El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-06-13

| to $3.50 for the first edition Of two
hundred copies
The class of publishers who conduct
business in this way keep on hand an
assortment of snowy title covers with
blank spaces in which they can NOR
tise In the name Of any song and also,
II desired, the picture Of its writer.
The plates for printing sheet music
now average cost Of less than $3.50
per page. $50 that for $40 or $12 a
four page song could be published with
reasonable profit to the publishers.
But publishers of this class are not
satisfied with a moderate or reasona-
bic profit The author is induced to
sign contract agreeing 10 pay sew
eral times the cost OF publication to
put his song upon the market, gener-
ally in the belief that 1t will make him
famous The United States postal au-
thorities have had occasion TO close
up a number of these advertised song
publication houses and the Music Pub
ishers' association Of America is act
lively supporting the government in
this particular.
While reputable publishers will hesi-
tate TO put their names upon a compo-
sit1on that does not possess a certain
musical merit, there are many who will
undertake the publication at the ex-
pense Of the author with the stfpuIa-
ton that the author assume all re-
sponsibilities as to its advertising and
sales This serves TO protect their
name, although it does not hinder the
publication of inferior music At the
. meeting now in session the possibility
OF requiring uniform standard of mu-
steal excellence for each new publica-
ton will receive attention.
Musfc Growth Ransd ~
The growth and Development of n1u
steal literature in America has been
unprecedented during the past year
The award made last month OF the s1O.-
600 prize by the Metropolitan Opera
company Of New York for the best
American opera is generally conceded
TO be the most important musical
event in the history of the country.
The prize winner was Horatio W. Par
ker, professor Of music at Yale univer-
sity, who has already received much
commentator as a musical composer.
This prize opera, which is called
Mona represents the time and people
OF ancient Britain 1t will be intro
dueed next year in New York The
libretto, which is in English, was
written by Brian Hooker, professor of
rhetoric at Yale university Twenty
five operas were submitted in this con-
test and it is stated that several other
contestants submitted meritorious
manuscripts and that at least two are
likely 70 be published and produced
Another American opera entitled
twilight" by Arthur Nevin, IS an
rounced for production next season by
the Metropolitan Opera company. Mr..
Neyfn declares that a good Hbretto for
an opera in English is harder to Sc
cure than good music, but he is con-
WINGED that the American school OF
composition has a great future. A
number of other competitive prizes TO
encourage American music have been
Federation OF Music awarded two
prizes Of 500 each to Miss Mabel Dan
iels. Of Boston. one for the best tenor
solo and the other for a trio for wo-
mems voices. Both Of these will rank
among the noteworthy American music
publications for the year While the
market at time appears to be loaded
with trash which for a brief period IS
popular. there is no question as TO the
increasing value of new American mu-
sic. The great interest in classical
already bearing fruit in the improve
ment OF popular taste.
CuItivating Higher Taste.
There. are still among the newer
productions songs which are positively !.
disgusting as TO words and music. A
music publisher recently. speaking be-
fore women's convention. expressed
his surprise that refined girls would
look at. much less sing and play. some
of the songs published during the year.
Partly as a result OF his address. the /
club women Of the country are now
giving their attention TO this matter. |
In every community an attempt Will be |
made 10 create a taste for the best |
class OF American music by debarring /
the Objectionable productions from all /
musical and social gatherings
Modern music teachers in America l
are doing more TO encourage original :
composition by their pupils than ever |
In Chicago recently a recital |