New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-05
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
rr,rs,Nc TO ABIDE BY THEIR CONTRACT.

REFUSING TO ABIDE BY THEIR CONTRACT.
TROUBLE WITH THE "PrNAFoRE" ORCHESTRA All
THE FIFTH AVENUE THEATRE.
The Gilbert and sullivan Pinafore," at the Fifth
Ayenue Theatre, continues TO sail along smoothly
notwithstanding the trouble with the orchestra
which will not eliminate before Saturday Yesterday
afternoon occurred the iirst rehearsal OF the new
comic opera by the "Pinafore' authors. MIR. Gil
bert read the hbretto TO the assembled company.
Charles Ford son of John T. Ford. the manager
and Colonel John A. McCaul. Mr. Sullivan ran
through great part of the score the piano.
Those present at the rehearsal were bound TO Sc
crccy. 1t can only be said now that the subject OF
the new opera is not American and that the treat
mont by both author and composer awakened pleas
ureablc surprise. The new work has not been
christened Mr. Sullivan said he believed it was
easier to write q new opera than to find sntap,e
name for il. Colonel McCaul explained the trouoie
with the orchestra yesterday rs follows:
John L. Ford, whose legal representative ann III
his arrangement with Messrs Gilbert ana Sull'Nau.
agrees 60 furnish the theatre ana orehes.Ia. h
company WAS brought over and Is MANAGED ny
DOyly Carte. The musicians signed contract ~
rlay for ST. so week. Last saturday one oil them
sand the Board Of the Musical Mutual Protective
I'n,on had complained that they were working for
less than be rules of the society required but tnat
II We would pay one man 90 cents extra, anolher
as cents and another FL extra etc, lie thought the
affair could bc smoethed over. since the increase
amounted only to about S35 q week consented
Monlav afternoon they SAID that the Union had
ordered tie not to play III the evening unless theN
were rrolnised S2J each week. asked them why
they had waited till the day OF onr hrst perform,
ance before making their demands ana referred
them 70 their contract. They put every,
thing on the Board of the Union. told
them that we of course must have an orchestra ana
81 that under the circumstances c1 ruiI,t
agreed to paw $50 each for one week uhueI ptoest,
and if the union does not see fit TO abide by or
original contract after SATURDAY we shall leu the
ORCHESTRA 20 Mr. sullivan and Mr.. Carte were very
indlgnant Mr.. sullivan said made mistake III
not aischarging them at once lie sld una. IL, ~" IL
called swindlng and that they could be sent TO
jsiI for il. He also inveighed against Musical
Protective Union that put capable mus,ca4 artist
on n level with poor, mechanical player"
The Musical Mutual Protective Union. which has
made trouble this season Tor Mt faImeI Oh me
Tuion Saaare Theatre Maurice Grau; manager or
the opera bOuiie company, Mr. Mapieson, OF the
Academy and finally for the Gilbert aud sullivan
Pinafore Company. was organised vi dooi, anu
whom are recruited the different theatrical ana con-
cert orchestras of the city, lis headquarters Is No
5Sianton-st whore the new beard VIII meet Tor the
first time this morning. The new officers are lresi-
dent L. RetZe, first flute IN the PhllharmOhlc so
eiety. Vice-President John W. Lander, VINO ieaus
tLe dance orchestra ut the Academy balls and Sec
Rotary David Schaad. The rnles OF the uiiion pre-
scribe that members serving IN the orchestra oil
theatres shall receive SO week for six perform
ances. or ST. 80 If they play at a matinee. Mem
beers of opera cOnique orchesiras must receive SO
per week and those who play Tor grand operas, II
they play second instruments, $50.
Mr. X Botsford who is master of the Academy
orchestra. aud who to-day retlres from the Board
of the Union mt his own request, SAID yesterday
"The great majority Of the members OF the Union
mr. musicians of ability and long study. l am
ready 10 say that don't wholly approve of protec-
tive unions of that sort. In n musical union even
more than in trades union, the tendency Is 10 bng
marked ability and inferiOrlty TO the same level.
The union, however, has its uses No musician can
get employment without belonging to IT, and no
musician can become n member without passing
rigorous examination, at which hs rs Obliged 10
play difficult music at sight. \ few not very COM
pctcnt musicians belong to the Union. They
lOned IN the early days before the ordeal OF q
rigorous examination was required. We, nave
thought of wedding ont these men, but lind they
can't he turned off after having paid dues fOT q
number OF vears Every little while the Board
fixes scale of prices. For Theatres Slo and Sl1 90
are paid and musicians of OrchcStras have the right
10 send substitute. They demand SO for comic
substitute is not granted. and only good
musicians will do. In grand opera the
rehearsas are aruous still, and the best nlu-
sicians are required, so they charge $50 and $50.
but dOcS not insist that men who are not competent
musicians snail be employed. 10 Is easy, perhaps,
10 get men who are not the best 10 agree 10 TAKE
less At the Fifth Avenue Theatre. presume, inc
orchcstra was organized 10y securing not the best
for a majority of the chairs. and a few good mlSl-
ciaus 20 take the inst instruments. The orchestra
could not lot on without these last, because they
were obliged to play under Nh Sulhvans direction,
aud only thorough musicians can meet the eNac-
tions of such conductor. These musicians were
of "A quality that the Board would not allow TO play
nndeT the regular prices for comic opera Of course
The movement made in their benefit affects equally
the body Of the orchestra, that may he inierlOr bnt
the manager is not Obliged To keep The latter. lie
can have ~ good musicians as the tnloh can luI-
nIsh At the Academy Arditi has only to say that
a certain musician does not suit him. and the next
week he must gIve WAY 10 some one else"