The Edison phonograph monthly (Jan-Dec 1912)

6 Edison Phonograph Monthly, March/ 1912 Those Grand Opera Records Fisk Jubilee Records What have you been doing to push the sale of Edison Grand Opera Records? Have you simply decided that, as long as they did not particularly strike your fancy, it was not worth while to bother with them? Or have you realized that individual tastes are as different and as numerous as are individuals themselves — that no two people in the world like exactly the same things? In other words, no Dealer can afford to allow his personal prejudices to influence his ordering of Records from the Jobbers, or to guide him in his efforts to dispose of them to his customers. Of course, the great problem in selling Grand Opera Records is to "break the ice." A great many people are prejudiced against operatic music, not because of the music itself, but because it is typical to their minds of luxury and the social climbings of the "idle rich." On the other hand, there are those who would buy music of little or no beauty whatever if they were convinced that Mrs. S. T. Olenrocks had included it in her last drawing room concert program. Now, the wise Dealer will first learn his customer's viewpoint on this subject and then tackle him or her accordingly. If the customer is inclined to scoff at operatic music, just play Amberol No. 30041 (Prologue from "I Pagliacci"), not merely once, but two or three times. Emphasize the musical beauty of this wonderful selection and put the soft pedal on tlie societyand-the-opera talk. If the customer is not interested in the Record "He hath no music in his soul." "I Pagliacci" could not fail to appeal to the other class of customers, because of its real musical charm and because of its popularity with the Smart Set. The sale of one operatic Record will pave the way for others because of the inevitable fascination which music of this class has for people who lay aside their mistaken prejudices against it. One almost never finds merely a single operatic selection in any Record collection, and it might be stated as a rule that the purchase of one operatic Record will lead to the demand for others. If you don't believe it, try it. The Fisk University Jubilee Quartet Records are exceptional examples of negro religious and plantation songs. They are sung by negroes who have been identified with Jubilee singing for a number of years, and they are under the direction of a member of the faculty who has had charge of the work for fourteen years. It was the Fisk University singers who first gave to the world these fascinating melodies, and it is through their untiring efforts that we have our present-day knowledge of the oldtime darkey's religious passion. Being superstitious and of a highly imaginative turn of mind, he took a great many religious fables and allegories too literally, as many of the old songs show. Fisk University was founded in Nashville, Tenn., in 1866. It is devoted entirely to the education of the negro, and has already graduated over eight hundred. It has always given special attention to music and now has the best musical department in the world for colored people. The singers are John W. Work (first tenor), Roland W. Hayes (second tenor), Leon P. O'Hara (first bass) and Charles Wesley (second bass). Freight shipment of these Records was begun about February 26th, starting with the Southern territories and working North and West as rapidly as possible. These Records may be placed on sale as soon as they are received. THE RECORDS. Amberol (50 cents each in U. S. ; 65 cents each in Canada). 973' (a) Peter on the Sea. (b) The Ole Ark. 979 (a) Shout All Over God's Heaven. ' ■ (b) Little David. 980 Roll, Jordon, Roll. 981 Crossing the Bar. 982 All Over This World. 983 The Band of Gideon. 984 My Soul Is a Witness. 985 The Great Campmeeting. 986 Swing Low, Sweet Chariot. The New Haven Sunday Register, in reviewing the history of the Loomis Temple of Music, in that city, states that "the first Edison Phonograph ever exhibited was heard in a Phonograph entertainment given in the hall by a demonstrator from the Edison laboratory." To Use Phonographs on Rubberneck Wagons Modern phonographs are to displace human anunciators in San Diego's sightseeing automobiles. Announcement of this was made by one of the leading tourist car owners who has just arranged for putting on double deck fifty passenger cars. Economy is given as one of the reasons for the move ; accuracy is another thing that prompts the change.