The San Francisco call., 1899-01-01
SONGS UNDER THE HAMMER.
Prices Paid Which Show What Are
Favorite Melodies in England.

Favorite Melodies in England.
There is money as well as music in
songs.
A sixteen days' sale of songs is now
in progress at the auction rooms of
Messrs. Puttick & Simpson of Leicester
Square, and no less a sum than 1000
has been realized by the first five days
of the sale.
That is big sum undoubtedly, but
Messrs. Puttick & Simpson, who were
seen by Daily Mail representative
yesterday, state that, as a matter of
fact, music publishers do not make
princely incomes out of songs. The
competition is keen, the expenses are
very great and the exceptional sue
cesses very rare.
The highest price ever given for
song is e2240, which was the sum
paid last week for Mascheronis For
All Eternity" This song has nearly
its full term Of copyright to run, and
it shares with Queen Of the Earth" the
honor of being the most popular Of
modern compositions.
But it is not always quality that
brings in handsome return. There
are many songs Of exceptional merit,
practically drug in the market, while,
on the other hand, songs of admitted
medlocrity have commanded eXtraordi-
narily high prices. The music pub
Usher who can judge OF the value Of
song as soon as he sees it is a rarity.
He has to reckon with the temper and
varied tastes of the public. He must
patiently bide his time and let the sales
tell their own tale.
Messrs. Puttick & Simpson have had
a long experience in the sale of copy
rights of songs, and some figures they
supplied our representatives with yes
terday are exceedingly interesting.
for songs. Balfe's THE Sailor Sighs
as Sinks His Native Shore" a duet,
fetched 1924; BIumenthaPs "Requital"
was bought for 8310. The royalty on
this song was as much as Sd. per copy.
Arditi's III Bacio" fetched ELS;
Gounod's Bethlehem" 919S; Hattons s
Good by, Sweetheart, Good-by," 9462;
Knights "She Wore a Wreath Of
Roses" e495; Macfarren's Beating Of
My Own Heart" $3.50; Stanley's "Only
to Love" &269. In the same year
Wallaces opera "Maritana" was sold
for 22232, while shortly afterward
e25O0 was paid for his opera "Lur-
line"
the hammer in 1888, many of them be-
ing Blockley's. His Arabs Farewell
to His Steed' went for 2640, THE Eng
lishman" for &46S. Hearts and
Homes" for &319, Love Not for 9305,
MANY Happy Returns of the Day for
f9f4 and Ring Out, Wild Bells for
a23s.
In the same year Melis mi Desper-
andum" fetched 9253; De Faye's Tell
Her I Love Her So" 2465; "Alice
Mary Smiths Maying duet, G663;
Cherry's Shells Of Ocean," e202;
Cherry's will o the Wisp,,"' e2O9;
Wallace's Sweet and Low" 9214;
G22S and Arditi's "L'Ardita," $3.50.
AS much as $1,000 was paid for
Cootes prince Imperial" galop, while
Balfe's opera Rose of CASTLE" was
bought for e95S, and Weber's opera
"Oberon" for G42S
Many songs and piano pieces were
disposed Of in 1890. OF the songs, Lees
realized 9222; Hattons ITO Anthea,"
e26O and Warmers ITO the Woods"
1852. Two piano pieces by Pridham-
one Sabbath Recreations" and the
other yorkshire Bells"-fetched 2363
and $3.50 respectively. His Battle
March" was sold for 91024. Mahler's
"OId London March" was bought for
95S8 and his "Old Westminster March"
for G246.
It was in this year that Farmers vio-
lin tutor was sold for e1752 Small
woods Fairy Barque," a simple piano
piece, used principally in schools,
fetched as much as s1S10. Leslie's song
-Four Jolly Smiths" went for 9300. In
1893 Verdis opera I'll Trovatore" was
sold for e503.
Good prices have been paid during the
present sale Inaddition to the record
price for For All Eternity" G340 15s
was paid for Mascheroni's Land Of
Yesterday" B. Richards Let the
Hills Resound'' brought 1922 los; Law
renee Kellie's Love Nocturne" G351
the Rose" G315.
the Rose" 9315.