Music Trade Review
Issue: 1910 Vol. 50 N. 18 - Page 48
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE:
MUSIC
TRADE
RELVIEIW
recipients of some keen expressions of opinion
on the other side of the question. Mr. Laska
has some powerful advocates, however, and thn
fact serves to make the question of all the more
interest.
Field of Production Music Well Covered.
EDWARD LYMAN BILL - Editor and Proprietor
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
R.W.SIMMONS. Editor Music Section
Published Every Saturday at 1 MadlMn Avenue, New York
SUBSCRIPTION, (including postage), United State* mid
Mexico, |2.00 per year; Canada, f S.BO; all •ther couu
trlei, |4.00.
Telephones—Numbers 4677 and 4678 Gramercy
Connecting all Departments
NEW YORK, APRIL 30, 1910
All matter of every nature intended
for this department should be addressed
The Editor Music Section Music Trade
Review, 1 Madison Avenue, New York.
COMMENTS B Y -
With the premise that a musical production
is doomed to absolute failure or only mediocre
success unless the lyrics and music are written
by one capable author and one thorough com-
poser, Edward Laska wrote for us a very in-
teresting article which was published in last
Saturday's issue of this journal. As was to be
expected, the argument struck the music pub-
lishers hard. It is a rather touchy subject for
most publishers, although there are some who
agree with the writer of the article in question.
Mr. Laska has for some time represented the
Shuberts in matters pertaining to the publica-
tion of the music of their productions, and is
closely in touch with both the producing and
the publishing ends of the theatrical business.
His experience has Deen peculiar, and of a
nature which, well known to others in the musi-
cal world, made it a foregone conclusion that
his views as to interpolations would, in the ver-
nacular, "make them sit up and take notice."
Such has been the case, and we have been the
The question is one that deeply concerns the
music publishers, and, through them, the dea'ers
in music throughout the country. For one thing,
never before has there been so large a propor-
tion of musical comedies and light operas among
the total number of theatiical offerings of a sea-
son. Coincidently, never before has the field of
publishing musical productions or production
numbers been covered to such an extent as at
present. Various publishing firms have branched
out into this field, and some are even specializing
in it. The sale of the so-called production num-
bers affords the chief source of profits for some
of these firms, and even in these days of keen
competition the most radically inclined pub-
lishers hesitate to mar the fruitful field by cut-
ting the price of such numbers. Now that the
day is gone forever when ordinary popular
songs and 'ballads can be sold for 17 or 18 cents
per copy at wholesale, but must be offered at 7
to 11 cents, the publisher treasures his produc-
tion numbers as the goose that lays the golden
eggs, provided, of course, that the goose actually
lays the eggs of success after the rights to her
product have been purchased at an expensive
figure. It requires considerable outlay before a
publisher obtains the publishing rights to a
musical production, and this is an expensive pro-
ceding if the production fails to achieve popu-
larity. If it succeeds, the demand for the num-
bers often becomes heavy, and the prediction of
the publishers to the dealer—that the public will
want the production numbers—is made good.
The same principle applies to interpolations as
well as to the numbers of a production which
is wholly the work of one composer. Thus it is
that Mr. Laska's article has created quite a stir.
There is a vast army, we might almost say, of
those who firmly believe in the good influence
of interpolated numbers, especially on musical
productions whose original composer has not
produced just what the public seems to want.
Many persons assert that some productions have
The E. T. Paull Music Co. are now established
had long runs after seeming doomed to failure,
final success being due to a great extent to the in their new four-story building at 243 West
interpolation of catchy, tuneful numbers that Forty-second street. The firm occupy the two
upper floors, the others having been sub-let.
This collection will ap-
peal most to lovers of
gems from the operas
through the fact that it is
complete in every respect,
and contains all the fa-
vorite standard operas in-
cluding selections
from
Contes D'Hoffman, Lak-
me, Eugene Onegin, etc.
The melodies selected are
the
ones
with
which
everybody is familiar and
t h e arrangements a n d
rrodern fingering are spe-
cial features .which will
appeal to the intelligent
lover of the piano. Price
75 cents.
We are the publishers of the
music of
"The Arcadians"
Now the season's hit in both
London and New York
Chappell&Co.,Ltd.,
brighten tlio whole score. This side of the ques-
tion will be presented in The Review next week
by an expert in the publishing business, the
general manager for ont> of New York's largest
publishing firms, who for years has been in
close touch with producers and singers, as well
as with the publishers.
As to Mascagni, Legendry, and Comstock.
Any new work of Mascagni's was sure of at-
tracting world-wide attention if only by virtue of
the fanie of the composer. Much has been writ-
ten, therefore, of his new opera, "Ysobel," com-
posed for Miss Bessie Abbot, and produced not
so many weeks ago. The opera is founded on
the pleasing story of Lady Godiva, who, in Eng-
lish histoiy (or legend) was spurred on in her
altruistic and philanthropic task by supreme
confidence in the artistic beauty of any statue
that might be modeled with herself as the sub-
ject. Neither history nor legend intimates
that sculpture had gained anything like
a faint foothold in England in Lady Godiva's
time, but we feel sure that without the supreme
confidence aforementioned she would never have
undertaken the famous horseback ride of which
historians have told, poets have sung, and Mas-
cagni has composed. As this ride constitutes an
incident in the opera "Ysobel," the detail has
been seized upon with avidity for "feature"
discussions by reviewers and paragraphers the
world over. One enterprising newspaper in this
city had a reporter interview Anthony Com-
stock on tne subject. Mr. Comstock, who never
seems averse to laying down the law on any-
thing from art to artists, was undoubtedly much
perturbed over the prospect of the opera being
given in New York, if the reporter presented
the subject as pertinently as a metropolitan
seeker of "copy" should have presented it. But
it seems that any energetic Comstockian plans
that may have been laid will be foiled. The
ride of Lady Godiva is pictured in an inter-
mezzo, and we doubt if Mr. Comstock will ever
discover the bare motifs in the score and hold
them to view as something to be screened in
musical raiment less gossamer-like than Mas-
cagni's floating harmonies.
37 West 17th Street
N E W YORK
'Tis Sweeping the Country!
"WHERE THE
RIVER SHANNON
FLOWS"
HINDS, NOBLEl&iELDREDGE,*!31-35 West 15th Street.INewEYork]
By JAMES I. RUSSELL
SOME OF OUR REAL HITS
It is one of the BIGGEST off our BIG
"THE
CUBANOLA
GLIDE"
(.n^V.nfa.)
"MY
SOUTHERN
R O S E "
" K E E P YOUR FOOT ON T H E SOFT P E D A L " s ong
"THE
YIDDISH A R A G " (.^Itl,)
"HIP-HIP-HYPNOTIZE
M E " son 0
" G I V E M Y R E G A R D S T O M A B E L " (Song)
HITS and grows BIGGER each d a y !
Anticipate the Demand.
M. WITMARK & SONS
NEW YORK
HARRY VON TILZER MUSIC PUBLISHING COMPANY
AD D
N Ew S Y S o5k L o"JF.c ETO
Order Now
LONDON
PARIS
CHICAGO
1 2 5 West 4 3 d Street, Hew York City
NcKlNLEY
JOBBERS
SHEET MUSIC
We Guarantee Filling Your Orders Complete
the Same Day Received.at Lowest Prices.
CHICAGO
McKJNLEY MUSIC Co
NEWYORM
THE:
MUSIC
TRADE
RELVIEIW
recipients of some keen expressions of opinion
on the other side of the question. Mr. Laska
has some powerful advocates, however, and thn
fact serves to make the question of all the more
interest.
Field of Production Music Well Covered.
EDWARD LYMAN BILL - Editor and Proprietor
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
R.W.SIMMONS. Editor Music Section
Published Every Saturday at 1 MadlMn Avenue, New York
SUBSCRIPTION, (including postage), United State* mid
Mexico, |2.00 per year; Canada, f S.BO; all •ther couu
trlei, |4.00.
Telephones—Numbers 4677 and 4678 Gramercy
Connecting all Departments
NEW YORK, APRIL 30, 1910
All matter of every nature intended
for this department should be addressed
The Editor Music Section Music Trade
Review, 1 Madison Avenue, New York.
COMMENTS B Y -
With the premise that a musical production
is doomed to absolute failure or only mediocre
success unless the lyrics and music are written
by one capable author and one thorough com-
poser, Edward Laska wrote for us a very in-
teresting article which was published in last
Saturday's issue of this journal. As was to be
expected, the argument struck the music pub-
lishers hard. It is a rather touchy subject for
most publishers, although there are some who
agree with the writer of the article in question.
Mr. Laska has for some time represented the
Shuberts in matters pertaining to the publica-
tion of the music of their productions, and is
closely in touch with both the producing and
the publishing ends of the theatrical business.
His experience has Deen peculiar, and of a
nature which, well known to others in the musi-
cal world, made it a foregone conclusion that
his views as to interpolations would, in the ver-
nacular, "make them sit up and take notice."
Such has been the case, and we have been the
The question is one that deeply concerns the
music publishers, and, through them, the dea'ers
in music throughout the country. For one thing,
never before has there been so large a propor-
tion of musical comedies and light operas among
the total number of theatiical offerings of a sea-
son. Coincidently, never before has the field of
publishing musical productions or production
numbers been covered to such an extent as at
present. Various publishing firms have branched
out into this field, and some are even specializing
in it. The sale of the so-called production num-
bers affords the chief source of profits for some
of these firms, and even in these days of keen
competition the most radically inclined pub-
lishers hesitate to mar the fruitful field by cut-
ting the price of such numbers. Now that the
day is gone forever when ordinary popular
songs and 'ballads can be sold for 17 or 18 cents
per copy at wholesale, but must be offered at 7
to 11 cents, the publisher treasures his produc-
tion numbers as the goose that lays the golden
eggs, provided, of course, that the goose actually
lays the eggs of success after the rights to her
product have been purchased at an expensive
figure. It requires considerable outlay before a
publisher obtains the publishing rights to a
musical production, and this is an expensive pro-
ceding if the production fails to achieve popu-
larity. If it succeeds, the demand for the num-
bers often becomes heavy, and the prediction of
the publishers to the dealer—that the public will
want the production numbers—is made good.
The same principle applies to interpolations as
well as to the numbers of a production which
is wholly the work of one composer. Thus it is
that Mr. Laska's article has created quite a stir.
There is a vast army, we might almost say, of
those who firmly believe in the good influence
of interpolated numbers, especially on musical
productions whose original composer has not
produced just what the public seems to want.
Many persons assert that some productions have
The E. T. Paull Music Co. are now established
had long runs after seeming doomed to failure,
final success being due to a great extent to the in their new four-story building at 243 West
interpolation of catchy, tuneful numbers that Forty-second street. The firm occupy the two
upper floors, the others having been sub-let.
This collection will ap-
peal most to lovers of
gems from the operas
through the fact that it is
complete in every respect,
and contains all the fa-
vorite standard operas in-
cluding selections
from
Contes D'Hoffman, Lak-
me, Eugene Onegin, etc.
The melodies selected are
the
ones
with
which
everybody is familiar and
t h e arrangements a n d
rrodern fingering are spe-
cial features .which will
appeal to the intelligent
lover of the piano. Price
75 cents.
We are the publishers of the
music of
"The Arcadians"
Now the season's hit in both
London and New York
Chappell&Co.,Ltd.,
brighten tlio whole score. This side of the ques-
tion will be presented in The Review next week
by an expert in the publishing business, the
general manager for ont> of New York's largest
publishing firms, who for years has been in
close touch with producers and singers, as well
as with the publishers.
As to Mascagni, Legendry, and Comstock.
Any new work of Mascagni's was sure of at-
tracting world-wide attention if only by virtue of
the fanie of the composer. Much has been writ-
ten, therefore, of his new opera, "Ysobel," com-
posed for Miss Bessie Abbot, and produced not
so many weeks ago. The opera is founded on
the pleasing story of Lady Godiva, who, in Eng-
lish histoiy (or legend) was spurred on in her
altruistic and philanthropic task by supreme
confidence in the artistic beauty of any statue
that might be modeled with herself as the sub-
ject. Neither history nor legend intimates
that sculpture had gained anything like
a faint foothold in England in Lady Godiva's
time, but we feel sure that without the supreme
confidence aforementioned she would never have
undertaken the famous horseback ride of which
historians have told, poets have sung, and Mas-
cagni has composed. As this ride constitutes an
incident in the opera "Ysobel," the detail has
been seized upon with avidity for "feature"
discussions by reviewers and paragraphers the
world over. One enterprising newspaper in this
city had a reporter interview Anthony Com-
stock on tne subject. Mr. Comstock, who never
seems averse to laying down the law on any-
thing from art to artists, was undoubtedly much
perturbed over the prospect of the opera being
given in New York, if the reporter presented
the subject as pertinently as a metropolitan
seeker of "copy" should have presented it. But
it seems that any energetic Comstockian plans
that may have been laid will be foiled. The
ride of Lady Godiva is pictured in an inter-
mezzo, and we doubt if Mr. Comstock will ever
discover the bare motifs in the score and hold
them to view as something to be screened in
musical raiment less gossamer-like than Mas-
cagni's floating harmonies.
37 West 17th Street
N E W YORK
'Tis Sweeping the Country!
"WHERE THE
RIVER SHANNON
FLOWS"
HINDS, NOBLEl&iELDREDGE,*!31-35 West 15th Street.INewEYork]
By JAMES I. RUSSELL
SOME OF OUR REAL HITS
It is one of the BIGGEST off our BIG
"THE
CUBANOLA
GLIDE"
(.n^V.nfa.)
"MY
SOUTHERN
R O S E "
" K E E P YOUR FOOT ON T H E SOFT P E D A L " s ong
"THE
YIDDISH A R A G " (.^Itl,)
"HIP-HIP-HYPNOTIZE
M E " son 0
" G I V E M Y R E G A R D S T O M A B E L " (Song)
HITS and grows BIGGER each d a y !
Anticipate the Demand.
M. WITMARK & SONS
NEW YORK
HARRY VON TILZER MUSIC PUBLISHING COMPANY
AD D
N Ew S Y S o5k L o"JF.c ETO
Order Now
LONDON
PARIS
CHICAGO
1 2 5 West 4 3 d Street, Hew York City
NcKlNLEY
JOBBERS
SHEET MUSIC
We Guarantee Filling Your Orders Complete
the Same Day Received.at Lowest Prices.
CHICAGO
McKJNLEY MUSIC Co
NEWYORM
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