compositions by Johann C. Schmid

Johann C. Schmid's pseudonyms

SM = sheet music _ MS = manuscript

Johann C. Schmid (1870-1951)

bio by Lewis J. Thomas Jr., a grandson of Schmid

list of compositions with some corrections

timeline of compositions

1948 WWDC radio interview in which he
acknowledges that he wrote "Awakening of the
Soul" by "Dorma St. John" and "The Rajah" and
"The Captain General" marches by "Marie Louka"

On page 4 of a manuscript of the 1941 song "On Kailua's Shore" is this inscription,
in Johann C. Schmid's handwriting, indicating that for the previous 40 years he had
been using "Marie Louka" as a pseudonym. The words in the lower left corner are
"nom de plume of," which mean "pseudonym of."

Other pseudonyms of Johann C. Schmid, revealed through copyright renewals and
ASCAP listings were:

"S. Casper Johann" derived from Schmid's full name: Johann Casper Schmid
(1899) National Export Exposition march SM

"Margaret Eldon" derived from Schmid's mother's name: Eliza Margaretha Don
(1906) Flickering Shadows reverie SM

"Clayton Hallowell"
(1907) Sunset
reverie SM
(1907) Will the New Love Be the True Love
song
(1908) Primrose, Good-bye song SM
(1910) When the Candle Lights are Gleaming
song SM
(1912) Autumn Glow
reverie SM

"Franz von Falkenberg"
(1907) Twilight on the Water
idylle SM
(1912) Silvery Shadows
idylle SM

"George Gordon Meade" was a Union general during the American Civil War.
(1908) Footlight Flashes march SM

"J. Caldwell Atkinson"
(1910) If Anyone Wants a Sweetheart
song
(1910) Though Your Lips Belong To Others song
(1911) By the Light of the Jungle Moon song SM
(1912) Don't Drop a Quarter in the Meter
song SM
(1912) No Girl Can Take My Old Girl's Place
song SM
(1912) Under the Big September's Moon
song
(1913) I Wonder Why It's Always You song
(1913) Sweet Savannah Sue song SM
(1914) She Had No Mother To Guide Her
song SM
(1940) Someone's Sorry
with Alfred Harmon song MS

"Paul A. Embrock" derived from sisters-in-law's names: Pauline and Emily Brock
(pre 1912 "Drumsticks") College Colors march
(1912) Drumsticks characteristic march SM

"Carl Heinrich Leonhardi" derived from names of Schmid's brother, Karl Heinrich
_______Schmid
, and Karl's son Leonhard
(1912) Dance of the Woodbird mazurka caprice SM

"Dorma St. John"
(1912) Awakening of the Soul
meditation-brilliante SM

"Elizabeth K. Peall"
(1913) Thoughts of Spring
waltz SM

"Giré Goulineaux"
(1914) Kaloma
valse hésitante SM

"Willis Richfield"
(1914) Fight With Tommy in the Trenches
song SM

compositions by "Marie Louka"

published in Philadelphia (1901-1908)

all published by H. A. Weymann & Son Inc. of Philadelphia, except for
the two published by World Publishing Company of Philadelphia

(1901) Japanese Fire Dance characteristic SM
© Marie Louka
my dear friend Mrs. Jenny Reinhard, New Ulm, Minn

(1902) The Rajah march and two-step SM
© Marie Louka
my friend Mr. Frank L. Hagner

(1903) Cupid's Dart idylle SM
© Johann C. Schmid
my esteemed friend Mr. William H. Doerr

(1903) Karmara African bolo dance SM
© World Publishing Company
Miss Gussie Brock, Phila., Pa.
In 1903 Johann C. Schmid married Augusta Brock.

(1904) A Silent Prayer (Ein Stilles Gebet) reverie SM
© Johann C. Schmid
my sisters Pauline and Emily
Pauline and Emily were Augusta Brock Schmid's sisters.

(1904) Daisies song lyrics by Richard C. Dillmore SM
© Johann C. Schmid
my friend Mr. Frank L. Hagner

(1904) Dance of the Snowflakes (Tanz der Schneeflocken) characteristic SM
© Johann C. Schmid
my esteemed friend Mr. George A. Bach

(1904) The Fadette march and two-step SM
© World Publishing Company
Mrs. Caroline B. Nichols, Director of the Fadettes of Boston

(1904) The North American march and two-step SM
© Johann C. Schmid
The North American was a Philadelphia newspaper.

(1905) Dance of the Dewdrops (Tanz der Thauperlen) characteristic SM
© Johann C. Schmid
my esteemed friend Mr. J. C. Burns

(1905) Fire and Flame (Feuer und Flamme) march and two-step SM
© Johann C. Schmid
my esteemed friend Mr. J. W. Walsh

(1905) Fleeting Hours reverie SM
© Johann C. Schmid
my esteemed friend Dr. Geo. E. Dahis

(1905) The Hour of Prayer (Die Stunde des Gebet's) reverie SM
© Johann C. Schmid
Frau Johanna Lins Achtungsvoll gewidmet

(1906) Birds and Breezes waltzes SM
© H. A. Weymann & Son Inc.
Mrs. Herbert E. Aldrich

(1906) The Captain General march and two-step SM
© H. A. Weymann & Son Inc.
Sir Norbert Whitley C.G. Kensington Commandry No.54 K.T.

(1907) Phasma shadow dance SM
© H. A. Weymann & Son Inc.
Mr. G. H. Yerger

(1908) Ocean Spray mazurka caprice SM
© H. A. Weymann & Son Inc.
My little friend Miss Marion Davis

published by Whitney Warner (1912)

(1912) Cap and Gown march SM
© Whitney Warner Pub. Co., Detroit, Mich.

(1912) Dance of the Toys (Puppen Tanz) characteristic SM
© Whitney Warner Pub. Co., Detroit, Mich.
Dorothea and Margaretha
Dorothea and Margaretta were Schmid's daughters.

(1912) Dancing Dolls waltz SM
© Whitney Warner Pub. Co., Detroit, Mich.

(1912) Mission Bells tone poem SM
© Whitney Warner Pub. Co., Detroit, Mich.

(1912) Sunset on the Ocean reverie SM
© Whitney Warner Pub. Co., Detroit, Mich.

Rose Valley piano rolls (1924-1925)

(1924) Victorious Peace march
(1925) Mother's Lullaby songs MS arrangement
(1925) Songs for Childhood Games arrangement
(1925) The Arrival of Santa Claus (In Story and Song) arrangement

published in Australia (1939)

(1939) Damask Rose nocturne SM
© W. H. Paling & Co., Ltd., with reprint of "Dance of the Dewdrops" (1905)

(1939) Dance of the Fireflies dance SM
© W. H. Paling & Co., Ltd., with reprint of "A Silent Prayer" (1904)

(1939) Dancing Shadows dance SM
© W. H. Paling & Co., Ltd., with reprint of "Ocean Spray" (1908)

(1939) Thoughts at Sunset reverie SM
© W. H. Paling & Co., Ltd., with reprint of "Fleeting Hours" (1905)

wartime compositions (1940-1941)

(1940) Flowers From the Dust song lyrics by Dorothy Elder MS
"Flowers From the Dust" was published in 1941 by Mills Music Inc.

(1941) Beyond the Twilight's Purple Glow song lyrics by Helen Martin MS

(1941) untitled 1 MS 1941

(1941) untitled 2 MS 1941 January

(1941) On Kailua's Shore song lyrics by Helen Martin MS 1941 January
Kailua Beach and Pearl Harbor are both on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.

(1941) Toytown On Parade march MS
This has similarities with "The Fadette" (1904) and "Chins Up America" (1941).

(1941) Chins Up America march MS 1941 February
This has similarities with "The Fadette" (1904) and "Toytown On Parade" (1941).

(1941) The War Correspondent / Topic of the Day march MS
Its cheerful tone suggests it was written prior to the 1941-12-07 attack on Pearl Harbor.

(1941) We're Standing By America song lyrics by Helen Martin MS 1941-12-05
This manuscript was completed two days before the 1941-12-07 attack on Pearl Harbor.

information in The Music Trade Review

NEW YORK, 1904, June 25
Johann C. Schmid, the well-known Philadelphia composer, has just written and is about to publish a new ballad
entitled "Daisies," for which Richard C. Dillmore is the author of the words. [When "Daisies" was published in
1904 by Weymann & Son of Philadelphia, "Marie Louka" was listed as the composer.]

NEW YORK, 1912, January 13
A new company, to be known as the Whitney-Warner Co., has just been formed as a subsidiary to Jerome
H. Remick & Co., the prominent music publishers, and for the purpose of publishing teaching pieces, or, as it is
expressed, to be "publishers of teaching specialties." The efforts of the new company will be devoted entirely to
the publishing of instrumental numbers and the supervision of that branch of the business will be in the hands of
Johann C. Schmid, who has had much experience in that department of the publishing business. When plans
were first made for the publishing of the teaching piece specialties the Remick house began a quiet search for
writers of unusual ability from which to build up a suitable staff and as a result the following have been signed up
in connection with the new enterprise: Marie Louka, Franz Von Falkenburg, Dorma St. John, Clayton Hallowell,
Margaret Eldon, Carl Heinrich Leonhardi and Paul A. Embrock. These names would appear to offer a guarantee
that the new edition will possess much merit. The first issues of the Whitney-Warner Co. include "Mission Bells,"
"Cap and Gown" "Sunset on the Ocean," "Dance of the Toys" and "Dancing Dolls," all of them by Marie Louka,
and "Twilight Shadows," by Franz Von Falkenburg. [All seven "writers of unusual ability" listed were
pseudonyms of Johann C. Schmid. The reference to "Twilight Shadows" is a confused conflation of two
composition titles by "Franz Von Falkenberg", "Twilight on the Water" (1907) and "Silvery Shadows" (1912).]

Compare this entry with that for 1912 April 6.

NEW YORK, 1912, January 27
Marie Louka, the prominent composer of music especially adapted to teaching purposes, has signed a contract
to write exclusively for the Whitney-Warner Co., the organization of which, as a subsidiary to J. H. Remick &
Co., was recently noted in The Review.

NEW YORK, 1912, March 2
J. H. Remick & Co. has just published a letter received from Marie Louka, the prominent composer who has
joined the staff of the Whitney-Warner Co., and forwarded to that company together with the manuscript of
"Mission Bells."

Lakewood, N. J., Dec. 15, 1911.

Whitney Warner Company,
131 West Forty-first Street,
New York.

Gentlemen — I am sending you with this the last of the five teaching pieces
that I promised to write this year. I have named it "Mission Bells."

The theme, and in fact the whole composition, came to me as an inspiration
while traveling through California for my health two years ago. I traveled
most of the time in stage coaches, of which there are still many left between
San Diego and San Francisco. I saw the ruins of many of the old missions,
which one hundred years ago were a refuge and a home for the worn
traveler, who could stay as long as he wished and pay what he could afford
and when he went away took the blessings of the Monks, those men of God
who sacrificed their lives for mankind in a country which was inhabited
mostly by lawless Spaniards and Mexicans. While almost all of these
buildings are in a ruined state now, I was very much impressed with the
bells, which in four or five missions still remained. These bells were
formerly rung at night to guide lost travelers.

One day while making a trip on horseback to the foot of a range of
mountains with my companion and a guide we lost our way. It was late in
the afternoon when we discovered this fact. While wondering what to do,
we heard the chiming of sweet bells — three in number, we judged from the
sound — and following this, to us most welcome sound, we came upon an
Ursuline convent, situated in a most beautiful natural park in the foothills
of a long range of mountains. As we came close we could hear the soft
tones of an organ and the singing of the nuns. It was vesper time, and I
was so deeply impressed with the beautiful scene that I forgot the
predicament we were in. We reined up our horses and stopped until the
chanting was over, and the whole scene made such an impression upon me
that I resolved to embody it, just as it then impressed me, in a musical
composition.

This I have since done, and I am submitting the manuscript to you under
these conditions, that it be named "Mission Bells," and that a short
description of this event in my life be inscribed upon every copy. Kindly
send contracts and any other communications to my home in Philadelphia.

Yours sincerely,
MARIE LOUKA.

Lewis J. Thomas Jr.'s analysis of this letter

NEW YORK, 1912, April 6
The Whitney-Warner Co.'s edition of teaching music, which has met with a cordial reception on the part of
dealers and teachers on account of the high quality of the music offered and the attractive manner in
which it is presented, is being constantly strengthened by the addition of new numbers by composers of
recognized ability. Among the recent additions to the Whitney-Warner list are "Awakening of the Soul," a
brilliant piano solo by Dorma St. John; "Dance of the Woodbird," mazurka-caprice, by Carl Heinrich
Leonhardi; "Autumn Glow," a reverie, by Clayton Hallowell, and "Drumsticks," a clever characteristic
march by Paul E. Embrock.
Compare this entry with that for 1912 January 13.

NEW YORK, 1912, May 11
The Whitney-Warner Publishing Co. is meeting with continued success with its line of piano compositions,
especially designed for the use of teachers and students. The number for which there has been the strongest
demand are "Mission Bells," the captivating descriptive tone poem by Marie Louka, and the "Awakening of
the Soul," a meditation brilliante, by Dorma St. John. The Whitney-Warner edition is being enlarged slowly
but surely, no title being added to the catalog until its worth and fitness has been proven. [A 1939 copyright
renewal of "Awakening of the Soul" indicated that "Dorma St. John" was a pseudonym of Johann C. Schmid.]

NEW YORK, 1913, March 1
Johann C. Schmid states that the Whitney-Warner Co. edition of teaching music has been adopted by over
forty convents, seminaries for girls and other institutions where the piano is taught. Mr. Schmid will shortly
take a trip to Baltimore and Washington for the purpose of interesting teachers and the trade in those cities
in the edition, which has proven so successful during its first year. A recent addition to the Whitney-Warner
staff of composers is Elizabeth K. Peal, a composer and teacher of note in Philadelphia, whose first number,
a waltz, "Thoughts of Spring," has been well received, and who is preparing other numbers for publication.
[A 1940 copyright renewal of "Thoughts of Spring" indicated that "Elizabeth K. Peall" was a pseudonym
of Johann C. Schmid.]

NEW YORK, 1914, October 24
THE REVIEW HEARS... THAT Sam Speck and Johann Schmid, both formerly connected with Remick & Co.,
have formed a partnership for publishing music in New York under the name of the Cosmopolitan Music Co.

PHILADELPHIA, PA., 1915, June 23
Weymann & Sons, who have been active as publishers for a number of years, have sold their copyrights and
plates of the famous Marie Louka selections to Volkwein Bros., Pittsburgh. These include the popular sellers
"Silent Prayer" and "Dance of the Dew Drops." There were twelve other numbers. They will discontinue the
publishing of music, as the manufacturing end and the Victrola business has increased so rapidly that it has
compelled them to devote all their attention to these lines.

PITTSBURGH, PA., 1915, October 5
The sheet music section of Volkwein Bros., 516 Smithfield street, reports that the Marie Louka compositions,
purchased recently from Weymann & Sons, Philadelphia, are selling big. They consist of fourteen semi-classical
compositions for the piano, and were originally published by Weymann & Sons, who have sold the entire rights
to Volkwein Bros.

NEWARK, N. J., 1917, April 16
The spendidly equipped plant of the Herbert Co., which it will be remembered recently retired from the
business of manufacturing music rolls in this city, has been sold to the Rose Valley Co., of Media, Pa. The
entire music cutting machinery in the Herbert plant is now being shipped this week to the Rose Valley Co.
and placed in their factory in Media.

NEW YORK, 1917, April 21
One of the prominent figures in the world of popular music a very few years ago was Johann C. Schmid, who as
a member of the organization of Jerome H. Remick & Co., composed a number of distinctly popular songs and
instrumental selections, among them being the hit: "Garden of Dreams." Mr. Schmid also shone as a composer
and compiler of teaching editions, his thorough knowledge of music well qualifying him for that work. Sometime
ago Mr. Schmid dropped out of sight of his friends in the sheet music trade, and beyond the announcement that
he was engaged in other pursuits near his home city, Philadelphia, his later activities were unknown to many.
The Review scout has discovered Mr. Schmid doing mighty well in another line of the music trade. In other
words, instead of composing music he now sells it in the shape of music rolls, being general manager of the
Rose Valley Co., successful music roll manufacturers in Media, Pa. Mr. Schmid is therefore supporting the
interests of his friends among the music publishers and composers by providing additional royalties for
mechanical reproduction rights. He declares that selling music rolls has some advantage over composing for
the fickle public. [The reference to "Garden of Dreams" is a confused conflation of two song titles by Johann C.
Schmid, "The Garden of Roses" (1909) and "The Vale of Dreams" (1910).]

NEW YORK, 1917, June 30
The affairs of the company are under the direction of a live force. C. Schoen Johnson, president of the company,
is constantly working along lines that will insure its development. G. H. Rimmington, expert accountant and
executive, is secretary and treasurer of the company, and Johann C. Schmid, in charge of the selling end, is in
addition to being a competent salesman, an expert musician and composer, and thoroughly acquainted with the
music business through long association with prominent music publishing houses, among them being J. H.
Remick & Co., New York.

MEDIA, PA., 1917, December 3
The plant of the Rose Valley Co. has been materially enlarged recently to take care of the growing demand
for the company's rolls, and the departments have been rearranged under the direction of Johann C. Schmid,
vice-president of the company, in order to eliminate lost motion and speed up production.

PHILADELPHIA, PA., 1919, January 28
The Rose Valley Co., who during the past few years have manufactured Ideal music rolls at Media, Pa., and
have built up a substantial business with that line, are now carrying on plans to move their plant to this city and
to triple the output of their rolls, the demands for which have for a long time exceeded the available supply.
The company has leased a large building at Fifty-fifth and Hunter streets, with a floor space of 48,000 square
feet, and equipped with a complete power plant and other modern features. Arrangements have been made to
move the entire plant from Media to Philadelphia late in February, and to be turning out rolls in the new factory
well before March 1.

PHILADELPHIA, PA., 1919, April 21
The Rose Valley Co. is now located in its new and commodious factory building at Fifty-fifth street and Hunter
avenue, this city, to which the company removed from Media some weeks ago. The new plant provides for a
very substantial increase in output, of which full advantage is being taken at this particular time. The arranging
department is under the direction of Ellis Linder, who was formerly connected with several well-known music
roll manufacturers.

NEW YORK, 1919, August 30
Johann C. Schmid, who in years agone composed many songs and instrumental numbers that have ranked as
big hits, has entered the ranks of jazz artists, and is responsible for the melody of a new number, "That
Heavenly Jazz" (The Religious Blues), which is to be produced as a word roll by the Rose Valley Music Co.,
Philadelphia, of which Mr. Schmid is now general manager.