The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-22
MUSICAL REVIEW.

Amid the mass OF musical publications that
weekly come to our desk, very few original Amer.
can works can he found at present The few which
be called exceptions to the general rule not
by any means up to the former standard OF excel.
lence and, as general thing, do not reflect credit
on our country. We have spoken frequently before
OF the Union Monopoly, alias The Board OF Music
Trade, and their persistent efforts 10 crush ana
stamp out all native talent. Regarding
the members Of this Board, we must give
them chance to be heard. According 10 their
statements certain well known composers have re-
cetved from them the fullest pecuniary acknowledge
ment Of the value Of their works. For instance
Mr. Pond mas paid Mr.. j. r. Thomas hundreds upon
hundreds OF dollars for some Of his works, and Mr..
Perrng has been fully Unidentified for his excellent
and widely popular song, beware" No expla-
nation has been made by other publishers regard
ing the continual complaints OF the composers
who supply them with materials for their business.
After all there must be some foundation for these
complaints. We know from experience that no de-
pendence can be placed on the returns made by
some of the publishers, and that the system. as IL
exists at present. is susceptible Of fraud In every
sense Of the word. Probably Boston is responsible
tor o large share in this fraud, as composers
generally complain OF the unfair dealing
of the musical apostles Of the "Hub."
The younger houses and the agents Of foreign
firms have done much for some time past to stem
this tide of corruption and monopoly, and their sue
cess Is striking evidence Of the popular sentiment
In the matter. j. N. Pattison h Co., Ernest Rem
king and Boosey Of London, have attained during
the past year position ana popularity that Is Que
to their desire to deal with the public in liberal
ana conscientious manner. They have carried
through successfully the system Of cheap and good
music, ana instead Of charging exorbitant rates
for home and foreign composition they place the
best works within the reach Of all.
Ditson Co., OF Boston, have broken the rules Of
the ring by issuing q cheap and excellent edition Of
the popular operas, for which likely they will be
called to an account at the next meeting OF the
Board of Music Trade. We have spoken OF the de-
eroratlon OF american musical pnocacons ana ma
monopolists have driven our best composers out OF
toe field. Some OF our oest resident musicians
have told US over and over again that they
are discouraged from writing or publish ng
anything, for the simple reason that the
publishers Will reap the entire benefit from their
productions. This state OF things must. sooner or
later come to an end IN community Ike others,
and the sooner the better. Compositions should be
goods and O composer should not be subjected 10
insult when ne presents real saiaole WORK TO
cant. For this reason solely we adopt the cause OF
the younger publishers, who seem to understand
=" Ernest Renkins Fourth avenue, has added the
following publications OF the German Peters TO
MS lHltncuoc COucCtiOl VI SAaSotS" oau p0Puiu
"Duet Album" comprises twenty vocal operate
duets OF the very highest standard, there being nine
by Mozart, three by Weber, three by Spohr, two by
Beethoven and the rest by Schumann, Weigl and
Carala.
..Scnumann Abum,n contains the three classes OF
songs by that renowned composer, which are known
under The titles Of "Ltederkres,n "FrAuenebe uud
Leben' and "Dchter L,eoe." Both or these editions
are complete and very handsome in appearance.
Another collection from the same house IS num-
Der or transcrptions by Victor Felix. They are
based upon the following works:-"Weddlng
March, Mendclssohn: "Wcr hat dich du Schoner
Wald,n Mendelssohn: 30 bit euch, liebe," Gum
bert; .1ausendscnon,n Eckert; "Fahnemo0cht,"
lindpanter; "Maurischcs Staudchen," kuCken.
They all very beautiful works and may be placed
on an equal standard with the transcrlptions Of
Charles D'Avenel. published by the same house,
'Field's Nocturnes,v arranged and fingered by
K6hle are the beat examples Of . pure, finished
school that one can nnd. The composer was an
Enghshman, and his accomplishments and BASES
have furnished many OF his llustrlous successors
with some OF their best forms. He nourished III the
early part Of this century.
.'salon Album, ID o collection OF twenty OF the
most popular salon pieces, mono Of which are below
o fair standard Of merit. The slmpihcatlon Oh sucn
works US Kontskis 'Reveil du Lion" Is, however,
injurious TO the erect and destroys all interest III
them.
Chopin's Waltz In major for violin and piano,
opus Is, Is published very neatly BY Brietkopi