Telegram-herald., 1889-04-16


other purposes As kind OF
musicians exchange The musician
who Is out 0f ga engagement drifts
down there and waits for director OF
manager 20 seek him. aud when bernstein
Is summoned 10 procure an orchestra be
goes 10 the AschenbrOedel or 10 the ylcln-
ity along East Fourth street. and rnds
his people From the business like skill
with which he has done his work aud the
fact that he is almost the only man in
town who does anything OF the kind. he
has often been called the King Of kast
Fourth street"
Among tho bands that he has organized
and furnished 10 various concerns is the
Casino orchestra. Nanderstuckeu' orches-
ira. and probably also. the greater part OF
the Metropolitan Opera House orchestra.
There is one kind Of IA band that Bern
stein will not furnish for any considera
tion, and that IS one that is required 70
play for dances.
IN the course Of his career lie has per
formed with almost every director Of any
prominence in the whole world.
He has played with the Philharmonic
Society for twenty years and has been q.
member OF the association for eight years
Those whoremember Seidls extraordinary
season at Brighton Beach last year will
recall that the Wagner selections were the
most popular As far rs could be judged by
the amount OF applause received. Nextto
them came "A set OF pieces bya new French
composer, aud third in order OF popU-
larity OF all the great amount OF music
played there, was a minuet for the string
orchestra by one Bolzoni. II is n delight
full composition and invariably brought
out the heartiest applause. Ii was played
again and again and it has been pub
lished. But this BolzOni, whose name ap-
peared upon the programme and upon the
order Of music, il none other than "Sam
Bernstein Many another popular piece
which the Seidl orchestra played at that
time was written by Bernstein, but no one
in the band save himself and the director
knew who was the author. He himself
will not now confess which were his com
positions.
Another feature of his enterprise is the
purchase of European novelties and H.,
snle OF them to American directors. BY
sale is not necessarily meant the entire
surrender of the rights of the scores, bu,
the privilege of playing them through rie
season in this way Bernstein has not
only made considerable money and
strengthed his hold upon directors and
leading organizations, but has accumula
ted library that is remarkably extensive
and valuable In this library there are
few, if any. literary works There is uc
money in them for Bernstein and he has
no time to bother with them. His library
consists Of scores. aud the general impres-
sion among musicians is that the collec
ton is worth fifteen thousand dollars.
When the writer saw him he was busy al
work scoring a new piece for the next Sea
son at Brighton.
Mr. Bernstein was not so frank In max
ing an estimate OF his fortune lie al
mitted that he owned several houses H.
New York and Brooklyn, but would not
say whether he owns the house he lives in
Those of his friends who know most about
him say that his possessions should b,
rated at something between seventy-fvt
and one hundred thousand dollars. H
does not teach. for he has no time. There
is more moneyin performing, and he could
probably accept twice rs many engage
ments ~ he could I'll. in scoring. trading
in novelties, supplying orchestras, and
furnishing musicians with places.
Theodore Thomas has said that there are
only two kettle-drHm players in America
Bernstein and Lowe. They arv men 0hc
can be absolutely depended upon by the
director to come In at the proper cue
"Ipwe." said Thomas. "is the only man
in an my orchestra whom ! never look az
during performances These two per
formers do not hold their distinguished
positions 40 much from the reason that
they play better than all the others. fOi
the kettle drum = Comparatively sin. pie
instrument Given a thorough apprecia
tion of time aud an accurate ear for tone
with other musical qualities. anybody
could learn % play them acceptably; bul
by virtue OF persistent. faithfu' work
these two men have secured = grip upor
that department Of the orchestra 80 that
whenever any one wants kcttle-drun
player he turns either to Loewe or e.
BesnsJsin without thought ~ spvhoiy
else. +. X. BURTON.