Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-03
THE MUSIC WORLD.
Why the NJ. NJ. P. U. is on the Ragged
Edge Of Dissolution.
SOME ERRORS POINTED OUT
And Advice Offered Those Who Would
ReOrganize the Association.
HOW PROTECTION SHOULD PROTECT


this city, seems now to be actually upon its
last legs. 1t was long ago deserted by near
ly all the men competent and at liberty to
take occasional engagements in the higher
lines oforchestral work. Now, the best men
in the theater orchestras and brass or reed
bands appear to be in open mutiny and
on the point of leaving the sinking ship.
This threatened detection will leave in the
union ranks very, very few desirable pro-
fessional or semi-professional players. The
membership would then be almost entirely
composed of men who never should have
been admitted to an organization of the
kind.
In view of this state of affairs q plan is
being actively agitated to organize new
association of the really capable players
upon q better basis and to apply to the
National League of Musicians at the annual
meeting March Is, at st. Louis) for ad-
mission to that body as the rightful Pitts
burg local.
The plan has possibilities of great good
to the cause of music in general and Of
music makers in particular. But if the new
the old, it will h. re to avoid the mistakes and
supply the deficiencies that mar the record of
its luckless predecessor.
ERRORS POINTED OUT.
The M. M. P. U. made great mistake in ad-
mitting to membership many men incompe-
tent to play their supposed instruments; many
others whose musical activity is not protes-
sional or semi-professional, but merely occa-
sioual and incidental to other occupations-or
even entirely amateur-and not few others,
such as figure-callers, for instance, who have
NO shadow Of right to belong TO a musical or
ganization.
Another grave error was in forbidding MEM
bers ITO assist in any public performance
given wholly or in part by amateurs" Many
additional causes Of dissatisfaction and disaster
grew out Of less important rules and the faulty
administration of internal affairs.
But the great, fundamental pistake of the
M. N. p. q. lay in the general prohibition Of
troduce the principle of trades-unionism into
profession where it can only work mischief.
This principle of exclusiveness, though
Ss in trade day gndn Pe!hRs might BE
bly, do but little harm in a
Musical Union in Boston or New York, where
capable players are plenteous. But it is ruin.
! Gus in a city like ours where the number of
regular, competent orchestra players (who
alone should belong to a union) is not enough
to supply special demands that often arise,
particularly in the higher class of work.
NOT GOOD PROTECTION.
The idea that where union has on its roll
say ten violinists, every one of these must be
provided for before the concert-giver may en-
gage non-union violinist, rests upon wholly
false basis. It puts in the place of personal
fitness for the particular work to be
done (the only right standard for
choosing an orchestral an arbitrary and
concert-giver, "You must take this man to play
your symphony, even if we did examine him
only to his ability to play dance tunes" 1t
says to the player, Just get enough skill to be
orol limit foN f0 mir fhoF7 .1H
have to work SO hard for self-improvement; the
union will see that you are engaged whether or
not
This kind of protection, does not protect.
it undermines and destroys. 1t is not needed
by the really competent players. and the others
are injured by relying on the union instead of
improving themselves and seeking engagement
on their own merits. Music is not a trade; it
is an art profession wherein the personal
element is all-important. and differences in
personal ability control attempted general
classifications.
UNION A GOOD THING.
Yet musical union is desirable thing, If
rightly formed and. d.conducted. No one should
be admitted without rigid examination of his
competency for the general run of engage
ments; the instrument or instruments
he has been examined on should be
he should be forbidden to accept engagement
as union man to play any other instrument.
In this way make the name union man. a
guarantee OF emclency. MAKE the minimum
price~lisr at figures which the poorest player
admitted to the union is fairly entitled to re-
ceive for the work he does; the better
players can readily command more. Make
the union positive force for the good of music
and musicians; there will be a spirit and
strength in 1t not possible to a mere negative,
obstructive league, chiefly occupied with sell
fish. shortsighted schemes and wrangiing over
useless and obnoxious restrictions En-
courage the general progress of music
on every line, and especially in the shape of
amateur orchestral work; this will make busi-
ness in future by creating a wider and more
constant demand for orchestral music and by
raising up both pupils and intelligent patrons
for the professional players-benefits worth
vastly more than the few stray dollars they
may lose through the unpaid services of the
amateurs. Then make the union directly use
full to the professionals themselves by such
means as sick benefits, etc., club house
and reading room. discussion and con-
certed action on ali questions affecting the
welfare of the profession-and. perhaps, most
useful of all, by practically promoting the
cause Of concerted music through the gradual
evolution of a regular union orchestra of in
creasing completeness and efficiency, which
would gain public support for permanent or
chestral concerts of higher class than this
city has yet enjoyed.