Music Trade Review

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The Music Trade Review
NOVEMBER 20, 1926
Linking the Artists' Appearances With the Piano They Use
facts about the orchestra, the compositions
played or a brief story of the opera at the per-
formance of which this special piano was used.
' Particularly effective and in a general sense
original is the plan of tying up the piano and
!th;e opera conceived and being carried out by
•William Knabe & Co. in New York, the Knabe
piano being the official instrument of the Metro-
politan Opera Co. As each opera is presented
for the first time the season at the Metropolitan,
the daily newspapers on the morning of the
day when the opera is to be given, carry at-
tractive little librettos of that particular opera,
Whether it be "Faust," "Aida" or whatnot.
These little librettos, approximately 200 words
in length, are written for Wm. Knabe & Co. by
Leonard Liebling, the noted musical authority
and critic, and thus have an authoritative status
that is appreciated by those who know music.
The Knabe name-plate appears at the head of
the advertisement, the company name and ad-
dress at the bottom with the line, "Official piano
of the Metropolitan Opera."
The little librettos occupy a newspaper space
two columns wide and six and one-half inches
deep. Small though they are, they have at-
tracted a surprising amount of attention. It is
stated at the bottom of the text that the little
librettos are published through the courtesy of
William Knabe & Co., which gives to these
advertisements the atmosphere of public service.
The accompanying reproductions give a gen-
eral idea of the character of these little librettos
and the manner in which they are presented. It
is understood that the series will continue right
through the opera season as the various operas
are presented for the first time. The main point
is that the fact is being impressed upon the
public several times weekly and in a most
pleasant way that the Knabe is the official piano
of the Metropolitan Opera House. The associa-
Combined Association in
Seattle Works Well
Seattle Radio and Music Trades Association
Discusses Various Radio Problems at Last
Meeting—Different Groups to Handle Own
Affairs
SEATTLE, WASH., November 12.—Under the di-
rection of the new executive secretary, Joseph
D. Fatjo, the Seattle Radio and Music Trades
Association is functioning actively, with meet-
ings of its several units being held with great
frequency. Offices of the Association have been
moved to 226 Securities Building. Mr. Fatjo
has had years of experience as an organizer,
and is also thoroughly familiar with publicity
and executive work. He has also worked promi-
nently with newspapers throughout the country
and is eminently fitted to guide the destinies
of the new combined radio and music trades
association successfully. He believes in suc-
ceeding through plenty of hard work, and asso-
ciation work certainly calls for that. In addition
to this, he possesses a pleasing personality and
makes friends readily.
Several movements are already on foot by the
several groups of the Association, for the better-
ment of conditions along their lines in Seattle.
Many of these movements have not yet been
launched but are still under consideration.
The radio group met at 6.15 p. m. in the res-
taurant of the L. C. Smith Building on Novem-
ber 3, for consideration of the problem of next
year's radio show. It was agreed by all the
members assembled to take the bid entered by
G. J. Thompson, executive secretary of the
Oregon Radio Association, to manage and put
on this show in 1927. Mr. Thompson, who man-
aged the radio show put on so successfully in
Portland during October, proposes to bear the
expenses of the show, defraying the cost to him-
self, by selling the booths to manufacturers,
(Continued from page 3)
tion between the two is thus being firmly im-
pressed upon the mind of the public, which un-
questionably will have its effect upon future
sales, particularly among those who pride them-
selves upon being opera devotees.
What Knabe & Co. are doing in New York
illilbc
At the Metropolitan Tonight
"MARTA"
Little Librettos b> LEONARD LIEBLING
was the ama7,ement of a not very mu-
^~-* sical gentleman who made his initial visit to
the opera-house, heard "Marta," and suddenly r e c
ognized the, strains of "The Last Rose of Summer."
"If that's grand opera, give me more of it," came
from the astonished listener Delightful "Marta"
has charmed and conquered millions of other un-
trained music-lovers in the seventy-nine years of its
existence. And small wonder. The piece is full of
gracious, facile tunes, and easy, stirring rhythms.
Modern music publishers would say that the mel-
•••• odies of Flotow, the Parisianized German, have
abundant "heart appeal." The simple story of
"Marta," aromantic and lightly sentimental comedy,
radiates the spirit of youth; and uniting two happy
couples in the finale, unfolds itself in episodes of
engaging and innocent merriment
Littk Librettos are f>ublish«d m the newspapers by courtesy o/
WM. KNABE & C O.
FIFTH AVENUE AT TH1RTY-N1NTH ST.
Official Piano of thf Metropolitan Opera
can be done by the average dealer in any fair-
sized city in the country. Some of these cities
will be privileged to hear Metropolitan opera
themselves, but those who do not enjoy this
privilege have seasons of opera by other com-
panies, or numerous concerts and recitals that
jobbers, distributors and dealers. He agrees to
supply all decorations, etc. All that the dealers
will have to arrange for outside of the show will
be the advertising that they may choose to run,
preceding and during radio week.
Guests were present at the meeting who are
prominent in electrical circles in Seattle, and
were invited so that consideration of "inter-
ference" problems could be made from all sides.
The Association is most desirous of bettering
conditions for listeners in the Northwest and
intends working hand-in-hand with the Listen-
ers Club. It was suggested and considered at
the meeting that the radio group and the Seattle
Listeners Club amalgamate in the near future
and a committee was appointed to work on this
last development.
Krakauer Bros. Executives
Visiting Retail Trade
Arthur Hahn, second vice-president of Kra-
kauer Bros., New York, has just returned to the
factory following a short trip through the trade
in New England. W. B. Marshall, first vice-
president of the company, is at present visiting
the South on an extensive trip and his letters
are encouraging with respect to general condi-
tions. He has opened several valuable new
accounts and reports a widespread popularity
of Krakauer period model small grands.
Death of S. D. Sitterley
SCHENECTADY, N. Y., November 13.—S. D.
Sitterley, a veteran of the piano trade, passed
away at his home here to-day in his eighty-fifth
year. Mr. Sitterley was at one time superin-
tendent of the factory of Keller Bros., Bridge-
port, Conn., and was later connected with the
Winterroth Piano Co. For some years past he
has been a salesman for C. W. Teller, local
piano dealer.
can be taken advantage of in a profitable w,ay
through an intelligent tie-up.
A small picture of the artist and something
of his career and accomplishments make good
reading for the music lover when published in
advertisement form on the music page of the
newspaper, and the fact can be brought in very
easily that the artist plays one certain make
of piano exclusively, giving at the bottom the
name and address of the local representative.
These cuts of artists can be secured from the
piano manufacturers or from the booking offices,
and the necessary biographical material from
the files of the local newspaper critic.
Where a reproducing piano is featured as
reproducing the playing of a particular artist
who is appearing in the city, an effective method
is to pick out .of the program two or three
selections that he has recorded and announce
that his playing may be heard through the
medium of the reproducing instrument at the
local dealer's warerooms either before or after
the concert. The same information published
in the concert program has the advantage that
it reaches those who are interested enough in
the pianist's playing to attend his personal
performance.
A local music critic or someone of musical
standing in the community can generally be
prevailed upon to write the biographical sketch
of the artist or supply some worth-while facts
about a visiting orchestra, or a brief story of a
local opera performance, and give to the ad-
vertisement, as is the case with the Knabe an-
nouncement in New York, the appearance of
rendering a worth-while service to interested
music lovers. It represents a method for capi-
talizing the reputation and standing of the piano
that is far more effective from the sales angle
than any amount of general advertising pro-
claiming the instrument's merits.
Hotel Stevens, Chicago, as
Convention Headquarters
New Hostelry Selected to House 1927 Conven-
tion of Music Industries—All Facilities Placed
at Disposal of Trade Association
The Hotel Stevens, Chicago, 111., has been
selected as the official convention hotel of the
music industries during the week of June 6 to
10, 1927.
The selection of the Stevens is the result of
long negotiations between the Music Industries
Chamber of Commerce and various Chicago
hotels. Finally the Stevens offered facilities
and rates which, in the opinion of the directors
of the Chamber, are the most advantageous
available in Chicago. The offer of the Stevens
and that of other hotels were placed before the
Executive Board of the National Association of
Music Merchants in Indianapolis, and they
unanimously favored the Stevens.
All of the public facilities of the Stevens from
June 6 to 10 inclusive are under contract with
the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce.
This will prevent any other conventions, din-
ners or similar functions being held at the
Stevens by persons or organizations outside the
music industry. Likewise, no manufacturer not
belonging to his proper association in the music
industry will be able to exhibit at the Stevens.
The Stevens has guaranteed that 2,000 dele-
gates can be accommodated at prices not ex-
ceeding $4 per person single, or $6 per room
double.' Rooms at lower rates will be available.
Parlor suites and other rooms used for exhibi-
tion purposes will cost manufacturers only the
regular rates, and exhibits can be moved in on
the Saturday preceding the convention and re-
moved on the following Friday without any
charge being made for those two days. Manu-
facturers should make their reservations direct
with the hotel.