New-York tribune., 1883-06-09
TROUBLE OVER PARK MUSIC.
The RESULT OF BANDMASTERS' RIVALRY.
CONFLICTING STORIES TOLD BY Mr.. DoDwoRTH AND

tributng to the effect The result is awaited with
breathless interest by those most deeply concerned
The only point agreed upon is that far there is
little harmony among the musicians. although the
Park Department itself is supremelv content. The
reason for all this lies in these facts Some time
ago President Ollifle was authorized to make ar
rangements for summer music in the parks
Last year Harvey b. Dodworth and Charles A.
Cappa the leader of the 9TH Regiment Band
stood before the public in Central Park, alter
nate weeks. as conductors Of bands of music whose
members received So on each OCCASION the number
being limited to forty. Sgnor Cappa the
choice of Commissioner Wales and Mr.. Ddoworth
was selected for " auld lang syne," as he had
catered to the musical public at the Park for twenty
three years, with vacation from 1870 to 1878.
Thomas H. Joyce, then the leader of the orchestra
at Booths Theatre, and now at the Cosmopolitan
was chosen to conduct the music at the Battery.
This year all these gentlemen made application
to the Park Department for the privilege of
furnishing the Saturday music in Central Park,
as did also several other conductors. The
matter of music had been referred to President o.
lfle, with power. Owing TO his Illness he instruct
ed Mr. Barker, secretary of the Board since 1858.
to make arrangements for music and report to him.
From this point accounts of the matter differ.
MR.. DoDwORTH's GRIEVANCE.
Harvey b. Dodworth was not at his Office yester-
day morning but his son. Oean H., and his nephew,
Allen r., told the following story: Mr. Dodworth
received a note some time ago requesting hlm to
call at the Park Department. He did so, and there
saw Mr. Barker The latter mentioned the names
of Mr. Wernig, Mr.. Cappa and several other con-
ductors, and asked Mr.. Dodwortn if he would DO
willing to alternate with them at the Park, and he
expressed a willingness to doso. Two weeks ago he
received another note, and called again on Mr..
Barker. stranger was present Mr.. Barker intro
duced him as Mr.. Joyce, aud said that
he would play alternately with Mr.. Dodworth at
the Park. Mr. Dodworth did not like this, "a he
wished nothing TO do with Mr. Joyce; and he
asked Mr. Barker for opportunity to speak pri-
yately with him, but this was refused. Mr. Dod-
worth turned on his heel and left the Office in
Indignation, refusing to play If Mr.. Joyce were to
be the alternate. Mr. Joyce has been expelled from
the Musical Union, aud has such a history that Mr..
Dodworth believed that his own reputation would
suffer n he had anything 10 do with Mr.. Joyce
And he did q praisewortby thing as the action Of
the musicians IN Fourth-st. viii show. Why. when
Mr. Dodworth visited them last week they fairly
carried him ont of the street in their enthusiasm,
because he had refused to bring disgrace on the
musical profession. We believe that political
influence was at the bottom of these selections of
hr Joyce. Mr. Dodworth will have nothing TO do
with him, nor will other conductors lie has been
expelled from the Musical Union and on Saturday
Gilmore and Cappa had men at his Park concert
taking down the names of his musicians for they
Will not employ men who play for Joyce
PARK OFFICIALS INDlGSANr
When Mr.. Barker. who has the reputation OF be-
ing thoroughly posted in all matters affecting the
Department, we'll as being clear-headed and un-
airching in his duties was told of this statement
hp la Ia 4
President Olliffe who was in the Office, almost
boiled with indignation. Between them they made
this statement:
No name was mentioned to Mr.. DOdworth on his
first visit. He was simply told that it was uncer-
tain who would alternate with him. Mr. Cappa
the band leader OF tho 9Th Regiment and NJ j.
Joyce, band leader of the list Regiment and others
had applied Tor the privilege AZ Mr. Barkers re-
quest, Mr. Dodworth had been offered the opportu-
nity 10 furnish music at tho Park every second
Saturday. This because lac mad long furnished
the summer music. There was no question OF la
vOrtism at all, aud the matter of political nlu-
ence IL sheer nonsense. Mr. joyce had given excel
lent music at the Battery aud no finally Sc
latter came here, early last week. Mr.. Joyce had
been invited TO be present. These two and Dir.
Barker were IN the office. Mr. Barker proceeded to
Introduce the two. when Mr. Dod-
worth turned abruptly away and said
he had nothing 10 say to Mr. Joyce, but
would like to speak in private with MI Barker
The latter said that this was public office devoted
TO pubic business and declined private iuteryiaw.
Mr.. Dodworth then said that ho would have moth
ing TO do with the music. and left the office at once
THIS only five days before the first concert. TO
be given on Saturday last. Mr.. Barker at once
asked Mr. Joyce If he could furnish the music he
said yes aud arrangements were at once made
subject to President Olllhc's approval, which was
gwen. Mr.. Joyce gave the concert last Saturday
there was large audience and the Department
says emphatlcally, from the testimony of those
present that thc concert was the best heard III the
Park III years The trouble is that Mr. Dod-
worth wanted ted the whole S6 th9ga sa he hnNn was
here. We shall never again have
his services Everything has been done by some |
body 10 break up Mr.. Joyce. ConternO. of Brook
lyn came here and SAID that Joyce could not play |
on Saturday. AS hc had been expelled from the |
Musical Union. and he has since wri ten letter 10
could not employ musicians, as he was out OF ne |
nnion. We know nothing OF that: We simply |
know that tho public ~ pleased with tue music as
II isn't hundred years DID,
WHAT THOMAS H. JOYCE SAYS
The state Of affairs seemed to be complicated !
further by Thomas H. JoYces side of the story. He
has n musical and dramatic agency at No. 907
Broadway 81 have been for years, hc SAID, "a con-
ductor in the principal theatres IN this city, aud am
now conductor ut the Cosmopolitan Theatre and at
the Central Park concerts My brother NJ j. Joyce.
the leader of the 7lst Regiment Band, Is younger,
and he has got into trouble having been expelled
from the Musical Union. made my contract wlth |
the Park Department through my manager Now |
Mcssrs. Dodworth and Cappa and others are speaking
OF me as the who has been expelled, ana Do |
lievc they arc wiIlully mixing mo up with my |
brother. My lawyer tells mo that have good
case of libel against them, and If they not care
fuI they will have trouble. DodwOrth and Cappa |
both had men taking down tho names OF my musi-
clans at the last Saturday concert. NV men say |
that Dodworth aud Cappa were present themselves,
but did not see thenl It looks like case OF per-
secutlon but think that can hold my own.
Mr. Barker SAID sub ;equently that he made the |
contract with NJ j. Joyce, and that the bills were |
presented IN tho name of Thomas H., whose name |
appeared as conductor on the Central Park musical
programmes. The Park Department was satlshed, |
ba mid AZ Iopo "a tho mn uhlIc had good music,