Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-05-16
OUR NEW YORK LETTER.
Musicians in the City, and How They are
Paid-The Noble Animal " The Horse"
What Bersh is Doing for the Animal
Kingdom, etc., etc.
A MUSICAL CHAPTER.

in New York City, whose "concord OF
sweet sounds" thrills our great population
with all the generous impulses of love, the
enthusiasm of ambition, the pride OF war;
the spirit of patriotism, the supreme graft
tlcaton of wild desire or all the soft
dreaminess of soul sentiment that music's
charm alone can stir in the human breast.
] think these musicians are worthy of a
chapter that will give your readers some
idea of how they earn their bread, for
however discordant the word may sound
in the sweet sentences Of musical chapter,
yet bread is the key note from which their
symphonies are struck for, these proies-
SIGNALS regale our souls on divine harmonies
that they may feast their bodies on the
best the market affords CT less sumptuous
fare rs their incomes Justify. Music is
their living, just as blacksmith hammers
out his bread to the pleasant sound of his
anvil.
They comprehend all those performers
found in the operate and theatrical orches-
tras and choruses, in the military bands,
church choirs, and, in furnishing music for
balls, parties, professions and all other
public and private occasions.
A theatrical orchestra is composed of
from eight to thirty performers, according
to size Of theatre, requirements of thepIay
or taste OF the managers. The duties Of
the leader are too many for designation in
my brief space. He conducts the music at
night, is present at rehersals to drill and
instruct his men, composes and arranges
music for new pieces which often requires
weeks of severe labor,and if not proficient
performer on every instrument in his band
must at least be familiar with the capabili-
ties of each one and Of its functions, and be
perfectly qualified to preserve the proper
balance of sound and all the delicate yari-
ations Of harmony.
His memory and knowledge must en-
brace every thing that ever was played or
sung and in emergencies often at mo-
mcnts notice, he must draw upon his in
exhaustiblc fund for an appropriate piece.
The performers in a theatrical orchestra,
receive the following pay: First violin
from $50 to $50 per week; second violin,
SIS to 500; violin, $l5 to SIS; second
bass, $50; clarionet, 500; trombone, 800;
flute, 500 F.; oboe, SIS to 500; cornet, $50
to SOS; drum and triangle, 500. There
are more than one of most of these mstru-
ments and the duty of proportioning the
number Of instruments so as to preserve
the proper weight Of sound, is one of the
most difficult duties of manager and then
there are so many Of those quaint limitations
of the cracking Of carriage whip, the
whistle of locomotive, the clatter of a
train, jingle of sleigh bells, popping of
champagne corkS aud even the whiz and
rush of an ascending sky rocket, that more
than ordinary musical ability is required,
and his pay of from $40 to Sl00 per week
is none to much.
Brass bands for military or other selyi-
ces are composed Of number Of men who
join themselves under some well-known
musician and practise and hold themselves
in readiness for any call Tor their services.
Many Of these have regular engagements
with regiments Or other institutions and
make all they can on outside services often
belonging to more than onc regiment and
seen III one uniform to-day and another
tomorrow. Sometimes the leader hires
his men at a specified price and makes all
he can of their services, but moro generally
the proceeds are equally divided among
them with double share for the leader,
and bands under this arrangement gener-
ally work if not even play more halmoni-
ously. lnregimentOl service the bands are
employed by the year. but on other occa-
sons they charge and make all they can
and on such occasions usually receive from
81 to $40 per day. These men are gener-
ally expert musicians and play on several
instruments and are often not indifferent
performers on the piano, adapting them
selves to string band as we'll.
The salaries Of the leading vOcalists in
operas, church choirs and fashionable
concerts depend on the ability and popu.
larity of the singer One lady will be paid
as high as 50 $500 yearly, while some poor
girl who struggles with poverty, will be
glad to receive an extra half dollar in some
theatre chorus at night. Chorus singers al
the Italian Opera receive from s. to $50 pei
week, requiring extra ability to receive
$50.
Teachers ofinstrumental music, on piano
violin, harp, guitar, banjo and all Other
instruments can be counted by hundred,
in the city, and are paid from 81 to S2(
per hour,tor lessons according to the ability
OF the teacher and wealth and advancement
OF the student, and as every dear mamma
considers it of the most vital Importance
that her precious darling shall play on tho
piano, that instrument is bclabored ir
almost every home where one can be owned
or rented.
Musical composers perhaps are most re
Enumerated for their labor often making
$4,000 or $4,000 on popular air, while