The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-07-16
NEWS AND GOSSIP OF
THE MUSICAL WORLD

description of the manner in which the
great quantities of sheet music are ground
out by the big New York publishing
houses:
THAT ridiculous bit of doggerel entitled
Hoeh Der Kaiser which, in the opinion of
some people, came close to setting two
great nations by the ears, has been revived
again-ths time by the street fakrs. One
of the tribe stood at a Fulton street cor
ner the other day, armed with a great
stack of printed slips and believing at the
top of his voice: Here you are! Captain
Coghlans great song, "Hoch Der Kaiser
suppressed by the government; one cent a
copy!' He was shovelling them out fast
enough, too. Who would not be famous
at the price?
"Fledging composers of songs find no
such difficulty in securing a hearing from
publishers as is encountered by the aspir-
ant for literary honors. In the crosstown
streets from Union square to Twenty-third,
between Fourth and Sixth avenues, are To-
Gated a number of publishers of cheap sheet
mlsic. Every such firm employs an expert
whose duty tits to pass upon manuscripts,
after the fashion of a reader in a pub
fishing house, with the difference, however,
that the composer submitting a song has
an immediate hearing in the place of being
told to leave his production for future con-
sideration. The expert has room in the
rear of the establishment, equipped with a
piano. and into this den the composer is
ushered, his song tried over at once and
rejected without ceremony, or in the event
of it's pleasing, a cash offer is made for it
on the spot.
1.-THE expert is supposed to be able to
tell at a glance. a hearing, whether u
piece possesses the clements of popularity,
though cases have been Known of song
being turned down.. as the variety folks
call it, by half a dozen concerns, only to
reap a widespread popularity when accept
ed and published by a seventh. In such
cases. the six luckless experts If they rec
ognze the success as one Of their rejee-
lions, go away quietly and moan in secret
hoping that the head of the concern will
never hear of it.
The expert, in cases where his decision
is in doubt, can always secure counsel and
assistance from a dozen or so vaudeville
artists of both sexes, who are always wait
ing in the reception room, and, for some
reason never explained are in the habit
of getting their mail in the music publish
ers' care. When a likely song is brought
in and pounded out on the experts piano,
the waiting vaudeville artists catch it at
once and begin humming the refrain
"a song that scores to that extent is
usually purchased on the spot. and the ccm-
poser, be he old hand or greenhorn, may go
home and write as many more as he likes
and sell them just as quickly. As it costs
next to nothing to publish a song the re-
profit The publisher, however, may buy
fifty songs before the public comedies with
the view of his paid expert upon one of
them. This does not alter the fact that
the composer has everything his own way
He can write his piece, secure a hearing
Ill f,,, och,
all in the same hour. A story writer can't
do as much"
The following are the words of beauti-
full little song which was published recently
and which is Just now beginning to be sung
in Birmingham. The words We're written
by Robert Cameron Rogers, and the music
by Ethelbert Nevin:
THE ROSARY.
The hours spent with thee, dear heart,
Are as a string of pearls to me;
count them every one apart,
My Rosary, my Rosary.
Each hour a pearl. each pearl prayer,
To still heart in absence wrung,
tell each bead unto the end,
And there a cross Is hung!
O. memories that bless and burn!
o. barren gain and bitter loss!
kiss each bead and strive at last to learn
To kiss the cross; sweetheart! to kiss the
cross.
notwithstanding the exceedingly hot
weather of July, birmingham will have
some very attractive musical recitals this
week al lof which will have unusually in
teresting programs.
Tonight, at North Birmingham park, a
sacred concert has been arranged, which
will be given in open air, Suttos orchestra
will furnish the instrumental music. Justin
Thatcher and C. C. Washburn will be the
soloists. The following is the program in
full:
The Twilight Hour (Boettgn); "Poam of
Love- CRatistD: ",rhe Idol of My Heart"
(stahD; LA Paloma" (Balfour; Must we
Meet as Strangers GMeynells); "Bohemain
Girl" (Moses); "Once Again" (Sullvam; |
1.-THE Last Hope" (Gottschalk); SPARTA |
Gus" (stahD; and 1.-THE Day Is Done"
Balfe), will be the selections played by
the orchestra.
Mr.. Thatcher will sing 1.-THE Holy city,
(Adams), and Mr.. Washburn, palms"
DAWN, and the ''Recessional" Ode Koven).
Ezra Wyatt will be the accompanist.
Tuesday night the ladies of the Southern
Baptist church have arranged to give an
elaborate organ recital and other concert
numbers. Besides the organ selections, |
there will be several vocal solos by Mr..
Thatcher and by Mrs. Thos. Knight OF
Greensboro, who will be remembered in |
This city as Miss Rebecca Williams. The |
ArolIo club will also render several selec-
tons
On Friday night the Southern club will |
depart from its usual custom in regard to |
their summer entertainments, and give |
musical recital at the club rooms. Mr.
Thatcher and Mr.. Washburn will sing |
number of their ballads and songs, which
have proved so popular in Birmingham.
Hoods Sarsa parifa insures good digestion |
md strength to the vital organs. Insist up
on Hoods.
The secret of economy is to buy in cheap
est market. You will follow this rule, IL I
you buy at Loveman, Joseph & Loeb's.
Have you tried Old Hem
lock Rye, sold only by VIM.
Wise & Co, at 75c per quartz
IF Won want high quality at /