The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-11-02
rae Managers s.d the N.sici.ns.

The STRIKE o. the muscians' combination against cha
manassss' combination LEFT the gentry who compose the
latter clique pretty bad fix last night Instead Of
the orchestras which the public accustomed 70 hear
q the theatre and for the enjoyment OF which, OF coure
they nay their msney well a. for the dramatic per-
fornance simple piano accompaniment was provided
a. all the theatres except two which neither the PAN
tomime the opera could be produced without an
orchestra and the managers were therefore compelled
To sccede to tho demands Of tho musicians for higher
wages This interesting incident In theatrical history
IL entirely now and produced dismal effect upon both
audiences and actors Il serves however, to show thai
combinations not all powerful for their ends
for hero s IN which tho Mutual Musical Protective
Union has completely baed the Managsrs' Association
nausurated mainly for the purpose Of keeping down and
reducing the salaries Of the poor artists and musicians
Between the two the public has suffer- and how long
they will stand the dictation OF these combinations
mains 70 be seen
Concerning the present conflict US state few facts
There are In this city and Brooklyn at the present
timc ton properly so-caod theatres ono show shop,
besides perambulathg circus equestrian exhi
btion and sundy minstrel comprehensive entire party
Of managers for these establishments employing nightly
not FAR from two hundred musicans This estimate of
theatrical establishments aud Of the number Of perform
exclusive Of all opera representations and all
cera The managers Of the theatres aud similar estab
shments unite a. Is we'll known, In the maintenance
Of fraternity, guild for mutual encouragement sup
port and protection called the Theatrical Managers
Assoc alton"
There also are, the two cities named outside the
orchesras number OF musicians Of various grades Of
culture and skill sufficient to mako an aggregate various
y estimated at from thousand to twelve hundred
people, who get their living from the profession prac
tice OF music; and the musicians their part have
also organization formed for purposes relatively SINH
lar to those Of the association before alluded to, and
their society is stamped officially to say by an Of
the State Legislature whereby sundry leading professors
of the divine art duly incorporated the Musca
Mutual Protective Unionan institution sustained by
its members up to the present time with great single
of purpose and with mutually protective results
The record Of legislative action the part Of the ms
clans may be very briefly stated. II is this
In the summer Of 1868 the first protective organization
was formed by them, and at that time demand was
made that those who performed in the theatrical orches
tras should receive advance from 50 per week 1.-THE
then price, to $l2, which requirement acceded to
by the managers The step taken In the spring
of 1884, when the demand made another
OF 81 per week. and in this in the first instance they
were successful Meanwhile the 'Unonn had been
brought into existence and from the time OF the forma
ton Of that organization until the who compose il
nave evidently et tnat tney nad the relns IN their own
hands. We understand, however, that during the last
summer attempt the part Of Of the members
to procure strke for $40 per week failed to receive
the appreciation Of majority, and therefore prices
manned where they until last week. The musicians
have full schedule OF prices for their services for every
conceivable occasion on which music could be required
and il intended to advance the prices for all playing
is proper to be observed that almost the entire
musical profession s enrolled upon the books OF the Pro-
tectiye Unon and indeed among tho names Of tLe
pOrators appear such ones Carl Bergman, Carl
Anschutz John p Cooke and c. g. Grafua with others
organization Mr. H. d. Bessenherz, now leader Of
the Park theatre orchestra Brooklyn and the 1st and
only secretary and Is Mr. David Schaad, claronet
performer OF the Bowery theatres The president
ment banda widely known composer and arranger OF
military music As before intmatcd, almost everybody
who pretends TO be musician Is in full fellowship with
the society, and is bound by Its action, for better
worse.
last week. at q meeting Of the Union held in the Ger
mania Assembly Rooms the subject OF theatre playing
being under consideration II was agreed 10 unite in de-
mand upon all the managers FOR IN advance Of 50 per
week. Some Of the more moderate OF the profession
were Of opinion that inasmuch as the musicians had
bound themselves to play during the at given
nents without grave cause the action such a.
have stated and accordingly each manager has been
served with notice to that effect.
SUCH then the present aspect OF this matter OF tho
managers and the musicians. Tho price demanded by
the musical artists Is not exorbtant ONE for their
present pay IL inadequate 70 the comfortable mantle
nance OF any ono Of them.
number VI musicians, all members OF the Musical
Protective Union, assembled yesterday At Germanla
Hail. In A, for the purpose of calling upon the
Executive Committee OF the Union TO hold q special
meeting whereat the motion adopting an advanced scale
OF prices might be reconsdered Alter considerable dis
cussion those present signed petition, which viii be
forwarded the Executive Committee, whoss duty Is
TO designate the time and place Of the meeting.