RENEWAL OFFER FOR DECEMBER.
As a special offer for the month of December, to those of our subscribers who desire to renew their subscriptions during that month, we make the following offers. It is not necessary that your subscription expire with the December issue; merely that the renewal is sent during this month.
We will send a metronome without bell and your renewal for a year for $3.20.
We will send “Pictures from the Lives of the Great Composers,” by Thomas Tapper, a very beautifully bound book suitable as a gift to a child. It is a story of the lives of the great masters. This and the year’s subscription for $2.00.
We will send “The Masters and Their Music,” by W. S. B. Mathews, perhaps one of the two or three most valuable books in our catalogue. The work consists of two parts: the first part contains Ten Musical Evenings or Classes, each on one of the great masters; the second part, Six Musical Evenings or Classes, on prominent modern or American composers. A hand-book of musical literature for clubs, classes, and students. Our price for this and the year’s subscription is $2.00.
For $1.80, we will renew your subscription and send you a copy of “Parlor and School Marches,” a collection of Marches and Two-Steps suitable for all purposes, containing nothing more difficult than Grade 3.
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The Thirteenth Annual Holiday Offer will be found in another part of this issue. The list of musical gifts is more replete than in any previous year. We have eliminated from the list the least desirable works and substituted the newer publications. Every work is sold at a great reduction and postage is included in the price, with the exception of a few that are especially marked “by express.” This list contains about everything musical that is suitable for a holiday gift. It covers the field completely. There is something for the children, the student, the teacher, and the music-lover. The prices given are only in force during December, as we have made special arrangements with many of the publishers for reduced prices during this month. It is an excellent time for teachers to increase their musical library, as at no other time of the year can the works be purchased at that price.
Copy your order off on a separate sheet, using a line for each item, and mention the price, so as to simplify the filling of the order. Be sure to have your order in in good time, as during the holidays there is always more or less delay in transportation. None of these goods will be sent On Sale during December.
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We have a novelty to offer in the way of a Musical Calendar. It is a beautiful colored portrait of one of the four masters, Beethoven, Mozart, Liszt, and Wagner, on an easel with calendar pad attached. The pictures we have imported from Europe, and they are highly artistic. There are a very limited number of them, and after they are exhausted we cannot promise to fill orders. We have called this calendar “The Musician’s Calendar,” and when ordering do not forget this. It is the most attractive holiday gift that we have for pupils. There are a great many teachers throughout the country who wish to make a modest present to every one of their pupils, and this is our object in presenting this “Musician’s Calendar.”
The price, postpaid, will be $1.50 a dozen, or 15 cents each. The portraits alone will cost double this price at retail.
The new work announced in last issue, “First Parlor Pieces,” is not yet ready, and we will continue the special offer during the present month. We hope to have the book ready early in the month so as to be in time for the Christmas Holidays.
We have changed the title from “Easy Parlor Pieces” to “First Parlor Pieces.” The pieces are in the first and second grades, and will be the first pieces that a pupil will play. The volume contains only the very best music from our catalogue of this grade. There is not a poor selection in the book; besides this, the music is new. We avoided all pieces that have once been popular, and present only new and fresh. The special price is 25 cents, postpaid. This barely covers the cost of paper and printing, and the offer will positively be withdrawn this month. This book will make a most excellent present for a child.
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It has been customary in the year past for us to make a special offer on five of our books most suitable for holiday purposes during the month of December, at a very low price. We do this as a sort of a holiday offering to our subscribers. We have decided to make two offers: one of collections of music and one of musical literature.
The literature offer:
“First Studies in Music Biography,” by Thomas Tapper, $1.50.
“Choir and Chorus Conducting,” by F. W. Wodell, $1.50.
“In Praise of Music,” by W. F. Gates, $1.00 (beautifully bound, and especially suitable for a gift).
“European Reminiscences,” by L. C. Elson, $1.50.
“Hundred Years of Music in America,” by W. S. B. Mathews (a large volume of 301 pages; profusely illustrated), $6.00.
Our offer on this list of books, valued at retail at $11.50, is $4.25, post or express paid anywhere in the United States.
Our collection of piano-music offer:
Mendelssohn’s “Song Without Words,” complete, $1.00.
Chopin’s “Lighter Compositions,” $1.00.
“Tranquil Hours,” a collection of quiet piano-music, $1.00.
Any one of the following collections: “First and Second Grade Pieces,” “Third and Fourth Grade Pieces,” “Fifth and Sixth Grade Pieces,” $1.00.
Our offer on the above list is $1.40, post or expressage paid anywhere in the United States. The retail value is $4.00.
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Riemann’s “Encyclopædic Dictionary of Music” is a musical library in itself, it is the largest and completest single-volume dictionary in the market; it is brought up to date; it is the work of one of the most distinguished German musical authorities, whose scholarship is of the highest rank; it is the cheapest large dictionary that can be had. Such a book is indispensable to every teacher, to every student who is trying to make himself well informed on all points connected with music; to every well-equipped library; school, public or private; reading and musical clubs. If teachers wish to offer a prize, Riemann’s “Dictionary” is the very best possible work to secure; if pupils wish to make a present to their teacher, a small amount from each one will purchase a copy of the “Dictionary” at our special holiday price.
The definitions contain explanations of musical terms, biographical and historical sketches, and short, concise essays on important subjects like Sonata, Form, Harmony, Counterpoint, etc. No lesson can be learned without some occasion to look up some point upon which fuller knowledge is desirable. Our special holiday offer is, postpaid, for $3.00, cash.
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It has been said that this will be, in the subscription business, a club year; that is, that the greatest amount of business will be done through clubs. More persons are taking a number of magazines, and they, of course, desire to get a reduction by ordering all at one place.
We have made special arrangements, so that we can offer a few of the leading magazines in connection with The Etude at very low prices:
The Etude and Success, for 1 year, for $2.10.
The Etude and Review of Reviews and Success, for 1 year, for $3.10.
The Etude and Frank Leslie’s Popular Monthly, including a fine art calendar, for 1 year, for $2.20.
The Etude, Success, and Frank Leslie’s, for 1 year, for $2.60.
The Etude, Success, and Leslie’s Weekly, for 1 year, for $3.85.
You will notice in some of the combinations you get the three magazines for less than the price of one; in the last, for instance, the price of Leslie’s Weekly being $4.00. In combinations where the journal Success is offered,—which, by the way, is one of the most attractive and up-to-date periodicals of the times,—you can substitute, for Frank Leslie’s Popular Monthly, any one of the following: The Cosmopolitan, The Household, or The Designer; and you can substitute, for Review of Reviews, wherever it occurs, either Current Literature or the New England Magazine. The subscriptions to Review of Reviews and Current Literature must be new in order to get these very low prices.
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As a special premium for securing subscriptions to The Etude, particularly suitable at the present time, we will give a dress-suit case made of leather, linen-lined, wood frame, in a 22-inch size (ladies’ size), for 9 subscriptions; or in a 24-inch size for 10 subscriptions. This valise will be sent by express at your expense.
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Grove’s “Dictionary of Music and Musicians,” published in five volumes, including an appendix and index, retails for $25.00. This work is the standard encyclopedia of music. Owing to special arrangements, we can offer it during the month of December for $15.00 cash.
To any of our patrons who desire to obtain a set of these books and not pay cash for them, the price will be $17.00, and the amount can be divided into monthly payments to extend over a period of twelve months.
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If you have not seen our Reward Cards, send 5 cents for a sample. It might be that just at Christmas time you will be interested in these cards to give to your pupils. Each one contains the portrait of one of the great masters in colors, as well as his birthplace, a short biography, and a small fac-simile of his manuscript. A very instructive and interesting article. The full set of 13 cards retails for 50 cents. Our price during December, cash, will be 35 cents.
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To meet the growing demand for a music-slate we have manufactured a perfect article in this line. The uses to which an erasable music-slate can be put are numerous. It takes the place of the copying-book, music-pad, writing-book, and blank music-paper. Our slate is an erasable one. It contains ruled lines for writing which are not erasable. The slate folds up in book form, and is called The Erasable Folding Music-Slate. It is gotten up very handsomely and is indestructible.
For the month of December we will make a deduction on this slate from the regular price. We will send the slate for only 25 cents, postpaid. This slate will answer for a modest Christmas present for a musical child.
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We are quite anxious that teachers throughout the country make more of an effort to procure clubs for The Etude among their pupils. There is no teacher, however modest, who cannot make up some kind of a club. Our cash deductions are very liberal and also our premiums, which will be found in another part of the journal. We are willing to send a few sample copies to any teacher who wishes to make an effort to canvass for a club among her class. There is not the least doubt but that The Etude will prove a great benefit to these pupils who join a club of this kind, and a teacher is doing no more than his duty to his class in making an effort of this kind. We hope during the next six weeks to have numerous clubs from all parts of the country.
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The supplement to this number of The Etude represents Mozart playing at the Court in Vienna. Scenes from the lives of the great composers form an attractive decoration to the studio or the music-room, and are useful to interest those who are not studying music. A picture raises a number of questions in the mind of the one who sees it. Such pictures are useful to increase the interest of young pupils in the works of the classical composers. Instead of mere names, the latter become men who lived and worked as men live and work to-day; from being more or less impersonal, they seem to take on a personal relation to us. We feel confident that this style of picture will greatly please our subscribers, as it is practically a photogravure finish. It can be very effectively mounted and framed at but little expense.
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The Etude for December is another of our special “composer numbers,” which furnish so much valuable and practical material to all who are interested in the great composers, their lives, and their works. These studies in the composers are of permanent value, and each one of them contains the essential points of a number of biographical and critical books, almost any one of which costs as much as a whole year’s subscription to The Etude. We have every reason to know that our efforts to make a useful, attractive, and reliable music-journal are appreciated by our subscribers, and we know that many of them show their interest in The Etude by calling the attention of their friends to the journal. The December number is particularly well adapted to attract new subscribers. During the year 1902 we expect to increase our subscription-list considerably, and we want every person interested in music to know about The Etude. We ask our friends to show their copies to friends and solicit them to subscribe for the best music-journal in the world. Sample copies furnished on application. See a few pages farther back in this number for our liberal premium-list for renewals and to new subscribers. Every teacher, every student, every school, every conservatory and club ought to have The Etude for consultation and study.
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We will publish as usual our regular Calendar of Great Composers. This calendar has proved to be one of the most popular of all calendars. It contains twelve pictures of great masters, printed in gold. The calendar is the size of a sheet-music page, printed on heavy cardboard, and makes a very handsome appearance. After the calendar is used, it still remains a very handsome ornament. These are sold for 10 cents apiece, or $1.00 per dozen.
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Our full Premium-List will be found printed on another page of this issue. We should be pleased to furnish any of our subscribers who desire to induce their musical friends to subscribe, with free sample copies. You will find that our Premium-List is arranged most liberally. All of the articles thereon are bought at the lowest wholesale prices, and are figured to you at exactly that price; we make no profit whatever on our premiums. They are sent to you prepaid, with the exception of the ones marked “by express”; in that case the expressage is at your expense.
Our most used premiums during the past year— outside, of course, of our smaller premiums, of which a great number are earned—have been as follows: The music-cabinet for 14 subscriptions; ladies’ desk for 16; small, open-face chatelaine watch for 8. Our most popular premium is, no doubt, a year’s subscription to this journal for sending us three others.
You will find, on our Premium-List, music of all sorts; literature books relating to music; instruments; almost everything in any way of interest to the music-teachers and their work or pleasure. In past years we have been greatly favored, during these busiest subscription months of the year, in this way. I trust that this year will be no exception. In the back pages of our Premium-List in book form (which we should be pleased to send to anyone) will be found an additional offer to aid in securing new subscriptions. By the addition of a small amount of money valuable books of music and literature can be given with the subscription.
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The efforts that have been made by this house to meet the demands of its numerous patrons have met with the most gratifying results. Our list of customers is growing steadily, necessitating not only an increase of clerks and book-keepers, but floor-space as well. Twice this season we have been obliged to secure more room because our once ample accommodations had proven to be inadequate.
Our system has been recently greatly improved, and we feel that we merit a portion of your orders at least. If you have been allured by seemingly tempting offers from other houses and found not everything quite as pictured, do not let pride stand in the way, but return to us. We will welcome you gladly and give you the same prompt, intelligent attention that has characterized our dealings always. If you are a customer and are satisfied, pass the word along to your friends, and enable them to enjoy the advantages you enjoy. Tell them that distance is no barrier; that the mail will bring orders to their very door, and that the amount saved by dealing with us caused by our liberal discounts and advantageous terms of settlement will pay all charges of transportation and leave a handsome surplus.
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There is a world of description contained in the two words: “Tranquil Hours,” the title of one of our latest collections of music. This interesting volume contains music suitable for Sabbath-day playing or the twilight hour, or for any time where soothing, restful music is needed. It is in the medium grade, and will surely please. A copy will be sent, with the privilege of return, upon request. Price, $1.00, postage paid.
Attention is particularly directed at this time of the year to the full page advertisement in another part of this journal, of nineteen different offers for sets of books. They are taken from the publications of G. Schirmer.
The advertisement will only appear in this issue, and the offer is good for the Holidays only.
The works are all of the highest importance and the prices are unquestionably the lowest for which these books have ever been bought.
Any one of these series will make an admirable Christmas present. It is also an excellent opportunity for teachers to replenish their libraries in the standard works of piano literature.
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We are publishing this month a new novelty that would be very appropriate for the Holidays. It is on the order of a Kinder-Symphony and is titled “A Kitchen Concert.” It is arranged as a piano solo (with the other instruments), and for the toy instruments kitchen utensils are used, such as saucepans, tin-covers, bottles, glasses, jugs, etc., and would make a novelty for any children’s program, or could be performed by adults as well.
