Music Trade Review
Issue: 1908 Vol. 46 N. 11 - Page 5
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC TRADE
COMMENTS B V - „
It is with a sense of pardonable pride that we
issue the first number of The Review ever dedi-
cated to the interests of the sheet music trade.
Let it not be understood that our pride springs
from any achievements of our own, for the:e are
as naught when compared to those of that great
and ever-increasing publishing industry which
we have the honor to represent. We appreciate
that our weekly department given over to the
world of music publishing has many defects, but
our policy is there, a policy which, if it does not
command success, must at least command re-
spect; a policy which may be summed up in the
one word, "Honesty."
To the Retail Trade.
Although it is to the music publisher we look
for our advertising, it is to the retailer we look
for the ultimate success of this department,
which we hope to steadily increase as occasion
demands. It is an unfortunate fact that in the
past the trade papers—and we include ourselves
without any reservation whatsoever—have paid
only too little attention to news which was of
vital interest to the retailer giving exaggerated
space to the press stories of their advertisers,
which, although interesting, contained little or
no information of any permanent value. There
can be no question that both publisher and re-
tailer now realize that the sphere of a true trade
paper is to be a true trade monitor. Our aim,
therefore, is to give the retailer all the most
Bew flftusic
for
REVIEW
valuable news, and at the same time our im-
partial opinion on current events, which inter-
est the retail trade in general. And in return
the writer asks that this department be read
carefully and its advertising studied thoroughly
for each week has some new feature which the
astute dealer will find to his advantage to study.
We Answer With Pleasure.
Apropos of a recent article which appeared in
this column, explaining the actual status of the
Continental Music Publishing Co., in publishing
the music of Oscar Straus' "A Waltz Dream," an
ingenious correspondent writes asking why we
consistently attacked in our columns anyone
other than Chappell & Co., who published the
music of "The Merry Widow," and yet adver-
tised the fact that the Continental Music Co.
were publishing "A Waltz Dream" after Jos. W.
Stern & Co. "had secured the American rights."
"Both are Austrian operas," says our correspond-
ent; "both are admitted to be non-copyright, and
both seem to come under the same ruling so far
as the American rights are concerned." The
question is a reasonable one and as our corre-
spondent is apparently utterly ignorant of his
subject we gladly answer his question as briefly
as possible, hoping that this will be the last
heard of a complex situation into which enters
mcral and not copyright law. The publishing
rights for the music of "A Merry Widow" were
obtained by Messrs. Chappell directly from
Franz Lehar's publishers, whose contract with
Herr Lehar gives them the right of disposal for
all foreign countries. I t is no breach of confi-
dence to state at this time, that for the English
publishing rights Messrs. Chappell are paying
the enormous royalty of 15 per cent, of the
marked price of the music. In following the
history of the case we find that George Bdwardes,
Easter
of London, had an English version of the opera
prepared, which was submitted and passed upon
by the author, composer, and the original
publisher. This version was produced in Lon-
don, and was subsequently reproduced in this
country by Henry W. Savage. This same ver-
sion is the one published by Chappell & Co. To
complete the chain of moral right of ownership,
both Messrs. Edwardes and Savage are paying
full royalties to Herr Lehar for the rights of
public performance. The case, therefore, re-
solves itself into one of moral rights pure and
simple, as no copyright exists.
Where Are the Moral Rights Here?
Now for "A Waltz Dream." It seems that noth-
ing need be added to a quotation from a letter
signed Ludwig Doblinger, Oscar Straus' publisher,
which lays before the writer, and which specific-
ally states over Doblinger's signature, "I know
nothing of Stern's rights to 'A Waltz Dream.' " It
is obvious, therefore, that no contract has been
made with Doblinger for the publishing rights
in this country. Of course, so far as Joseph
Herbert's lyrics are concerned, Messrs. Stern
have every moral right in the world to their
exclusive use—a right which The Review will
protect in any and every possible way. But the
music has no such moral strings and therefore
the Continental Co. are, so far at least, as we are
aware, not guilty of any unfair trade competi-
tion. Indeed, they seem just as anxious not to
be confounded with Stern's version as Stern is
not to have his version confounded with theirs.
Just one word more for the benefit of our corre-
spondent. The writer only lately refused to ac-
cept for publication two and one-quarter pages
of advertising exploiting pirated editions of "A
Merry Widow." This is mentioned merely to
QOWQ
Zbe /lfcost Sue*
ceeeful Cycles
of tbe Season.
Cycles
SOINICJS
All In the April Evening
. J. Michael Diack
In Two Keys.
PRICE, 6 0 c .
In Four Keys.
PRICE, 6 0 c .
Samuel Liddle
FIVE LYRICS
Ernest Newton
BY
Eastertide
Blest Redeemer
BIRD SONGS
With Organ or Harmonium Accompaniment Ad Lib.
In Four Keys.
PRICE, 75C-
Chorus part to above, 8vo., PRICE, 5 c .
AGNES SMITH
The Resurrection Morn . . . Paul Rodney
LIZA LEHMANN
MUSIC BY
With Organ or Harmonium Accompaniment Ad Lib.
In Three Keys.
PRICE, 75C
T h e
C r o w n
o l t h e H i l l .
.
.
Robert
PRICE, $1.50 NET
Shaw
With Organ or Harmonium Accompaniment Ad Lib.
In Three Keys.
PRICE, 6 0 c .
The
Easter M o r n
.
.
.
.
C o l e r i d g e S. T a y l o r
With Organ, Violin or Cello Accompaniment Ad Lib.
In Three Keys.
PRICE, 7 S c .
Resurrexit
Paolo F. Tosti
THE PAGODA OF FLOWERS
A BURMESE STORY IN SONG
With Organ or Harmonium Accompaniment
In Four Keys.
PRICE, 7 5 c .
For Solo Voices, with or without Chorus
AJMTHEMS
W h y Seek Ye ? . . . . A. Addison Andrews
FREDERICK JOHN FRASER
THE WORDS BY
Mixed Voices, 8vo.
MUSIC BY
AMY WOODFORDE-FINDEN
PRICE, 2 0 c .
It Ye Then Be Risen With Christ
PRICE, $2.00 NET
Villiers C. Stanford
Full Anthem for Eastertide.
published
Mixed Voices, 8vo.
PRICE, 2 5 c .
& Co., 9 East t7tb Street
THE
MUSIC TRADE
COMMENTS B V - „
It is with a sense of pardonable pride that we
issue the first number of The Review ever dedi-
cated to the interests of the sheet music trade.
Let it not be understood that our pride springs
from any achievements of our own, for the:e are
as naught when compared to those of that great
and ever-increasing publishing industry which
we have the honor to represent. We appreciate
that our weekly department given over to the
world of music publishing has many defects, but
our policy is there, a policy which, if it does not
command success, must at least command re-
spect; a policy which may be summed up in the
one word, "Honesty."
To the Retail Trade.
Although it is to the music publisher we look
for our advertising, it is to the retailer we look
for the ultimate success of this department,
which we hope to steadily increase as occasion
demands. It is an unfortunate fact that in the
past the trade papers—and we include ourselves
without any reservation whatsoever—have paid
only too little attention to news which was of
vital interest to the retailer giving exaggerated
space to the press stories of their advertisers,
which, although interesting, contained little or
no information of any permanent value. There
can be no question that both publisher and re-
tailer now realize that the sphere of a true trade
paper is to be a true trade monitor. Our aim,
therefore, is to give the retailer all the most
Bew flftusic
for
REVIEW
valuable news, and at the same time our im-
partial opinion on current events, which inter-
est the retail trade in general. And in return
the writer asks that this department be read
carefully and its advertising studied thoroughly
for each week has some new feature which the
astute dealer will find to his advantage to study.
We Answer With Pleasure.
Apropos of a recent article which appeared in
this column, explaining the actual status of the
Continental Music Publishing Co., in publishing
the music of Oscar Straus' "A Waltz Dream," an
ingenious correspondent writes asking why we
consistently attacked in our columns anyone
other than Chappell & Co., who published the
music of "The Merry Widow," and yet adver-
tised the fact that the Continental Music Co.
were publishing "A Waltz Dream" after Jos. W.
Stern & Co. "had secured the American rights."
"Both are Austrian operas," says our correspond-
ent; "both are admitted to be non-copyright, and
both seem to come under the same ruling so far
as the American rights are concerned." The
question is a reasonable one and as our corre-
spondent is apparently utterly ignorant of his
subject we gladly answer his question as briefly
as possible, hoping that this will be the last
heard of a complex situation into which enters
mcral and not copyright law. The publishing
rights for the music of "A Merry Widow" were
obtained by Messrs. Chappell directly from
Franz Lehar's publishers, whose contract with
Herr Lehar gives them the right of disposal for
all foreign countries. I t is no breach of confi-
dence to state at this time, that for the English
publishing rights Messrs. Chappell are paying
the enormous royalty of 15 per cent, of the
marked price of the music. In following the
history of the case we find that George Bdwardes,
Easter
of London, had an English version of the opera
prepared, which was submitted and passed upon
by the author, composer, and the original
publisher. This version was produced in Lon-
don, and was subsequently reproduced in this
country by Henry W. Savage. This same ver-
sion is the one published by Chappell & Co. To
complete the chain of moral right of ownership,
both Messrs. Edwardes and Savage are paying
full royalties to Herr Lehar for the rights of
public performance. The case, therefore, re-
solves itself into one of moral rights pure and
simple, as no copyright exists.
Where Are the Moral Rights Here?
Now for "A Waltz Dream." It seems that noth-
ing need be added to a quotation from a letter
signed Ludwig Doblinger, Oscar Straus' publisher,
which lays before the writer, and which specific-
ally states over Doblinger's signature, "I know
nothing of Stern's rights to 'A Waltz Dream.' " It
is obvious, therefore, that no contract has been
made with Doblinger for the publishing rights
in this country. Of course, so far as Joseph
Herbert's lyrics are concerned, Messrs. Stern
have every moral right in the world to their
exclusive use—a right which The Review will
protect in any and every possible way. But the
music has no such moral strings and therefore
the Continental Co. are, so far at least, as we are
aware, not guilty of any unfair trade competi-
tion. Indeed, they seem just as anxious not to
be confounded with Stern's version as Stern is
not to have his version confounded with theirs.
Just one word more for the benefit of our corre-
spondent. The writer only lately refused to ac-
cept for publication two and one-quarter pages
of advertising exploiting pirated editions of "A
Merry Widow." This is mentioned merely to
QOWQ
Zbe /lfcost Sue*
ceeeful Cycles
of tbe Season.
Cycles
SOINICJS
All In the April Evening
. J. Michael Diack
In Two Keys.
PRICE, 6 0 c .
In Four Keys.
PRICE, 6 0 c .
Samuel Liddle
FIVE LYRICS
Ernest Newton
BY
Eastertide
Blest Redeemer
BIRD SONGS
With Organ or Harmonium Accompaniment Ad Lib.
In Four Keys.
PRICE, 75C-
Chorus part to above, 8vo., PRICE, 5 c .
AGNES SMITH
The Resurrection Morn . . . Paul Rodney
LIZA LEHMANN
MUSIC BY
With Organ or Harmonium Accompaniment Ad Lib.
In Three Keys.
PRICE, 75C
T h e
C r o w n
o l t h e H i l l .
.
.
Robert
PRICE, $1.50 NET
Shaw
With Organ or Harmonium Accompaniment Ad Lib.
In Three Keys.
PRICE, 6 0 c .
The
Easter M o r n
.
.
.
.
C o l e r i d g e S. T a y l o r
With Organ, Violin or Cello Accompaniment Ad Lib.
In Three Keys.
PRICE, 7 S c .
Resurrexit
Paolo F. Tosti
THE PAGODA OF FLOWERS
A BURMESE STORY IN SONG
With Organ or Harmonium Accompaniment
In Four Keys.
PRICE, 7 5 c .
For Solo Voices, with or without Chorus
AJMTHEMS
W h y Seek Ye ? . . . . A. Addison Andrews
FREDERICK JOHN FRASER
THE WORDS BY
Mixed Voices, 8vo.
MUSIC BY
AMY WOODFORDE-FINDEN
PRICE, 2 0 c .
It Ye Then Be Risen With Christ
PRICE, $2.00 NET
Villiers C. Stanford
Full Anthem for Eastertide.
published
Mixed Voices, 8vo.
PRICE, 2 5 c .
& Co., 9 East t7tb Street
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