The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-12-04
'DA ANNIE. IT'S TOO BADl'
Nudny Among The "Pinaiore" Fiddlas and
ToutarS---A Strike for More Pay
my ABATEMENT, MY SURPRISE"
Interviews with MIR. Arthur Sullivan, MIR. UOyly
Carte and Mir. Alfred Collier.


Sullivan D'Oyly Carte and Alfred Collier at lunch,
and it being apt opportunity he sought an inter
view with the three gentlemen while they were en-
loving their cigarettes and cafe noir. 1t appears
That Her Majesty's Ship Pinafore has not been
launched by them in this country without trouble.
While they have received every possible favor from
the public and the most satisfactory cooperation on
the part of the principal artists and the chorus OF
their company. the moment the orchestra ascer-
tanned that money might be made by backmailing-
NO other word than 'blackmailing" describes their
action well-certain persons connected with
the Musical Mutual Protective Union III
that orchestra insisted that the written contract
should be ignored and another demand enforced.
Colonel Mapleson had the same trouble and for the
moment was compelled to yield. because the malcon-
tents Us in the present instance caught him on the
edge of an important performance. This seems
TO be their game. Happily, however. for the
public good, movement is on foot that will
enable our best musicians to find employment and
protection outside OF any Union"
Mr. D'Oyly Carte, the manager of Messrs. Gilbert
Sullivan's Company, was the first gentleman to
answer the inquiries of the writer concerning the
difficulty, and he very modestly and succinctly re-
cited the following facts:-
STORY THE TROUBLE.
"Applications," he said, "were made by diff
desired to be engaged the orchestra Asking
their terms the reply was. About $40 week.. Sub
sequently the figures reduced to between ST.
and SIS week. These propositions came
from accredited members OF the Musical
Union, and notably from one gentleman, who,
we informed occupies high posi-
ton in that organization. We referred them
to Mr.. John I. Ford, part OF whose contract it
was supply the orchestra. Twenty-seven gentle
men were engaged; the contracts were duly signed.
and the rehearsas took place. Ny impression is
duced to make some further concession on account
of the matinees. Everything went on swimmingly
until about three o'clock on the afternoon OF Mon
day-mark YOU this was just before the
initial performance-the entire band "struck"
and insisted on receiving $50 week, or, as their
spokesman said. they would not go into the orches
ira Naturally, were in q dilemma, and Colonel
Mccall, the representative of Mr.. Ford. having no
other and unwilling to disappoint the pub
Hc gracefully yielded to their demand. On Tuesday
a consultation was held with Mr.. Sullivan. when.
a @ tell he his a nO
to dispense with the services of the orchestra If they
persisted in their Intention and to conduct theopera
with his own piano accompaniment, assisted by Mr..
Aired Cellier his old Covent Garden conductor, on
the harmonum Meanwhile he proposes to cable
his London orchestra and in fifteen days shall be
independent of all these annoyances.
"Do YOU regard the demand of the orchestra as
unjust?'
Eyes because the members of orchestras else
where in the city are receiving much less. There
few theatres where they get more than 1s or $40
week, and there are number where they receive
less. The excuse they give is that because Mr. Suli
van conducts in person the event is invested with
unusual Importance and they are therefore entitled
to larger pay
Mr. Collier who is well known in foreign musical
CIRCLES, here interposed the remark
cit ought to be said in tins connection, as matter
of justice the majority of our orchestra that the
action taken is traceabe to but few parties and that
the rest ought be held comparatively blameless.
II agree with you perfectly" observed Mr.. Sui
tvan; 'but what is justiabe in their action? They
disregardod their written contract, and that is
an experience quite new to me among gentlemen
who belong to our profession.
"And you have known nothing OF this kind in
EnglandT'
''Nev-; can scarcely recall a similar incident.
To put 1t plain, in england we should call such
treatment swindling and probably in our courts the
parties would be indictable for conspiracy to OBJ
lain money by coercion"
'rhen such an organization ia unknown abroadT'
Eyes. far AS its control of management is con-
cerned. We have our musical benevolent societies
and similar institutions. but nothing that lnterferes
with the bread and butter of musician
TRADE IN ART.
"My theory" said Mr. Cellier, ''is that managers
should combine and employ no man who belongs to
u union that attempts to control their business.
you remember" observed Mr.. Carte "that an
agreement made in England some years ago by
the provincial managers not to give certain per-
centage of the gross receipts to travelling combna-
tions. meeting of the leading managers OF London
was promptly called and we bound ourselves to
send out no companies at all unless the resolution
was rescinded. The result was that in less than
fortnight. fgurarively speaking. the malcontents
were on their knees.
eyes" remarked Mr.. Sullivan. "and if the mana
gers of New York and other cities would pursue the
same course all this evil of which we are now the
subject and of which. understand. Mr.. Mapleson
has had taste. would be averted
Mr.. Celier-There certainly ought to be free trade
In art, il in nothing else.
A PERTINENT THOUGHT.
''What most regard in professional point Of
view" observed Mr.. Sullivan sis the fact that the
cultivated musicians, the men who have spent their
lives in hard study, who have come from conserva-
tories and earning their daily bread by teaching
in other musical pursuits, are forced into CON-
petition with other musicians of u lower grade who
spend their time during the DAY in other pursuits
and consider an hour or two i'll an orchestra with
much the same practical interest that they contem-
plate the repairing OF an old SHOE mean to say
that there is difference between your trained pro-
.essionals and your mere machines.
81 am of the belief" said Mr. Carte, "that 1t Is
these machines-the mere mechanics and specula-
tors in music-who are making our trouble"
ENGLISH ORCHESTRA POSSIBLE
''lf the matter remains unsettled" inquired the
writer, "what will you do. Mr.. SULLIVAN
promptly telegraph to London for my own peo-
pie to come In twelve days can put before yonder
curtain of the best "Pinaore" orchestras in tho
world Meanwhile, as Mr.. Carte has mentioned,
grand piano assisted by my conductor. Mr.. Collier.
,n a harmonium--and am not sure that ''Pinatore"
will not even then be presented in manner that the
New York public will thoroughly enjoy"
81 infer from some of your remarks that you have
nothing to do with the business Department.
Nothing whatever beyond the ratification Of con-
tracts The night before left England signed en-
gagements for eighty-hve nights at the Covent
Garden
''Changing the subject what is your opinion of
our orchestras.that Is, presuming you have heard
some of themY
'Your question is one that prefer not to answer in
FULL, because have not attended the Philharmonic
concerts and probably not heard the best of your
musical work. At the opera. however, and in the
elsewhere it has occurred to me that
the tone is much thinner than IL Is with in Eng
lind"
YES" added Mr.. Collier. land the pitch is
higher-I should say good quarter of tone-than
that of Covent Garden orchestra. The pianos
Also of o very high pitch"
'.And again." continued Mr.. sullivan, 81 think
that as a class your instruments inferior. In
England the players take pride in securing the best
that are obtainablo, and they make many sacrifices
in saving money TO purchase them. The result Is
shown in q much stronger effect than have yet
heard produced In America. We have at home, at
Covent Garden concerts, sixteen first violins. sixteen
seconds, ten violas, ten 'celios and ten double
basses and fancy that they give larger quality of
tone than you hear from any similar organization in
America"
Dun MUSICIANS, GOOD AND BAD.
'sDo you md that our musicians favorably compare
with your ownY'
"Undoubtedly." replied Mr.. Sullivan. - have
found among them some OF the best. but the wonder
TO me Is that some Of the worst are permitted to