The talking machine world (July-Dec 1927)

124 (World of Music) The Talking Machine World, New York, December, 1927 Leading Musicians Contribute to Robbins Catalog Well-known Musicians Form Advisory Board to Edit Compositions — Robbins Releases Are Important Contributions to Music "It is characteristic of a sheep that it will follow a leader even to its own destruction," states J. J. Robbins, head of the Robbins Music Corp., "and the sheep in the music publishing business are doing exactly the same thing, in my opinion." Mr. Robbins, in making this statement, has reference to "the fact that no music publisher can start an innovation without having many following in his footsteps." The trouble with this policy, Mr. Robbins further states, is that the imitator lacks, in most cases, the knowledge and discrimination to choose ihe proper material with which to proceed. In reviewing the progress of the Robbins Music Corp., Mr. Robbins places special stress on the success of the motion picture music department. He says in part; "The company started its catalog of photoplay music on the principle that the best music could be obtained from those composers who were most familiar with the requirements of the motion picture theatre. We placed a number of composers under contract on a royalty basis and, without being egotistical, I think I may say that the catalog has been a success. "Apparently all that was needed to duplicate this success was to corral some more names, and a full-fledged catalog would be brought into being. This looked all right on the surface, but there was one factor concealed from view. This was the obtaining of a music editor. We have been fortunate in acquiring the services of Domenico Savino as music editor, and we have fortified him by an advisory board, of which Nathaniel Finston, general music director of the Publix theatres; Hugo Frey and Hugo Riesenfeld are members." Mr. Robbins then related the necessity of having a competent board of editors to revise, edit and eliminate the works of composers in order to secure the type of music in demand. He further stated that he is a believer in the policy of building a catalog around names and, in illustrating this policy, said: "We are publishing music written by such men as Domenico Savino, whose 'Doll Suite,' 'Suite Romantique' and 'Study in Blue' have been enthusiastically received. Nathaniel Finston is in great measure responsible for the success of our Famous Fotoplay Series. Ferde Grofe is under contract to us and his 'Three Shades of Blue' is a valuable contribution to the field of American light music and is played by numerous musical organizations. "Rudy Wiedoeft is another artist under contract to us, and both his compositions and his saxophone methods, all of which we publish, have been successful. Another of our composers I would like to touch on is Willard Robison, whose music shows marked originality, novel rhythms and splendid melodies." Other publications of the Robbins Music Corp. which have won wide favor are: "Milton Charles' Organ Interpretation of Popular Songs," "Arranging for the Modern Dance Orchestra," by Arthur Lange, and Mike Pingitore's "Banjo Method." The Robbins Music Corp. is the exclusive distributor for Paul Whiteman Publications, Inc., which catalog is being built up every day and already contains many important compositions. It is constantly being added to, and tlie sponsors believe that the trade-mark will some day stand for the finest of American music. Just a Line or More o£ a New Song or Score The orchestral feature at the Strand Theatre, New York, during the week of November 21 was the rendition of Ferdie Grofe's "Mississippi," a descriptive suite in four movements, by Nathaniel Shilkret and His Victor Concert Orchestra. The movements are: first. Father of Waters; second. Huckleberry Finn; third, Creole Days, and fourth, Mardi Gras. Leo Feist, Inc., publishes the composition for concert orchestra and as a piano solo. Jesse Crawford, Paramount Theatre organist and Victor artist, has made a special recording of "Wings," the theme song of the film of the same name and one of the leaders of the Sam Fox catalog. The record has not as yet been released to the trade, but is being used in conjunction with the showing of the film in moving picture theatres thi-oughout the entire country. ^♦ Leo Feist, Inc., announces that it will publish a new song, "Romona," similar in character to "In a Little Spanish Town," by Miss Mabel Wayne, the composer of the last-named hit. The lyrics are by L. Wolfe Gilbert. ❖ Word has come from Irving Berlin, Inc., of a new song by Irving Berlin, entitled "My New York," dedicated to the Hon. James J. Walker, Mayor of New York City. It was first introduced in the Ziegfeld Follies. ❖ Harry Von Tilzer recently accepted a new song; "I'm Happy Now That You've Gone," by Victor Atyers of Seattle. The song has already been recorded by several companies, including the Columbia. The Sam Fox Publishing Co. announces a new song for baritones and basses entitled "In a Hundred Thousand Years." It is by A. J. Lamb and Alfred Solomon, writers of "Asleep in the Deep," "Bells of the Sea" and others. * Howard Dietz, who wrote the lyrics of "The Manhatters" and "Merry-Go-Round," has a new song called "Love," with a melody by Walter Donaldson. Leo Feist, Inc., is the publisher. I iiiHuiilSifiin^^ The Staediiig of a Music Hoiase May Be Most Rightly Gauged by the Composers Under Contract to It WILLIAM AXT These Composers Are Under f Exclusive Contract to t: DOMENICO SAVINO FERDE GROPE RUDY WIEDOEFT I 1 HUGO FREY || I MILTON CHARLES || ^ |i I 1^ * WILLARD ROBISON || FRANK TRUMBAUER || MIKE PINGITORE f! "RED" NICHOLS || JOE VENUTI 1 1 MIFF MOLE ii II Robbins Music Corporation | 799 Seventh Ave. New York, N. Y. | l'liiiiliii,.|ll[iin!/iii;iiin'llll'ilillll]|M' 'illil"lllllll;;iimilllllllliillilNlliinilillllilillil'il