New-York tribune., 1922-05-07

'N M PoIlCF OF systemal4cauy giving the
public what it wants in phonogrsph
music IS more purely commercial in
theaxy than it is in practice, In its
actual working out it means, thanks to com
petition, serving up popular music in sump-
tuous style.
Here IS what happens. A songsmith Of Tin
pan Alley thunlps out with one finger catchy
melody. It has the makings Of hit A hack
harnonizer fills in chords, and the result is
published in sheet music form. Net's call it:
I'm Crazy About My BABY Several vaude
vile singers try it out. 1t takes People begin
70 ask for I'm Crazy About Ny Baby in the
music stores and won't be happy till they can
get 1t on phonograph records.
There is where the Transformation comes.
When we get song for recording" says
one Of the musical directors Che used to be
conductor of operas and symphony orchestras)
we consider it simply as a melody The &C
compartment is almost sure to be wrong
tu44 Of musical bad grammar, and with bass
that is stupid and has no re1a ton to the air
50 we practically rewrite it, giving the song
an accompaniment that is true complement
Of the melody and we intrust it to an artist
who has voice and knows how to sing As it
sounds IN the finished record it may be very
light and Of no great value but it Is not bad
music"
In other words, the song is taken out Of tn.
vaudeville ruck and groomed Ike thorough
bred.
Il Go not agree with the complacent indi-
YIdual who declares that popular tune writ
ten by some one Of no particular musical edu-
cation is cheap trash just because it is popular
Not at all. The people who composed the folk
tunes or Europe were not graduates Of con
'er7atores Did you see what Percy Granger
SAID not long ago about the most striking
folk melodies being composed by lonely shep-
nerds and that sort Of people without knowl~
edge OF harmony? We'll, some of the fellow.
who today thump out tunes with one finger
are more capable of creating vital melody than
the majority Of sophisticated American com
posers who have assiinlated all the harmony
there IS in Europe. We take these broadway
tunes which have popular appeal and present
them N the most attractive style that we can
And we find that our efforts are not wasted
lhe public has come not only to appreciate
artistic qualities IN a popular record--charn1,
sparkle, nice violin tones and touches Of celest.
and that sort OF thing--but has even como to
demand then1. To-day company that puts
out popular songs presented RS crudely as thev
are on the vaudeville stage will not sell MANY
records
(What pity the transforming process doe.
not include the words. For the average popu-
jsr song, especially If it is Of the sentimental
sort, has words that are sheer hunk and driyel
And no song can quite escape it's lyric There
ought to be q lsw--Washington papers please
eopy-requlring every song that has inane or
maudhn words about dear old grandmothers
zap or dear old urcles feet to be sealed for
ever from vocal use and licensed henceforth
solely az dance
Not only is it true that popular music pre-
sented in good taste IS better paviuv invest
ment than the same song. or tunes don.
crudely, but it is fonnd that music of high
artistic worth is the most permanently profit
able of any. Hsrd-headed business men who
went into the phonograph retail trade for the
money there was in 1t have discovered that the
customer who has n taste for high brow stnr
IS the customer worth catering to- He is the
only customer to be counted on ss a regular.
Popular records are easy to sell. Peonle
have heard Of them, heard them whistled
perhaps been to the shows in which thev were
performed. The salesman need know nothine
Of music to make them go like not cakes. But
the rippingist hit is dead, run into the ground.
IN three months. Music promoters figure that
it takes one month for popular record to get
known in big centers like New York and
Chicago, second month 70 have its vogue in
smaller towns and tAen a third month 70
reach its limit il rural districts. After
that it IS about as defurct as Little Annie
Rooney
Consequently, when Mr.. and Mrs Jones de-
eide they want phonograph and so to the
store to pick it out and get dozen records
for their first repertoire if all the records are
hits Of the moment, their repertorie will play
Itself out in couple Of weehs-after which
they will have to buy an entirely new set.
Az likely rs not, though unless ther. ars