The Edison phonograph monthly (Mar 1903-Feb 1904)

EDISON PHONOGRAPH MONTHLY. FRANK P. BANTA. Frank P. Banta died at his home in New York City on November 30. The average Dealer in Edison Phonographs and Records will recall the fact that the list of Edison Records includes a piano selection — the only one in the catalogue — No. 8394, "Violets," made by Mr. Banta, but beyond this the death of Mr. Banta will at first awaken little interest. Mr. Banta was, however, better known in the Phonograph world for his work than for his personal identity. His were the hands that played the piano accompaniments to more than half of the Records in the Edison catalogue and his was the musical ability that re-arranged or re-wrote the music which has made the piano accompaniments to Edison Records so attractive. Accompaniments as ordinarily written cannot be used in Record making. Each selection requires a practically new arrangement of the music. In this Mr. Banta was remarkably successful. He was one of the first pianists to play for the Phonograph. He began when quite young and was constantly identified with Record making at the Edison Laboratory to the day of his death. He was also a composer of numerous musical successes. His "Halimar," oriental rondo, our Record No. 8051, was played by all the famous musical organizations in the country. His piano solo, transcription of the song "Violets" which he composed has been much admired. His versatile talents made him one of the most valuable men in the Edison organization and his place will not soon be filled by any one man. At his death Mr. Banta was but thirty-three years old. He had been in poor health for some time, but his death was wholly unlooked for by his family and friends. His death was doubtless hastened by overwork, for he was ambitious and a hard worker. He was unusually popular among his musical associates and with those for whom he worked. His death was deeply regretted. Men like Frank P. Banta are few and can ill be spared. The list of Jobbers and Dealers who have advertised Edison Phonographs and Records extensively during the past month or more includes practically every name on our mailing list. To enumerate them would be impracticable in the limited space at our command. Even those who have sent in copies of their advertisements would make a list of unusual length. The Edison Gold Moulded Records— never found on bargain counters. OF GENERAL INTEREST. The latest thing in talking machine enterprise is a catalogue of all records made by the various companies manufacturing cylindrical and disk records, the first number of which has just appeared and includes all records listed to and including December, 1903. This is being published by L. S. Gardner, Theatre Arcade, New Orleans, La. It gives in comprehensive form the number and title of every record gotten out by the various companies and is a publication that should be of much value to the talking ,machine trade, to which it is sold on a subscription basis. We have received several complaints from Dealers that we had omitted from the December issue of the Phonograph Monthly the list of best selling Records. This omission was intentional, it having been deemed inadvisable to continue its publication. W. L. Brousart, an owner of a Triumph Phonograph at New Iberia, La., writes concerning an interesting incident in the making of a Record. He has a collection of Records of all instruments used at the Edison Laboratory, and was anxious to add to this a Record of a steam calliope. The opportunity came one day when a floating palace came to his city and anchored about 150 yards from his house. The calliope was playing popular airs at intervals, and Mr. Brousart succeeded in spite of the distance in making a very good Record of "In the Good Old Summer Time," as played by this steam musical device, if "musical" the calliope can be called. A WAY TO LEARN A POPULAR SONG. An advertising friend tells an amusing and interesting story of how his Phonograph helped an acquaintance out in a social matter. This acquaintance was down on a programme to do something at a dinner. He wasn't much of a speaker, but could sing fairly well, so he elected to sing. The affair was arranged at a late hour and he had but a short time to prepare himself for the occasion. So he hunted up his advertising friend, selected the song "It Was the Dutch" as his offering for the after dinner festivity, and spent the evening in plavmg this selection on the Phonograph again and again until he learned the music and the words so far as the Record gave the latter, and later he supplemented it with the printed words. This plan of learning a popular song was effectual, although rather hard on the advertising man's family, who jjeard more of this one selection than they would have heard from choice.