Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Mason & Hamlin Affairs.
A
BRIGHT OUTLOOK FOR THIS CON'CERN
PROMINENT BANKERS ELECTED TO THE
DIRECTORATE SPLENDID WORK OF
EDWARD P. MASON HENRY L.
MASON OFF TO EUROPE.
The Mason & Hamlin product is becom-
ing closer and more intimately associated
with the musical life of America as time
rolls on. Mason & Hamlin pianos have
won high rank as embodying true artistic
worth, and the care, skill and painstaking
evidenced in their make-up is beginning to
bear fruit of a satisfactory character.
Musicians and reputable dealers who have
examined the late products of Mason &
L-.._•:
which have had such full swing during
the past few years. Mr. Mason believes in
the future of high-grade goods, and he be-
lieves in the future of the historic Mason &
Hamlin Company.
The recent election of prominent Boston
bankers to the directorate of the Mason &
Hamlin Co., is certainly a notable event in
the history of that concern. The gentle-
men are: Mr. O. H. Lake, president of
the Central National Bank of Boston and
Mr. Chas. F. Smith, vice-president of the
Colonial Bank. Mr. Edward P. Mason for
a term of years has been on the board of
directors of the Central National Bank,
and it was due to his acquaintance with the
president that he is now associated with
the Mason & Hamlin Co.
Henry L. Mason leaves for Europe to-
day on the Steamer "Etruria." He will
not return until probably the middle of
July. He will visit the principal points in
the British Isles, including London, Edin-
burgh, Glasgow; run over to Holland,
where they have importing agents at Leyden
and Amsterdam; thence he will journey to
Berlin, Leipsic, Heidelberg; down to
Vienna and probably will include the
capital of the Great White Czar before he
returns to the land of Uncle Sam. He will
be in The Hague during the Peace Con-
ference, and, by the way, there is a Mason
& Hamlin organ in the castle where the
delegates will meet.
Mason & Hamlin have splendid connec-
tions abroad, and no doubt the foreign
trade wnll receive new impetus from Mr.
Mason's visit. He is well acquainted with
the European trade, having gone over this
trip a number of times.
EDWARD P. MASON.
Hamlin are enthusiastic in their praise.
The result is the big Boston factory is run-
ning full time and will so continue all sum-
mer. More than double the orders were
received during the month of April that
came in in March. A new concert grand
will be ready by early fall.
Edward P. Mason has labored indefatig-
ably for years, closely adhering to the art
idea, and refusing to admit that the trade
had gone mad over the cheap products
Important Copyright Decision.
A curious point in musical copyright has
just been decided in the chancery division
of the English High Court of Justice.
Messrs. Boosey, the well-known music
publishers, sought to restrain the agents
for the /Eolian from issuing rolls of paper
reproducing the airs of copyright songs.
Mr. Justice Sterling decided that the rolls
which play the airs are part, .of the instru-
ment, and their sale was not a breach of
copyright.
In this connection he said that these per-
forated sheets, being unintelligible to any
except those specially trained to read them
were outside the meaning of the copyright
act, which provides that a book is under-
stood to mean and include every sheet of
music separately published, and the word
''copyright" is to be considered to mean
"the sole and exclusive liberty of printing
or otherwise multiplying copies of any
subject." Hence there is no infringement,
as it is impossible to read these rolls of
music when not used in connection with
the ^Eolian for which they were made.
The most curious part of the Judge's
decision, however, was when he held that
the defendants had no right to take from
the sheets of music of the plaintiffs the
words "andante," "moderato," "piano,"
"crescendo," etc., which he held was a
breach of the law, and issued an injunction
to prevent its repetition.
We cannot, however, see the sense or
value of this injunction. If it is right or
permissible to use a composition, vocal or
otherwise, it would be much better for the
publishers were it played as the composer
intended, which is entirely possible with
the aid of the ^Eolian stops. A hearing of
a composition played with proper expres-
sion could have only one result, and that
to interest the hearers, which, no doubt,
would be followed by the purchase of a
sheet of music which to them alone would
be available for practical use.
We do not wish to cast a reflection on
the learned Judge of the English Court of
Chancery, but we are afraid he is lacking
in practical knowledge of music, for should
the decision be allowed to stand, it would
not be difficult for the defendants, should
they so desire, to find equivalents for these
words. Meanwhile we consider that the
use of a composition on the ^olian, pian-
ola or similar instruments has a distinct
tendency to make that composition better
known and better appreciated, thereby
helping to augment the sale of the
music, and thus benefit directly the pub-
lisher.
W»*"la»'U*>'lilM,<**l a <'*tl"
Is all that can be desired in Tone,
Construction and Finish
The Highest Grade*
Ah COLE Uprights are constructed on the principle of the
Grand and are •virtually Grands in upright form.
Cole Pianos are good sellers and have no equal.
The sterling and lasting qualities have been conceded by
prominent artists.
Special inducements to dealers. Jt J* J*
jt jt jt jt jl Write us for catalogue
Upright Style C.
COLE & CO.,
282 NINTH AVE.,
NEW YORK CITY, U. S. A