Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-10-23
HOW MUSIC IS MADE.
EXAMINATION OF THE MANUSCRIPTS
RECEIVED BY THE PUBLISHER.

The Song Put in Hsnd'-The Work OF
Transfer ing the Copy" to Metal
PIatc--1he Engraving Of the Title.
Press Work.
"The way to cook rabbit is to first catch a
rabbit" etc, applies fOrcibly to the initial
process Of producing musical composition In
sheet form, and it may be further added that
manuscripts worth publishing are as hard 10
secure as the traditional rabbit. As all large
music publishing concerns are constantly in
receipt Of manuscripts sent for examination
and sale it becomes necessary TO inspect each
composition as soon as possible, otherwise
they would accumulate TO such an extent that
a separate examination would be next to i'm.
possible
For this purpose is employed a thoroughly
educated and practical musCian-One who not
only performs at sight, but who is also q
master Of harmony and composition. After
carefully trying over each piece, and noting
his opinion thereon, the result may be the Sc
lection of one or two manuscripts out Of per.
haps fifty, the balance being returned to their
respective authors marked rejected
THE SONG "PUT IN HAND"
recommended by the inspector is a song The
publisher now holds manuscript which il
the opinion Of his inspector is worth publish
ing, that is, it has some point Of excellence
that might result i'll the piece becoming popu
lar. The next step Is to read the letter sent
by the writer Of the song, and il the author,
demands are deemed reasonable his terms ar,
accepted and the song Is put in hand, not
r. ,I. 4, 1.
fed himself that the words are correct ant
suitable, and that the title is not already il
use.
The manuscript is then taken by the en-
graver who, seated at his table, begins tn,
work Of transferring to metal plates tn,
"cOpy" before him. For this purpose he EN-
ploys a hammer and a multitude of small stee
dies each one Of which represents character O
music. in fact everything from brace to
double bar, and from a grace note to a sixty
fourth, besides rests, Siurs, CTeScendOS, and
full set Of the alphabet in various sizes. suCl
as agate. nonpareil. primer, etc. Upon th'
table before him rests a slab Of iron about two
feet square by two inches thick This is tn,
anvil 2 on which is laid the metal plate afore
mentioned. The latter is composed of whit,
metal and i One-SiXteenth of all inch in thick
ness The surface is highly polished and re
sembes burni he'd silver. With the aid O
compasses, rules and other peculiar tools, tn,
lines bars, etc are laid out, after which tn,
engraver proceeds to fill in the music snC
words, and thus each plate is treated until th'
song is finished.
THE ENGRAVING OF THE TITLE
While the music engraver is busy with hi
manuscript and dies, the title engraver is no
idle. By a process exactly similar to banl
note or steel engraving this individual pre-
pares the title, which, as an obvious necessity
must be entirely original in design, both il
lettering and ornsmentation. The metal plate.
used for titles are the same as those used fol
music
The music plates and title being finished
proofs are taken from them and submitted Il
the music inspector, who carefully examine
each page AID makes the necessary COrrec
tions, after which they are returned to the en-
graver The latter individual having mad,
the designated changes or additions, paSsee
the plates 10 the superintendent of the pres
room, where they are in turn given TO press
man.
The press used is the same as employed il
steel plate printing, and can therefore only
be worked by hand. This process Is neces
sarily slow and tedious, but it is the only
method by which first class sheet music car
be made. After the music is printed tn,
music sheets, which are still wet, are hung
upon racks to dry. The drying process con
sumes about two or three hours, when they
are taken down, folded and put in a press
where they are usually left over night. Ir
theInorning they are taken out and we have
before us pile of elegant plate music, "tht
latest song Of the season. Plate edition.
will always be preferred by all who appre
ciate music that can be easily read, in fact. tc
those accustomed TO plate work type music
seems like no music-Musical Journal