Lemare stated: “The early period of my life when I composed the Andantino in D flat, was not a happy one. The Andantino first saw the light of day in Sheffield about 1888 when I played it from manuscript in the old parish church, now the Sheffield Cathedral." (OIHM p. 52)
The Andantino was requested at almost every concert and appears to have brought sentiment and solace to many people.
“In 1892, I sent it to the Robert Cocks Publishing Company and they paid me the sum of three guineas. ($15) Shortly afterward, the firm of Novello & Co. bought it at auction for a considerable sum.” (OIHM p. 46)
Lemare also composed a Second Andantino in D Flat, published in 1902, which his wife, Charlotte, said became “very popular in England.”
Little is known about this “Second Andantino” except that Charlotte said that “it includes the second theme which gives a lovely contrast in returning to the principal theme.” (OIHM p. 49)
In the 1920’s, the copyright for Moonlight and Roses expired and it went into public domain. Shortly after, Lemare stated: “My wife told me of a dream in which she was waltzing to the melody of the Andantino and she begged me to arrange it in a waltz form. I was horrified that she would lower her ideals of music to the point of arranging this melody for the dance halls! I refused to listen to her pleas.
My wife felt sure that if I did not take this opportunity of making use of my Andantino in popular form, someone else would. It took only a few minutes to arrange the melody in waltz form and my wife copied it onto manuscript paper. Harms Co. agreed to publish the “Valse Andantino.” However, the piece needed lyrics and I agreed to leave the matter in their hands.” (OIHM p. 47)
In 1921, Charles Daniels, unbeknownst to Lemare, wrote lyrics to the Andantino in D Flat and published it under his pen name, Neil Moret. Lemare stated, “I realized that my wife’s prediction had come true!” (OIHM p. 48)
In 1925, Lemare threatened legal action. By then, the piece had sold over a million copies. Daniels gave a percentage of royalties to Lemare and added his name to the sheet music.
Lemare stated that although Moonlight and Roses became very popular, he “deplored it being used as a fox-trot or hot number by some rhythm band.” (OIHM p. 54)
