Music Trade Review
Issue: 1903 Vol. 37 N. 17 - Page 41
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
In tKe World of Music Publishing
HARRY VON TILZER TALKS
Of His Operatic Composition, "The Fisher Maiden"
—An American Production Throughout.
The more than ordinarily successful pro-
duction of "The Fisher Maiden" at the Vic-
toria Theatre is specially interesting, as it was
lithe maiden effort of a
hitherto unknown oper-
atic composer, Harry
von Tilzer, who pinned
his faith on an even
[more unknown cast,
['piloting toward popu-
lar favor a comic opera
aimed to be wholly dis-
similar from the musi-
cal shows that have
[been so frequent in the
past few seasons. Referring thereto on Mon-
day, Mr. Von Tilzer expressed himself on
thing's theatrical and musical to The Review
as follows:
"The receipt of so many favorable crit-
icisms in the case of a musical show that is
almost completely a reversion to the old form
of comic opera is extremely gratifying, as it
demonstrates a pet theory of mine, which is,
that the public will amply recognize any ef-
fort put forth to provide a light, clean, and
entertaining opera, and at no time considers
anything but the sum total of the evening en-
tertainment, paying little or no heed to names,
whether of author, composer, or artist. That
the first claim is correct is shown by the ap-
probations accorded a comic opera that is en-
tirely different in many ways to anything
previously shown, as the development of ac-
tion is in sequence, the songs integrals of
the piece, and the story free from the pre-
cocious few.
"I also had the pleasure of proving that the
average theatrical manager can make mis-
takes, for every producing manager in New
York failed to see how 'The Fisher Maiden'
could possibly thrive, and therefore forced me
to back my judgment with my own money.
By the way, it was just that inability to see
things my way that drove me to publishing
BUSY IN PUBLISHERS ROW.
my own music, and a five-story building de-
Are the Days When Publishers Devote
voted entirely to the purpose is the outcome. These Little
Time to Other Than Business.
However, I'd rather educate managers than
the public; it's easier and lots less expensive.
Judging from the activity displayed at
Another factor that I pinned my faith on the various publishing houses, business is
is the craze for light music, such as 'On a of the moving sort. Matters of policy are
Sunday Afternoon,' 'Down on the Farm,' 'A discussed briefly and pointedly, visitors
Bird in a Gilded Cage,' 'I'd Leave My Happy waste no preliminaries when seeing the
Home For You,' etc., etc., all of which I principals, subordinates carry out orders
wrote and which is typified by 'Madee/ 'A with military precision and dispatch. These
Sail on the Tail of a Whale,' 'Let the Band conditions are current in the up-to-the-
Play,' 'I'm a Fisher Maiden,' 'The Beautiful minute establishments, where time is
Far Away,' 'Down on the South Sea Isle,' money and little of either is frittered away.
'When You Go to London Town,' and other At other places the spirit of Bohemianism
light, jingly airs which the opera contains. is ever present; there is a free-and-easy,
The public won't have heavy music; they any-old-time way of doing business that
want to besingingthrough the measures of a suits the casual caller, who may want a
care free, lifting melody, and even in the case composition read at least, if not accepted,
of grand operas it is the melodious ones that on the spot. Both kinds of publishers,
enjoy the greatest popularity. A peculiar however, report trade more than satisfac-
phase is that once a person becomes identified tory, with a bright outlook that is expected
with one line of work it is next to impossible to last until late in the spring.
to obtain recognition in another, or if the As one progressive house expressed it
recognition is accorded it is always in a com- to The Review, Monday: "Everything
parative manner.
looks fine. We have so many good ones in
"But the future of the home-bred composer our catalogue—new productions—that we
of light music is exceedingly bright. The cannot, in justice to many others, select
bulk of the people want plenty of catchy the real top-notch seller. All are going
music—by the way, rag time, as expressed by well, and there is no kick coming from us.
the daintier forms of coon songs, is a very I hear some of the other publishers are
live issue—and there are many composers feeling the same way."
who can furnish it. One difficulty is in get-
VICTOR HERBERT'S LATEST SUCCESS.
ting suitable librettists. There may be many
good ones, but that they are hidden pretty
Victor Herbert, who is known as the
carefully the books of many productions will most versatile musician in America, has
amply testify. With a single exception the another great success to his credit. In
reviews of 'The Fisher Maiden' were kind "The Babes in Toyland," upon which both
and just and all were sincere. Several con- the press and the public have enthusias-
tained more excellent suggestions which were tically placed the stamp of approval, Mr.
heartily appreciated. I think, in a couple of Herbert has given the public a variety of
cases, however, use of the word 'reminis- music which ranges from the exalted sym-
cent,' which was applied to some of my phonic poem, down to the catchy, popular
music, was an unconscious compliment. song. His numbers show an originality and
You see I have produced over fifty songs
and have sold from over 300,000 to 700,000
copies each; and, as a writer's individual- The New Instrumental Novelty
ity will show, they undoubtedly had in
By THEODORE BENDIX
mind some of my own but early writings.
"I think that one factor which has induced
a great deal of favorable comment is my at-
An Excellent Characteristic by a Popular Composer.
tempt to provide the long-waited 'representa-
tive of American comic opera,' for the story
Already in Big: Demand.
of 'The Fisher Maiden' is essentially of this
M. WITMARK & SONS,
land, and the company, characters and mak-
ers of the book and music are native; how-
NEW YORK
CHICAGO
LONDON
ever, if this is not the long expected home
article, there will be one some day, and I will
Separate Numbers and Scores
do my best to provide it. You might say that
of the following
—
I have no intention of quiting the popular
Comic
Opera
and
Musical
song field, and hope to provide as many like-
: : Comedy Successes : :
able songs in the future as are already record-
"RED FEATHER"—By Chas. Emerson Cook, Chas. Klein
an 1 Kegnald Or- Koven.
ed in mv favor."
"NANCY BROWN"—By Frederic Ranken and Henry K.
"SILLY BILLY."
*rv
"ooie, fubltshers, S f
At. Y.City, will send you any o/thes* jookssub-
Met to aptroval. Enclose this adryrtisement.
8ons« of JKths Colt«mi .
Song* of the Eastern Colleges
Songi of the Western ColWri
New Sosgt for Glee Clufe- .
forC-tfth QaartottM
s a w Taken Prizes »
That ma Take Prim*
for Sverr Oceatfon .
. .
J Mfaiat* OeclamatioDs for College M«n
S-MlDOte Readings for College dirk
Qow to Attract and Hold an Audienca
Pahner*! New Parliamentary y Manual
a
Pros and Com, (Complete Debates)
Commencement Parts (Orations, Easajs, etc.) U »
Gnnnjson's New Dialogues and
Pl»y»
d Pl
( ,
DURGIN BACK FROM PACIFIC COAST.
[Special to The Review.]
Boston, Mass., Oct. 20, 1903.
C. C. Durgin, of the B. F. Wood Music
Co., No. 246 Summer street, returned on
the 16th inst., from a very successful busi-
ness trip to the Pacific Coast which con-
sumed 97 days.
H-.rtley
"THE MOCKING BIRD"—By Sidney Rosenfeld and A.
Haldw n bloane
"WINSOHE WINNIE"—By Frederic Ranken and Gus-
"THE JERSEY LILY"—By Geo. V. Hobart and Reginald
Ue Koven.
"THb JBK5EY LILY"—By Geo. V. Hobart and Reginald
De Kuvcn.
"A UIRL FROM DIXIE"—By Harry B. Smith.
' T H E ISLE OF SPICE"—By Alien Lowe & P«iul Schindler,
. W. STERN & CO.
NEW
84 East 21st Street
CHICAGO
L0ID0H
YORK
BAR rfciSCISOO
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
In tKe World of Music Publishing
HARRY VON TILZER TALKS
Of His Operatic Composition, "The Fisher Maiden"
—An American Production Throughout.
The more than ordinarily successful pro-
duction of "The Fisher Maiden" at the Vic-
toria Theatre is specially interesting, as it was
lithe maiden effort of a
hitherto unknown oper-
atic composer, Harry
von Tilzer, who pinned
his faith on an even
[more unknown cast,
['piloting toward popu-
lar favor a comic opera
aimed to be wholly dis-
similar from the musi-
cal shows that have
[been so frequent in the
past few seasons. Referring thereto on Mon-
day, Mr. Von Tilzer expressed himself on
thing's theatrical and musical to The Review
as follows:
"The receipt of so many favorable crit-
icisms in the case of a musical show that is
almost completely a reversion to the old form
of comic opera is extremely gratifying, as it
demonstrates a pet theory of mine, which is,
that the public will amply recognize any ef-
fort put forth to provide a light, clean, and
entertaining opera, and at no time considers
anything but the sum total of the evening en-
tertainment, paying little or no heed to names,
whether of author, composer, or artist. That
the first claim is correct is shown by the ap-
probations accorded a comic opera that is en-
tirely different in many ways to anything
previously shown, as the development of ac-
tion is in sequence, the songs integrals of
the piece, and the story free from the pre-
cocious few.
"I also had the pleasure of proving that the
average theatrical manager can make mis-
takes, for every producing manager in New
York failed to see how 'The Fisher Maiden'
could possibly thrive, and therefore forced me
to back my judgment with my own money.
By the way, it was just that inability to see
things my way that drove me to publishing
BUSY IN PUBLISHERS ROW.
my own music, and a five-story building de-
Are the Days When Publishers Devote
voted entirely to the purpose is the outcome. These Little
Time to Other Than Business.
However, I'd rather educate managers than
the public; it's easier and lots less expensive.
Judging from the activity displayed at
Another factor that I pinned my faith on the various publishing houses, business is
is the craze for light music, such as 'On a of the moving sort. Matters of policy are
Sunday Afternoon,' 'Down on the Farm,' 'A discussed briefly and pointedly, visitors
Bird in a Gilded Cage,' 'I'd Leave My Happy waste no preliminaries when seeing the
Home For You,' etc., etc., all of which I principals, subordinates carry out orders
wrote and which is typified by 'Madee/ 'A with military precision and dispatch. These
Sail on the Tail of a Whale,' 'Let the Band conditions are current in the up-to-the-
Play,' 'I'm a Fisher Maiden,' 'The Beautiful minute establishments, where time is
Far Away,' 'Down on the South Sea Isle,' money and little of either is frittered away.
'When You Go to London Town,' and other At other places the spirit of Bohemianism
light, jingly airs which the opera contains. is ever present; there is a free-and-easy,
The public won't have heavy music; they any-old-time way of doing business that
want to besingingthrough the measures of a suits the casual caller, who may want a
care free, lifting melody, and even in the case composition read at least, if not accepted,
of grand operas it is the melodious ones that on the spot. Both kinds of publishers,
enjoy the greatest popularity. A peculiar however, report trade more than satisfac-
phase is that once a person becomes identified tory, with a bright outlook that is expected
with one line of work it is next to impossible to last until late in the spring.
to obtain recognition in another, or if the As one progressive house expressed it
recognition is accorded it is always in a com- to The Review, Monday: "Everything
parative manner.
looks fine. We have so many good ones in
"But the future of the home-bred composer our catalogue—new productions—that we
of light music is exceedingly bright. The cannot, in justice to many others, select
bulk of the people want plenty of catchy the real top-notch seller. All are going
music—by the way, rag time, as expressed by well, and there is no kick coming from us.
the daintier forms of coon songs, is a very I hear some of the other publishers are
live issue—and there are many composers feeling the same way."
who can furnish it. One difficulty is in get-
VICTOR HERBERT'S LATEST SUCCESS.
ting suitable librettists. There may be many
good ones, but that they are hidden pretty
Victor Herbert, who is known as the
carefully the books of many productions will most versatile musician in America, has
amply testify. With a single exception the another great success to his credit. In
reviews of 'The Fisher Maiden' were kind "The Babes in Toyland," upon which both
and just and all were sincere. Several con- the press and the public have enthusias-
tained more excellent suggestions which were tically placed the stamp of approval, Mr.
heartily appreciated. I think, in a couple of Herbert has given the public a variety of
cases, however, use of the word 'reminis- music which ranges from the exalted sym-
cent,' which was applied to some of my phonic poem, down to the catchy, popular
music, was an unconscious compliment. song. His numbers show an originality and
You see I have produced over fifty songs
and have sold from over 300,000 to 700,000
copies each; and, as a writer's individual- The New Instrumental Novelty
ity will show, they undoubtedly had in
By THEODORE BENDIX
mind some of my own but early writings.
"I think that one factor which has induced
a great deal of favorable comment is my at-
An Excellent Characteristic by a Popular Composer.
tempt to provide the long-waited 'representa-
tive of American comic opera,' for the story
Already in Big: Demand.
of 'The Fisher Maiden' is essentially of this
M. WITMARK & SONS,
land, and the company, characters and mak-
ers of the book and music are native; how-
NEW YORK
CHICAGO
LONDON
ever, if this is not the long expected home
article, there will be one some day, and I will
Separate Numbers and Scores
do my best to provide it. You might say that
of the following
—
I have no intention of quiting the popular
Comic
Opera
and
Musical
song field, and hope to provide as many like-
: : Comedy Successes : :
able songs in the future as are already record-
"RED FEATHER"—By Chas. Emerson Cook, Chas. Klein
an 1 Kegnald Or- Koven.
ed in mv favor."
"NANCY BROWN"—By Frederic Ranken and Henry K.
"SILLY BILLY."
*rv
"ooie, fubltshers, S f
At. Y.City, will send you any o/thes* jookssub-
Met to aptroval. Enclose this adryrtisement.
8ons« of JKths Colt«mi .
Song* of the Eastern Colleges
Songi of the Western ColWri
New Sosgt for Glee Clufe- .
forC-tfth QaartottM
s a w Taken Prizes »
That ma Take Prim*
for Sverr Oceatfon .
. .
J Mfaiat* OeclamatioDs for College M«n
S-MlDOte Readings for College dirk
Qow to Attract and Hold an Audienca
Pahner*! New Parliamentary y Manual
a
Pros and Com, (Complete Debates)
Commencement Parts (Orations, Easajs, etc.) U »
Gnnnjson's New Dialogues and
Pl»y»
d Pl
( ,
DURGIN BACK FROM PACIFIC COAST.
[Special to The Review.]
Boston, Mass., Oct. 20, 1903.
C. C. Durgin, of the B. F. Wood Music
Co., No. 246 Summer street, returned on
the 16th inst., from a very successful busi-
ness trip to the Pacific Coast which con-
sumed 97 days.
H-.rtley
"THE MOCKING BIRD"—By Sidney Rosenfeld and A.
Haldw n bloane
"WINSOHE WINNIE"—By Frederic Ranken and Gus-
"THE JERSEY LILY"—By Geo. V. Hobart and Reginald
Ue Koven.
"THb JBK5EY LILY"—By Geo. V. Hobart and Reginald
De Kuvcn.
"A UIRL FROM DIXIE"—By Harry B. Smith.
' T H E ISLE OF SPICE"—By Alien Lowe & P«iul Schindler,
. W. STERN & CO.
NEW
84 East 21st Street
CHICAGO
L0ID0H
YORK
BAR rfciSCISOO
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