown musicians and writers, phrased in the lan-
guage of the night-working newspaper or couched
in the vernacular of the lay enthusiastic in music,
whose only qualifications may be the "gift" of say-
ing things without much meaning. Even so-called
musical criticism, as we find it today, often has little
bearing upon the understanding of either music or its
interpreters. Much less of the ones by whose divine
passion music is created.
Consequently and therefore, we say that something
worth while has been done, or is being done, by the
great music publishing house of J. Fischer & Bro.,
New York, in the putting forth of a set of "Studies
of Contemporary American Composers," by John
Tasker Howard. And, even were Mr. Howard's
writings less fluent, or even lacking in the always
apparent understanding of his subjects, the plan of
doing something for American composers would be
commendable. It must be applauded. We have been
told, over and over again, that all the efforts of our
critics and publishers, as well, also, as of our audi-
ences, is to promote the genius of foreigners. Any-
thing that will contradict that notion and, better
still, disprove it, must be welcome, and must wprk
a great good to the musical possibilities of our coun-
try.
American Music.
We are a musical people—no longer can that be
questioned. We have produced some of the greatest
singers, and many remarkably proficient pianists and
violinists. Our musical directors are the equal of any
of the imported talent, and in popular songs we have
led the world, and even set a new pace, as the attend-
ant at any London or Paris music hall will recog-
nize.
It is the American song that is hummed by the
street gamin abroad, as well as at home, and the
radio broadcasters fill the night air with American
melodies—unless they are stopped in it by the copy-
right law and the composers' associations.
And so we say that the work of Mr. Howard and
his publishers, J. Fischer & Bro., of New York, is
worth while. The studies are presented in pamphlet
form, clearly printed, and made the more interesting
by thematic extracts from the compositions of their
subjects. And to any music lover not familiar with
all of the present generation of men of musical
genius, the three studies just out—those of Alexander
Russell, Eastwood Lane and James P. Dunn respec-
tively—must bring a message of gratification.
Too Long Neglected.
For in these booklets are the assurances of a new
recognition, and the kind of recognition for which
past American composers looked in vain. In the
days of Dudley Buck, Ethelbert Nevin, Edward Mc-
Dowell, J. R. Thomas, Carlyn Floria, Fred Root,
Wm. Sherwood—and a host of others too large to
enumerate, even partially—there was nothing but the
speechless catalogues, with the inane "puffs" of the
clerks, except when the composers were also per-
formers or singers, which is not often the case. As
showing the literary style of Mr. Howard, here is the
opening paragraph of the study of James P. Dunn:
"Talent is a heaven-sent gift, for which the pos-
sessor may take small credit to himself. The devel-
opment of talent is quite another matter, and for the
labor of increasing his gifts, the talented one deserves
much praise."
By way of thematic proof of the writer's appre-
ciation, the composer's choral work, "Music of
Spring," is cited. And it is worthy. Eastwood Lane,
second in the series of studies, has been a prolific
composer. He was born in the early eighties, at
Brewerton, N. Y. Plainly his genius is ample and
his technical skill great. He has evidently done much
to entitle him to a place among the contemporary
American composers. The thematic extracts from
his works prove that.
More to Follow.
The third sketch by Mr. Howard treats of the tal-
ents of Alexander Russell, and of his compositions.
He was born in Franklin, Term., in 1881, and is de-
scribed as a very practical, hard-headed man of af-
fairs, as well as a thoroughly schooled musician. And
he has done some fine work as his song setting of a
lyric from Tagore, "I Hold Her Hand," proves. It
is a work which must delight any really good singer.
But the point is that the American composers are
having their inning so far as the powerful house of
Fischer is concerned. These "studies" furnish an
encouraging sign of what must be due to native musi-
cal creative genius. We can't have too much of this
kind of recognition and the house of J. Fischer &
Bro. deserves credit, for its special enterprise.
HELPS FOR DEALERS WHO
REPRESENT THE ANGELUS
Forceful Booklet and Series of Advertisements for
Local Papers Supplied to the Trade.
The Hallett & Davis Piano Co., Boston, has issued
a useful Angelus booklet which is in great demand by
dealers. It is instructive, attractive in its get-up, and
will be an aid in closing sales. The Angelus is fur-
ther promoted in a manner convenient to the trade
by a series of five well-displayed ads, of which mats
for local newspapers are supplied to dealers for their
local advertising.
The plan is one of great convenience to retailers
who sell the famous Angelus. It is advised that deal-
ers secure the mats and the local papers*will "do the
rest." The space occupied by each ad ij about eight
inches single column, and the manner yi which the
advantages of the Angelus are presented must hejii
salesmen who represent the pioneer instrument of the
artistic automatic family. And the prices are plainly
marked in all the Angelus advertisements.
PRESTO BUYERS'
GUIDE NOTICE
The 1925 Edition of Presto Buyers' Guide,
the "Book That Sells Pianos," is already en-
tirely exhausted. It is the second time in
the twenty-nine years since the book first ap-
peared that the demand has been such as to
render this announcement necessary. Copies
of the preceding editions may still be had,
and the issue of 1924 is so nearly up-to-date
as to be almost equally useful in the hands of
salesmen. The "Premium Edition" also is
good for selling purposes, and it may be had
for 25 cents a copy—one-half the regular
price.
The entirely new Presto Buyers' Guide for
1926 is in preparation and will be ready in
October. Advance orders, especially for quan-
tities, should be placed early. Subscribers to
Presto, the American Music Trade Weekly,
between now and October 1st, will receive a
copy of the new Presto Buyers' Guide for
1926 without charge as soon as it appears.
PRESTO PUBLISHING CO.,
417 South Dearborn Street,
Chicago, 111.
GEO.
P. BENT EASTBOUND.
As a steady traveling man George P. Bent is as
much of a success as he is the champion host to more
piano men than any other on record. Mr. Bent left
Los Angeles for Chicago on Friday of this week. He
expects to meet his wife in New York on the 10th
of this month on her arrival from abroad. Mr. Bent
attended the Western Music Trade Convention in
Los Angeles, which closed on June 26th.
JESSE FRENCH & SONS IS LEADER.
The Jesse French & Sons pianos are carried by
the Winneld Music Store, 202 East Ninth street, Win-
field, Kan., which held its informal opening recently.
The pianos and players of the New Castle, Ind., man-
ufacturers form the leading line carried by the house.
The company also carries a complete line of musical
merchandise, including the Frank Holton band
instruments.
NEW NAME FOR IOWA FIRMV
The Rhodes Music Store is the ne wname of the
business in Lacona, la., formerly known as the
Whitely Music Company, operated for several years
by C. H. Beai. The new owner, A. L. Rhodes, was
formerly connected with the Alexander Music Co.,
Leon, la.
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