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Statistics prove that the sale of music of every kind--excepting perhaps dance music--is so seriously on the wane that Publishers are inclined to fight shy of bringing out new songs or Pianoforte pieces when they know that there will be scarcely any sale for them.

  What has brought about this state of affairs? I fear there is but one answer, the habit of listening to music instead of performing it. This is so deeply to be deplored, and is so damaging to the progress and development of a beautiful art, that it is up to all music-lovers to do what they can to prevent it from spreading.

  Chiefly with the idea of encouraging the public to revert to the habit of making music for themselves in the home, the "News-Chronicle" has issued this book which is comprised of popular and famous musical numbers. All tastes have been provided for. You will find the Art-song, the popular Ballad, the classical Pianoforte piece, some Waltzes and Marches, as well as Operatic Arias. There are not any numbers which you need be ashamed to play or sing yourself, because they are all good of their kind.

  If this book assists to revive the desire of self-performance which is innate in most of us, then the aim and object of the "News-Chronicle" and the Editor will have been achieved.

Landon Ronald.

September, 1932.