Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-03-18
Low PRICE MUSIC.
A Dealer Says the Copyrights Are
Running Out.
This Makes Some ei The Classical ana
Noden Music Cheap.

1.-The decline in the price of music of all
kinds. places it where all can have the
best music who want It, said a dealer
yesterday. ut was not SO very long ago
that all the classical music together with
everything that was up to date. cost the
people of Maine high price to purchase.
They would hear of the great bargains
given by some of the big metropolitan
business houses. but they never had the
benefit Of them. Once in while they
would have chance to buy simple pieces
for a small sum. but to get the desirable
kind 1t was necessary to pay a good
price.
THE prescriptions for the piano of the
old songs. all of which make such bright,
catchy and consequently popular music.
were once high but now they can he
bought for ten cents each as a rule,
| though some are worth more"
How is the demand for music?'
queried the reporter us 1t In the line Of
popular up to date stuff. or is it for the
old classical musc?'
People want up-to-date music the same
as they want everything else p-to-date
| now. All the latest songs, especially the
coon songs which by the way are getting
| more and more popular with my patrons
at least. are caught at by the young peo-
pie who sing. BY getting the prices
down. We sell more than enough to make
up for the prices of long ago. There is
also Il great demand for the sheet music
of the classical composers and for the old
time music which has been dressed up in
little different mode of variations, maxi
ing il take. The famous hymn tunes
with some of our patriotic songs and
Home Sweet Home in their variations
make as good selling music as one can
carry
"1s the demand for the difficult piano
music very great?''
"As a RUE the players are not in tn.
least inclined to pay any attention 10
that. They want something that is pref
ty and all that, and do not care SO very
much whether it is difficult or not There
is of course class of buyers who will
buy the difficult. classical selections that
are only played by Paderewski or some
of those. merely to have upon their mu-
sic racks for people 10 They never
play them. In fact 1t is doubtful if they
could do SO understandingly.
~ had gentleman call upon me not
long ago for one of the most famous If
the compositions of one of the old COM
posers. / did not have it in stock. but
sent for it. Ii was the dollar edition but
] was able to sell it at quite a discount.
have that same music now in little
less attractive cover for the small price
of 10 cents. | procured it through anoth-
err publisher who had taken advantage o:
the expiration of the first company's
copyright and had published it, This is
what makes the music so cheap-the ex-
piration of the copyright. | do not think
the tendency is so great to make new mu-
sic expensive as it was.
Here is title page Of this latest |
march by PAUL, that is said to have cost |
1925. 1t is a beauty as one can see This |
composers marches and two steps are all |
made beautiful by their bass solos. |
though the tendency of the day is nor |
much inclined toward bass solos