The Washington times., 1901-10-27

that another song along the same lines
will have a fair show of meeting the same
treatment. The song writer, therefore, is
always on the dui vive for what the peo-
pie are singing, and he lays his plans
accordingly.
When the scribe has decided upon verse
and melody, he makes n copy of both II
he is sufficiently accomplished to do so,
and If not, he huns the melody over to
one of the pianists, who takes IT down.
This ends his share of the work of pro-
duction. Whether he Is a musician or
not. he is not allowed to arrange his own
song. This part of the work is done by
the aforesaid arrangers, who are sup
posed to know the laws Of harmony from
A to q. and are vergz-i in the art of boil
stering up lame melody with an elab-
crate accompaniment. The best song
writer's are by no means musicians On
the contrary, the most successful songs
are written by men who don't know A
from b. In a musical sense
The song having been got out, the real
work begins The up-to-date song writer
does not enjoy sinecure. 1t is a mistake
to imagine that he has nothing to do aft
er placing a song in the publishers hands,
but to sit down and wait for the royalties
to roll in. He is a man Of action, eager
to make a dollar for the firm, and equally
eager to make one for himself. This, of
course, he can only do by unremitted ac-
tivity. No popular song is so good that it
can win success purely upon its own mer-
it. II the publisher merely placed 1t up
on the music counters. and then rested
from his labors. his board bill would be
always in arrears. The song must be
pushed. and in this work the writer plays
a leading part.
the manager-writer must keep track of
the movements of the vaudeville actors
and keep them supplied with the latest
songs his house issues. He must find out
where they are staying when in town and
pay them friendly visit to ascertain just
when it will be convenient for them to
have pianist call and teach them the
very latest thing. He must ferret out the
places where the burlesque shows are re-
hearsing and exercise his wiles upon their
managers. He must, In short. add the
mobility of an insurance agent to the per-
suasive powers Of an advocate.
Then the big stars in the vaudeville
world must be entreated. and IL that fails,
subsidized into singing the firms songs.
Every publishing house pays large sums
to ''head-liners" to put on their stuff.
l know of a house which has formed an
agreement with a famous minstrel or
ganiZation. In terms satisfactory to both,
to sing only that houses publications.
This is high-art advertising and its effect
is obvious. The general public is not any
too clear Of vision. What one OF its idols
sings is pretty sure to commend itself to
its favor. The queen of soubrettes'' has
a reputation at stake. and any song which
she thinks worth featuring" must be ali
right This, at any rate. is the popular
deduction, and thus it happens that many
an inane ditty. without a gliinmer of
merit in any of its parts, becomes big
money-maker.
Meanwhile the professional department
of the house is wide open from morning
till night to whosoever may deign to
come. Callers showing satisfactory evil
dence that they are in the 'profesh' are
allowed to help themselves to copies Of
any songs they wish. II they desire to
learn any of the songs right there and
then, the services of patient and pains
taking pianist are at their disposal The
house in its goodness of heart even stands
ready, in case given song is published
in a key too high or too low for a singers
voice, to make transposition into a more
suitable key.
A singer and piano player are de-
spatched each day to the big department
stores. Here they furnish a concert de-
signed to assist people In making up their
minds just what music is worth buying.
Nor is the virtue of printers ink forgot
ten. The big dramatic and musical pa
pers reap rich harvest from the adver-
tisements of music houses. At least one
New York firm publishes a paper of its
own. With the characteristic craft of the
music producer. it is issued under the
guise of an impartial review of recent
publications little Investigation. how
ever, establishes the fact that no mention
Is made OF any production not bearing the
imprint of that particular house. which
never under any circumstances issues
anything but hit. Boston Transcript