Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-30
MUSIC SPURS THE APPETITE
Means Adopted to Promote Business in
Hotels ard Restaurant.
QUEER TRICKS OF ORCHESTRA LEADERS
Ingenuity In Securing Scores of the
Newest sOnss-CIassic Creations
sandwiched with Rag
time Ditties.

Copyright, 1902. by A. s. Richardson.)
Among the foreign customs taking firm
root in America is that of music in cafes,
restaurants and hotels. The more cosmo-
politan the city's population, the more gen
eral the custom. In the more conservative
cities like Philadelphia, Boston and Balti-
more, there is no medium between the much
abused piano OF the saloon or beer garden
and the silver toned orchestra Of SWELL
dom's most exclusive hotels; but in such
cities as New York. Chicago and San Fran
cisco, where a money spending foreign ele-
ment is to be found, you get all gradations
OF sound, from the violin and piano duet,
through the Italian string band to the su-
perb orchestra OF a score OF players to be
found in New York's most palatial hotel.
Each hotel is a law unto itself in the
matter OF hours for music. but the usual
custom is a program lasting from 8 to
p. m, which catches the diners. and one
from 10 p. m. to a. m, which pleases the
supper parties after the play. And IT is the
province OF the orchestra leader to study
the taste and whims Of the establishments
patrons.
Your mere musician, the man who loves
music for it's own sweet sake and who burns
incense to the masters, is not the person
who will ably conduct the orchestra in
fashionable cafe. II is the man who can
sacrifice his own taste to that Of the pleas
ure-seeking public. whose music, by its
brightness and timeliness, will draw custo-
mers to the cafe.
How New Scores Are Secured.
His first duty, therefore, is to keep
abreast of the times in all things musical
and theatrical. For instance, Just before
Mascagni opened his New York engagement
every orchestra gallery rang with the
strains Of the intermeszo from "Cavalleria
Rusticana." During the stay Of Prince
Henry requests for THE Watch on the
Rhine" were numerous.
All this, however, is very simple when
compared with securing the very newest
popular music. On the face It would ap-
pear that every publisher would be glad
to have his music popularized, and 30 they
are-when the time comes, which is after
the song has been duly copyrighted and
gotten out in publication form. But your
patron Of the cafe is not always willing to
wait SO long On Monday night song
makes a hit in a new production. By Tues
day night the town is whistling 1t after
fashion, and every patron Of the cafe who
has heard 1t wants 1t played by the or
ohestra.
Now, many songs, especially, II written
for comedians, are used first in manuscript
form and copies cannot be secured. The
same may be said Of musical comedies,
scores of which are not obtainable for a
week or SO after the initial production.
This is where the orchestra leader finds
himself at his wits end. II he has a
friend in the theatre orchestra. he has al
ready arranged the matter. His friend
decides which airs will probably tickle the
public's musical palate, writes out the
theme of each, and from this the musical
leader In the cafe makes his own orchest-
ration and Is ready directly he learns the
piece has made hit,,'
II he does not stand in With someone
in the orchestra be attends the first
matinee performance, siidI1t he fears that
vigilant usher may spy hts bit Of music
paper. he jots the notes Of'th best choruses
on his cum and works them out later at
home. This is easily done because popular
aumbers are repeatedly, encored.
Last winter when a certain English
musical success made it's initial hit the
leader Of fashionable orchestra slipped
into the FIRST matinee, violin In arm, and
took a seat in the front row. When the
curtain fell and the orchestra Of the house
dispersed the leader OF the hotel musicians
slipped cautiously into the FIRST violinist's
chair and began to copy on the music which
b left on the racks between matinee and
night performances. A house employe Sec
ing him thus engaged, with his violin across
his knee, took him for a regular member Of
the house orchestra industriously working
overtime. and the leader soon slipped out
Of the theater without being asked a single
question. That night his little band o
musicians were ready with the latest
musical craze, and not another cafe orches.
ira In town had Il.
SO general is the custom of granting re
quests Tor certain numbers that the making
up of an advance program is a mere form
The only time that the leader may indulge
his own taste is during the lull between
dinner and supper parties.
These requests are sent up by the wait
ers, sometimes orally and sometimes IL
writing. In the latter case. "tip" is no
infrequently enclo~ed, and some astonishing
gifts reach the musicians balcony in thii
fashion [,
A young man who had been entertaining