Clair Van Lynden

Portrait of composer and music publisher Lynden S. Buchanan

Clair Van Lynden (1885–1947) was an American 20th century composer of novelty and popular songs during the latter half of the Ragtime era. 'Clair Van Lynden' was the nom-de-plume of music publisher, Lynden St. Clair Buchanan, co-founder of the "Buck & Lowney Music Publishing Company" of St. Louis, Missouri.[1][2]

Early life

Lynden St. Clair Buchanan was born on March 2, 1885 in Peoria, Illinois to William H.S. and Lydia A. Buchanan. Little is known about Buchanan's upbringing, or early musical training. His Father, William, was an express messenger in the 19th century.

Buchanan can be found living in the city of St. Louis by 1906, listed as a piano teacher.[3]

Buck & Lowney

The founding of music publisher "Buck & Lowney" can be traced to the early 1910s, during which time Lynden Buchanan was residing at 1335 Aubert Avenue in St. Louis.[4] Benjamin Lowney was general manager and co-founder with Lynden. By 1916, Buchanan had adopted the professional name, Lynden S. Buck.[5]

"Buck & Lowney" would become a Midwest competitor to music publishers from New York City and elsewhere by the mid-1910s.[6] This firm would debut new songs by contracting with travelling theatrical singers and European vocalists,[7][8] and would also make a name for itself as a major publisher of ragtime music.[9][10][11] It is also credited with promoting the music of songwriters Richard A. Whiting, Clarence E. Brandon Sr., Doc Cooke,[12] Earl Haubrich,[13] Art Gillham[14] and J. Fred Lawton.[15][16][17] "Buck & Lowney" was headquartered in the Holland Building, formerly located at 211 North 7th Street, St. Louis.[18] It later established offices in New York, led by Lucien Denni,[19] San Francisco and Chicago. In 1920, "Buck & Lowney" was reported by the New York Dramatic Mirror to merge with other major music publishers into a single firm,[20] but this did not occur.

Composer

After 1913, Lynden S. Buck would publish his own compositions through the firm under the pseudonym, 'Clair Van Lynden', possibly a Dutch-sounding reference to the forenamed headquarters, the Holland Building. Lynden published all known compositions after 1911 in St. Louis through Buck & Lowney.

His composition, "In Holland" waltzes, was in use as a silent film accompaniment piece by 1915.[21][22] A number of Lynden's compositions became popular film accompaniment pieces, including his "Slumberland" waltzes.[23] Similarly, Lynden's composition, "Snow Bird: Indian Characterstücke", was named for the main character 'Little Snowbird' in the 1916 film, The Lure of Heart's Desire. "Snow Bird" was introduced in 1916, with lyrics written by Theodore B. White.[24] This song was featured by The Billboard magazine,[25] and was issued on piano rolls by the Herbert Co.[26] By the late 1910s, "Snow Bird" was being performed in various settings in the United States.[27][28] Sheet music for "Snow Bird" was sold into 1923 by Sears, Roebuck stores.[29]

Lynden's most notable collaboration was with composer Earl Haubrich on the 1915 ballad song, "Someone Remembers Though the World Forgets".[30] It was featured by The Billboard in November 1915,[31] and one of its first advertised performances was for a dance in February 1916 in St. Louis.[32]

Lynden's work has previously been incorrectly classified by the IMSLP as that of a female composer.

Later ventures

In 1920, Lynden Buchanan advertised a short-lived composer-for-hire business in St. Louis called 'Clair Van Lynden Studios', writing music for lyricists.[33] One year later, he could be found with the 'Buchanan Sales Company'.[34]

Prior to 1923, Buchanan co-founded the Fay-Buchanan Music Company, a piano and instrument wholesale business, with his brother William H. Buchanan and Earl E. Fay.[35][36] Buchanan had previously been employed by the Bollman Piano Co.[37] In 1923, his company was assigned as the South and Midwest distributor for the Connorized Music Company, a New York piano roll manufacturer.[38][39] It also distributed Gennett records and Starr brand phonographs.[40]

Death and legacy

Lynden S. Buchanan died May 24, 1947 in St. Louis.[1] As well as contributing to the promotion of various authors of ragtime music during his lifetime,[41] Buchanan's composition, "Someone Remembers Though the World Forgets", was revived on the internet by singer-songwriter Elliott Adkins in 2024.[42][43]

Compositions

  • Sir Knight (1910), march and two-step
  • Garden of Hearts waltzes (1911), as L. Buck, Lynn Music Co.[44]
  • Violets and You (1911), lyrics by Clarence E. Brandon
  • Violets and You, Sweetheart (1912), re-published by Buck & Lowney[45]
  • Eastern Star: Reverie (1912)[46]
  • In Holland waltzes (1915), as Clair Van Lynden, dedicated to Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands
  • Someone Remembers Though the World Forgets (1915), words by Sylvester Maguire
  • Slumberland waltzes (1916)
  • Snow Bird: Indian Characterstücke (1916)[47]
  • Lullaby (1916), arr. Gus Guentzel for violin
  • Angel Chil' (1918), words by Sylvester Maguire[48]
  • My Rose of Yesterday (1918), words by Sylvester Maguire[48]
  • I Am 100% American, Are You? (1918), as L. St. Clair, lyrics by Bernice Bateman
  • Rainbow Dreams: A Ballad (1919), lyrics by Marion Phelps

References

  1. ^ a b "Lynden S. Buchanan, Composer Here, Dies". St. Louis Globe-Democrat. St. Louis Globe Democrat Pub. Co. SHSMO Digital Newspaper Project. March 26, 1947.
  2. ^ "buck+%26+lowney" "Lynden S. Buchanan Funeral". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. March 26, 1947.
  3. ^ Gould's St. Louis Directory for 1906. St. Louis: Gould Directory Co. 1906. p. 2303.
  4. ^ "Aus der Gesellschaft". Mississippi-Blatter. T. Dänzer und F. Wenzel. May 8, 1910.
  5. ^ Gould's St. Louis Directory for 1916. St. Louis: Gould Directory Co. 1916. p. 407.
  6. ^ Corey, W.A. (October 25, 1913). "Timely Tattle". American Musician. 29 (20): 20.
  7. ^ "Burlesque Notes". The Billboard. 26 (45): 11. November 7, 1914.
  8. ^ "German Yodler". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. September 27, 1914.
  9. ^ "Music Publishers". The Tuneful Yankee. 1 (4): 48. May 1917.
  10. ^ Winn, Edward (September 1918). ""Ragging" the Popular Song-Hits". Melody. 2 (9): 6.
  11. ^ Jasen, David (2007). Ragtime: An Encyclopedia, Discography, and Sheetography. New York: Routledge. p. 64. ISBN 978-0-415-97862-0.
  12. ^ Vermazen, Bruce (2004). That Moaning Saxophone: The Six Brown Brothers and the Dawning of a Musical Craze. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 114.
  13. ^ Nagel, Paul (1986). Missouri: A History. University Press of Kansas. p. 163.
  14. ^ Blau, George (2018). Art Gillham: Waiting for Ships That Never Come In. p. 40.
  15. ^ "Author of "Varsity" Writes New Song Entitled "Laddie"". The Michigan Daily. January 9, 1914.
  16. ^ "Laddie". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. April 14, 1914.
  17. ^ "Michigan U. Grad Writes Song Hit". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. April 5, 1914.
  18. ^ Gould's St. Louis Directory for 1913. St. Louis: Gould Directory Co. 1913. p. 432.
  19. ^ Edwards, Jack (July 25, 1914). "Buck & Lowney Open New York Office". The New York Clipper. 62 (24): 9.
  20. ^ "New Year Likely to See Music Men Under One Head". Dramatic Mirror. 81: 20. January 8, 1920.
  21. ^ "Music Plot for Equitable Feature, "The Warning," Five Reels". Motion Picture News. 12 (25): 190. December 25, 1915.
  22. ^ Reichkitzer, R.J. (February 7, 1918). "Program". The Mirror. Minnesota State Prison.
  23. ^ "slumberland+waltzes" "Suggestions for Features". Musical Courier. 78 (26): 46. June 26, 1919.
  24. ^ "New Music". Monroe City Democrat. Democrat Print. Co. March 23, 1916.
  25. ^ "The Billboard's Song Hints". The Billboard. 28 (21). May 20, 1916.
  26. ^ "Music of the Month". Music Trade Review. 62 (18). April 29, 1916.
  27. ^ "Program". The Mirror. Minnesota State Prison. December 14, 1916.
  28. ^ "Spokane Notes". Music and Musicians. 4 (1): 14. February 1918.
  29. ^ Popular Sheet Music. Sears, Roebuck and Co. 1923. p. 703.
  30. ^ "He's A Singing Redcap". St. Louis Globe-Democrat. St. Louis Globe Democrat Pub. Co. July 26, 1931.
  31. ^ "The Billboard's Song Hints". The Billboard. 27 (45): 12. November 6, 1915.
  32. ^ "Grand Select Party Given by the Ozark Athletic Club, February 19, 1916". SHSMO Digitized Collections. State Historical Society of Missouri Digitized Collections.
  33. ^ "Can You Write the Words for a Song?". Fair Play. S. Henry Smith. October 2, 1920.
  34. ^ "L.S. Buchanan to Address Class". St. Louis Globe-Democrat. St. Louis Globe Democrat Pub. Co. SHSMO Digital Newspaper Project. March 4, 1921.
  35. ^ "St. Louis Concern Chartered". Music Trade Indicator. 45 (28): 13. July 14, 1923.
  36. ^ "lynden+s+buchanan" "Fay-Buchanan Music Co. Incorporated". The Talking Machine World. 19 (8): 96. August 15, 1923.
  37. ^ "First of August Brings Spurt in St. Louis Demand". The Music Trade Review. 77 (7): 29. August 18, 1923.
  38. ^ "Fay-Buchanan Music Co. to Distribute Connorized Line in South and Middle West". The Music Trades. 66 (4): 17. July 28, 1923.
  39. ^ "New House in St. Louis Opens At 1232 Olive St". Presto: 17. July 7, 1923.
  40. ^ "A.C. Thiebes Opening New Warerooms in St. Louis". The Music Trade Review. 77 (25): 13. December 22, 1923.
  41. ^ Jasen, David; Tichenor, Rebor (1989). Rags and Ragtime: A Musical History. New York: Dover Publications, Inc. p. 23. ISBN 0486259226.
  42. ^ Adkins, Elliott (November 8, 2024). "7435047303636847902". Retrieved November 11, 2024 – via TikTok.
  43. ^ Someone Remembers Though the World Forgets - 1st run through (Video). Elliott Adkins. November 11, 2024. Retrieved November 19, 2024 – via YouTube.
  44. ^ Catalog of Copyright Entries, 1911 Musical Compositions Jan-Dec. U.S. Govt. Print. Off. 1911. pp. 1229, 1296.
  45. ^ Catalog of Copyright Entries, 1912 Musical Compositions First Half of 1912. U.S. Govt. Print. Off. 1916. p. 193.
  46. ^ Catalog of Copyright Entries, 1913 Musical Compositions First Half of 1913. U.S. Govt. Print. Off. 1913. p. 27.
  47. ^ Catalog of Copyright Entries, 1916 Musical Compositions First Half of 1916. U.S. Govt. Print. Off. 1916. pp. 131, 192.
  48. ^ a b Catalog of Copyright Entries, 1918 Music Last Half of 1918. U.S. Govt. Print. Off. 1918. pp. 1352, 1442.
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