Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-25
THE MUSIC WORLD.
Musicians Form an Assembly Of the
Knights of Labor.
EFFECT OF THE NEW DEPARTURE.
Permanent Professional Orchestra to be
Organized.
GOSSIP ABOUT OUR LOCAL MUSICIANS

PATCH yesterday morning, a Knights Of
Labor charter was on Friday granted tc
Musical Assembly No. 1888. The charter
members conf prise dozen or SO of Pitts.
burg's orchestral players, mostly members
of the Allegheny County Musicians Union.
AT the first meeting under the new charter,
to be held this afternoon, many more A. G.
NJ. U. men are to be admitted, and it is ex-
pected that very soon the membership of the
two bodies will be practically identi-
cal, though the organizations will
remain separate. The roll of officers is as
follows: F. H. Rottkay, Master Workman;
j. S. Jordan, Corresponding Secretary
Jacob Friesel, Worthy Foreman, and George
Kschier, Financial Secretary. Opportu-
nifty to examine the charter has not yet been
had, but 1t is understood that it conforms
quite closely TO the principles upon which
the A. Q. M. U. has always stood, in per-
mitting members to play with whom they
please, in modifying prices according to the
character of engagements, etc.
While it is gratifying to note that, in
making this move, the A. G. NJ. q. men
have not abandoned the wise and liberal
principles for which they have so long con-
tended. il is to be deeply regretted that they
have sought to escape from few temporary
difficulties by subjecting themselves to the
authority of an organization in whose
interests, aims, occupations, con-
ficts and membership they have
no real and permanent con-
cern. For the principles and aims of the
knights of Labor, as voiced by G. M. w.
Powderly, the writer has unfeigned respect
and sympathy; but he would be as likely to
rise in the next meeting of the Bar Associa-
ton or of the Art Society TO move that those
bodies apply for a K. of Z. charter as to
favor the entrance of the professional musi-
clans, as such, into the X. of L.
The two interests are essentially distinct,
though, like all things human, they have
some points in common. Even viewing
music as a mere trade having wage-earning
for its sole aim, it will be seen at once that
it is a trade wherein there is the widest diff
ference between the capabilities of its indi-
vidual followers; a trade wherein the per-
sonal ability of each man is of extreme i'm
portance Zone poor player spelling the work
of all beside him); a trade wherein,
because of this all-important personal ele-
ment, the limited number of players and
the lrregularity and variety of engagements
1t is impossible to apply an absolute scale
of wages, Imp-acticable to adjust difficulties
by strikes or other movements of the men,
bers as a whole, inconvenient in every way
to use the K. of L. machinery in advancing
the interests of the members, jointly or sew
orally.
Such considerations should suffice even
were there no higher point of view from
which to regard the musical calling. But
it is not trade. 1t is a profession, by
virtue both of the vitality important per-
sonal element in it and also of its great
function in the higher life of the COM
munity- The sphere of a musicians union,
therefore, is distant from that Of q trades
union, and closely similar to the sphere of q
union of lawyers, doctors or architects. OF
course professional union may be directly
beneficial from a strictly business stand
point; may help in securing engagements,
bring about uniformity in prices, etc. But
its chief activity should be on higher lines;
discussion, practice, friendly intercourse,
joining together in all manner of exercises
or enterprises that contribute to the good of
the profession as a whole, and to the advance
Iuent of the individual members in their
profession. 1t is worthy of note that in pro-
fessional life money as we'll as honor usually
falls most plenteously to those who are most
alive to the higher side of their profession,
and who least regard it as mere trade.
Besides being totally wrong in principle,
this union of the musicians with the Z. of
i. mears-if it has any practical import
that the musicians are henceforth liable to
be drawn into the frequent conflicts be-
tween capital and labor and the constant
squabbles among the different labor organi-
cations. If some stage hand happens to be
discharged by a theatrical manager. the
orchestra may be ordered TO stop
playing till he is reinstated. If some nom
union carpenter gets job in the Exposition
building the bandsmen must put up their
instruments and lose their pay till the mat
ter is settled. If some trades organization
does not get its desired place in a process
ho kan Will ha 1iah l. - L. 1r
and their engagements forfeited. And so
on to the end OF the chapter; in each case
the players not only losing their expected
pay but breaking their contracts, dishonor-
ably leaving their patrons in the
lurch and rendering themselves liable for
damages. One would think the A. c. M. U.
men had had enough of this sort of thing al
ready. 1t was simply the application of
these trade union methods that caused the
difficulties for which they left the Musical
Mutual Protective Union. It is a great
pity that they have put their necks into the
same sort OF moose again, Just in order to
meet the NJ. M. P. q. upon the low, false
plane upon which the latter has been fight
ing.
1t is to be hoped for the sake of the musi-
cal community that the A. c. NJ. q. will.
before great while, retrace this misstep,
and once more stand in the strong and
dlgnihed position of truly professional or
ganization which shall so wisely protect
and foster the best interests of that pro-
fession that its members can Law the best
claim to be called "union men, as belong
ing to the only really musical union in the
city.
"a
As against this serious mistake, it is a
great pleasure to note that the Allegheny
County Musicians Union has actively conn.,
menced the organization of a complete, per-
manent professional orchestra. Instead cf
lying around complaining of the lack of
local patronage for any large orchestral en-
terprlse, the players now propose to 90 to
work on their own behalf, organizing them
selves and rehearsing regularly until
they can demonstrate to the public
that their efforts in the higher
lines of music are worth patronage
proposition which, without such demonstra-
ton, would be open TO question. Rehearsals
are to be commenced as soon as the Exposi-
ton is over, and to be continued weekly
until the orchestra is ready with a repertoire
for concerts of its own and has gained the |
requisite efficiency for assisting in |
choral and other concerts of the |
higher class. Mr.. Charles Gernert is in |
charge OF the active work of enlisting men, |
bers. The conductor for the new orchestra |
has not yet been finally determined upon, |
It is said, although Mr.. John Gernert is |
commonly spoken of for that important |
post
The following well-known instrumental
lists are already on the list: Messrs. SteIE-
ner, Oberhaeusser, Arnold, Keller, Radin, |
Gauske, Staley, Specht and Gerlach, violin |
and viola; Cooper and Markvart, cello; |
Loppentien, McCaffrey and Arbogast, bass; |
Gua fhor A-4o