Music Trade Review
Issue: 1923 Vol. 76 N. 23 - Page 157
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
JUNE 9, 1923
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
151
A RECORD OF SALES THAT TOTALS MORE THAN 8,000,000
"Star of the Sea," by Amanda Kennedy Moore, One of the Country's Greatest Compositions in
Point of Sales—Written by Composer at Age of Sixteen—Now in Feist Catalog
What is the greatest sale of a single song
on record? No doubt, it is that established by
"Star of the Sea," which, it has been estimated,
has sold over 8,000,000 copies. No other num-
ber has reached near this figure and it's doubt-
ful if one will ever supplant this print in point
of sales, for the owner of the present publish-
ing rights is on the alert to keep it before
teachers, students and the general public. Its
yearly sale will therefore continue large and
each succeeding generation will become familiar
with its strains.
There are two important things that would
naturally be asked of a number which has
achieved so much fame. One is its history and
the other who wrote it. It is not so easy to
tell about who wrote it, particularly inasmuch
as the composer does not seek publicity. "Star
of the Sea" was written by Amanda Kennedy,
now Moore, at the age of sixteen. She is now
a resident of Ashmont, Mass., with a Summer
home in Maine. Despite the fact that her roy-
alties each year are substantial, she keeps quite
active by teaching a few pupils the piano.
"Star of the Sea" was originally published by
W. A. Evans Co., Boston, Mass. It was said
to have been purchased from the writer for
$1.50. Later it fell into the hands of the Hitch-
cock Co. and about 1909, when the copyright
reverted to the composer, the number was
SONGS THAT SELL
You Know You Belong
to Somebody Else
(So Why Don't You Leave Me Alone ?)
Down Among the Sleepy
Hills ol Tennessee (new)
— Dearest
(You're the Nearest to My Heart)
You Tell Her—I Stutter
When Yon Walked Out Someone Else
Walked Right In
(new)
— Indiana Moon (new)
PickleS (new)
That Old Gang ot Mine (new)
— Ala Moana (new)
L o v e (My Heart Is Calling You) (new)
I Wish I Could Cry Over Someone (new)
POPULAR
MUSIC BOOKS
Home (new)
Some Day You'll Cry Over Someone
Homesick
Nuthin' But
By the Shalimar
Gordon's Loose Leaf Motion
Picture Collection
By W. C. Simon. Just published—24
incidental numbers in two volumes;
price 65c each. Individual numbers 15c
each. Intermezzos, Agitatos, Hurries,
Andantes, etc., for organ or piano.
Bellak's New Method
The best selling copyrighted piano
method and now going better than ever.
Every dealer should keep a good stock
on hand.
Gordon's Graded Piano
Course
In nine grades—Price 50c each, retail.
A graded course that is continually
growing in popular favor. Teachers are
demanding it.
Jousse's Musical Catechism
A new revised edition, much improved
and completely indexed so that it can
be used as a"work of reference or "Hand-
book of music." Ask for the "Gordon
Edition."
Every-Day Melodies
For piano solo, Vols. 1 and 2. Price
75c each.
For violin solo, Vols. 1 and 2. Price
60c each.
For piano ace, Vols. 1 and 2. Price
$1.00 each.
Folios of easy arrangements of popular
standard numbers that are in great de-
mand. They sell on sight. Every dealer
should have them.
Insist on the
Gordon Edition of
BEYER'S PIANO METHOD
A fine edition, revised and enlarged.
Kohler's Piano Method, 3 vols.
Hohman's Violin School, 3 vols.
Hamilton S. Gordon
141-5 West 36th St., New York, N. Y.
Your Arms, My Alabamy
j — Open
Ivy (Cling to Me)
Amanda Kennedy Moore
taken over by Leo Feist, Inc. "Star of the
Sea" is also published as a sacred song under
the title "The Star of the East." It is pub-
lished as a march funebre, a waltz elegante
and a patriotic song under the title "Star of
Our Union." lc is available for mandolin, gui-
tar, zither, orchestra, band, banjo and as a
cornet solo.
Amanda Kennedy is also the composer of
"Drifting Leaves" and "Star of Faith."
A Vision
A few words from Leo Feist about the pur-
chase of the number should be of interest and
are given below: "I learned from one of the
music jobbers that Mr. Hitchcock wanted to
sell 'Star of the Sea.' As a matter of fact,
it was generally known that he wanted to sell
it, but the price he asked was so high that none
of the publishers were willing to buy it. When
I first heard that the piece could be bought
I saw before me a vision which I can never
forget.
"Picture jt. Sunday afternoon—music room
at home—large cushioned arm-chair—father sit-
ting there. Finally father called sister and told
her that he was all tired out after a week's
hard work and would she play 'Star of the Sea.'
It was to the music of 'Star of the Sea' that
father found rest and recreation. 'Star of the
Sea' was his favorite piece.
"Although my partner, at the time, was op-
posed to me buying the piece at the price asked
for it, I was determined to own it, and did—
and do.
"So you see that 'Star of the Sea' takes a
very important place in the Feist family records
and that it was entirely a matter of sentiment
which caused me to buy the piece and pay a
price for it, which was considered by all pub-
lishers to be exorbitant, considering that the
piece only sold from 15,000 to 20,000 copies a
year, according to the statement made by Mr.
Hitchcock, or his clerks.
"This gives, too, the reason why I believe
that the piece will always remain in the Feist
catalog and also why it is that, as a matter
of sentiment, it does not make any difference
to me how much the royalty on the piece may
be. Then comes along the 'Business View-
point,' which means that in order to make it
Some Little Someone
Some Sunny Day
Come on Home
Just a Little Love Song
Yankee Doodle Blues
Universal Dance Folio (or 1923
IRVING BERLIN'S NEW
Music Box Revue
Crinoline Days
Lady o l t h e Evening
Porcelain Maid
Pack Up Your Sins
and Go To The Devil
Will She Come From the East?
The Little Red Lacquer Cage
Bring On the Pepper
—
IRVING BERLIN, Inc.
1607 Broadway, New York
a matter of business we must sell a great many
copies. To do this we must be 'after the piece'
all the time. Past records and past work is
what has made the piece sell as it docs, but
the work must be continued indefinitely, not
only to sell copies of 'Star of the Sea,' but to
prevent any other piece from taking its place.
Exploiting the Number
"It may interest you to know that in the
first year of our ownership of the piece we
spent over $4,000 on 'Star of the Sea,' and have
never stopped working on it from that day to
this—and we don't ever expect to stop.
"As to the question 'How many copies did
you sell of "Star of the Sea," ' I can only re-
iterate what I have written Mrs. Moore; it is,
that I intend to go over the records from the
day we acquired 'Star of the Sea' up to the
present time and as soon as the record is com-
plete I intend to send a copy thereof to Mrs.
Moore.
"I hope that I have answered your letter,
satisfactorily and that you will appreciate an in-
sight to 'Feist family history' of the piece,
which I have, for the first time, disclosed."
THE
JUNE 9, 1923
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
151
A RECORD OF SALES THAT TOTALS MORE THAN 8,000,000
"Star of the Sea," by Amanda Kennedy Moore, One of the Country's Greatest Compositions in
Point of Sales—Written by Composer at Age of Sixteen—Now in Feist Catalog
What is the greatest sale of a single song
on record? No doubt, it is that established by
"Star of the Sea," which, it has been estimated,
has sold over 8,000,000 copies. No other num-
ber has reached near this figure and it's doubt-
ful if one will ever supplant this print in point
of sales, for the owner of the present publish-
ing rights is on the alert to keep it before
teachers, students and the general public. Its
yearly sale will therefore continue large and
each succeeding generation will become familiar
with its strains.
There are two important things that would
naturally be asked of a number which has
achieved so much fame. One is its history and
the other who wrote it. It is not so easy to
tell about who wrote it, particularly inasmuch
as the composer does not seek publicity. "Star
of the Sea" was written by Amanda Kennedy,
now Moore, at the age of sixteen. She is now
a resident of Ashmont, Mass., with a Summer
home in Maine. Despite the fact that her roy-
alties each year are substantial, she keeps quite
active by teaching a few pupils the piano.
"Star of the Sea" was originally published by
W. A. Evans Co., Boston, Mass. It was said
to have been purchased from the writer for
$1.50. Later it fell into the hands of the Hitch-
cock Co. and about 1909, when the copyright
reverted to the composer, the number was
SONGS THAT SELL
You Know You Belong
to Somebody Else
(So Why Don't You Leave Me Alone ?)
Down Among the Sleepy
Hills ol Tennessee (new)
— Dearest
(You're the Nearest to My Heart)
You Tell Her—I Stutter
When Yon Walked Out Someone Else
Walked Right In
(new)
— Indiana Moon (new)
PickleS (new)
That Old Gang ot Mine (new)
— Ala Moana (new)
L o v e (My Heart Is Calling You) (new)
I Wish I Could Cry Over Someone (new)
POPULAR
MUSIC BOOKS
Home (new)
Some Day You'll Cry Over Someone
Homesick
Nuthin' But
By the Shalimar
Gordon's Loose Leaf Motion
Picture Collection
By W. C. Simon. Just published—24
incidental numbers in two volumes;
price 65c each. Individual numbers 15c
each. Intermezzos, Agitatos, Hurries,
Andantes, etc., for organ or piano.
Bellak's New Method
The best selling copyrighted piano
method and now going better than ever.
Every dealer should keep a good stock
on hand.
Gordon's Graded Piano
Course
In nine grades—Price 50c each, retail.
A graded course that is continually
growing in popular favor. Teachers are
demanding it.
Jousse's Musical Catechism
A new revised edition, much improved
and completely indexed so that it can
be used as a"work of reference or "Hand-
book of music." Ask for the "Gordon
Edition."
Every-Day Melodies
For piano solo, Vols. 1 and 2. Price
75c each.
For violin solo, Vols. 1 and 2. Price
60c each.
For piano ace, Vols. 1 and 2. Price
$1.00 each.
Folios of easy arrangements of popular
standard numbers that are in great de-
mand. They sell on sight. Every dealer
should have them.
Insist on the
Gordon Edition of
BEYER'S PIANO METHOD
A fine edition, revised and enlarged.
Kohler's Piano Method, 3 vols.
Hohman's Violin School, 3 vols.
Hamilton S. Gordon
141-5 West 36th St., New York, N. Y.
Your Arms, My Alabamy
j — Open
Ivy (Cling to Me)
Amanda Kennedy Moore
taken over by Leo Feist, Inc. "Star of the
Sea" is also published as a sacred song under
the title "The Star of the East." It is pub-
lished as a march funebre, a waltz elegante
and a patriotic song under the title "Star of
Our Union." lc is available for mandolin, gui-
tar, zither, orchestra, band, banjo and as a
cornet solo.
Amanda Kennedy is also the composer of
"Drifting Leaves" and "Star of Faith."
A Vision
A few words from Leo Feist about the pur-
chase of the number should be of interest and
are given below: "I learned from one of the
music jobbers that Mr. Hitchcock wanted to
sell 'Star of the Sea.' As a matter of fact,
it was generally known that he wanted to sell
it, but the price he asked was so high that none
of the publishers were willing to buy it. When
I first heard that the piece could be bought
I saw before me a vision which I can never
forget.
"Picture jt. Sunday afternoon—music room
at home—large cushioned arm-chair—father sit-
ting there. Finally father called sister and told
her that he was all tired out after a week's
hard work and would she play 'Star of the Sea.'
It was to the music of 'Star of the Sea' that
father found rest and recreation. 'Star of the
Sea' was his favorite piece.
"Although my partner, at the time, was op-
posed to me buying the piece at the price asked
for it, I was determined to own it, and did—
and do.
"So you see that 'Star of the Sea' takes a
very important place in the Feist family records
and that it was entirely a matter of sentiment
which caused me to buy the piece and pay a
price for it, which was considered by all pub-
lishers to be exorbitant, considering that the
piece only sold from 15,000 to 20,000 copies a
year, according to the statement made by Mr.
Hitchcock, or his clerks.
"This gives, too, the reason why I believe
that the piece will always remain in the Feist
catalog and also why it is that, as a matter
of sentiment, it does not make any difference
to me how much the royalty on the piece may
be. Then comes along the 'Business View-
point,' which means that in order to make it
Some Little Someone
Some Sunny Day
Come on Home
Just a Little Love Song
Yankee Doodle Blues
Universal Dance Folio (or 1923
IRVING BERLIN'S NEW
Music Box Revue
Crinoline Days
Lady o l t h e Evening
Porcelain Maid
Pack Up Your Sins
and Go To The Devil
Will She Come From the East?
The Little Red Lacquer Cage
Bring On the Pepper
—
IRVING BERLIN, Inc.
1607 Broadway, New York
a matter of business we must sell a great many
copies. To do this we must be 'after the piece'
all the time. Past records and past work is
what has made the piece sell as it docs, but
the work must be continued indefinitely, not
only to sell copies of 'Star of the Sea,' but to
prevent any other piece from taking its place.
Exploiting the Number
"It may interest you to know that in the
first year of our ownership of the piece we
spent over $4,000 on 'Star of the Sea,' and have
never stopped working on it from that day to
this—and we don't ever expect to stop.
"As to the question 'How many copies did
you sell of "Star of the Sea," ' I can only re-
iterate what I have written Mrs. Moore; it is,
that I intend to go over the records from the
day we acquired 'Star of the Sea' up to the
present time and as soon as the record is com-
plete I intend to send a copy thereof to Mrs.
Moore.
"I hope that I have answered your letter,
satisfactorily and that you will appreciate an in-
sight to 'Feist family history' of the piece,
which I have, for the first time, disclosed."
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).