Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-22
MONEY FOR A MASTER
Of the Organ, if One We're to Locate
Just Now in the Twin Cities.
WHAT LOCAL MUSICIANS THINK.
They Say the Salary Attached to the
Allegheny Office Is
RIDICULOUSLF SMALL FOR THE WORK

The discussion of the organ question,
which was started by the article in THE
DISPATCH last Sunday, has been taken up
warmly by musicians and others of the city.
The position taken by THE DISPATCH
writer was that it would be well if some
organist were to be brought TO the city who
would devote all his attention 10 establish
ing an organ school for the development
of the musical talent that is allowed by
every one to be latent in the city.
A DISPATCH representative yesterday
visited several well-known musicians to ask
their opinion about the advisability of
placing the teaching of the organ in the
hands of some man who shall have made the
study of that instrument his life occupation.
This teacher should be established in the
city as player as well as teacher, and his
work should be so good as to serve for
standard for other musicians He should be
properly paid, and he should be worth
good salary.
In response to this argument, Joseph H.
Cuttings said that there were plenty of
musicians in Pittsburg and Allegheny who
could easily reach this high standard in
o-Zan music, but that the cities would not
pay enough to make it worth the while of a
good musician 10 get up repertoire of
organ music and play and teach the instru-
meut
DOESN'T PAY WELL ENOUGH.
''The organ is very difficult instru-
mcnt, " said Mr.. Cuttings. "a nd it does not
pay men to give the attention TO it that it
demands to get the best out of il that is in
it, The CITY Organst of Allegheny ought
10 GET more than 81 200. The salary is not
high enough, and vet the city will not pay
even that sum. There is no encouragement
:or a thorough study of the organ in this
part Of the country.
Simeon Bissell said he would like TO see
a good musician at the keyboard of the civ
organ. The position should pay $1,000 a
wear. and II should be occupied bv an or
ganisr of worldwide reputation, such as
Clarence Eddy, FOR instance. Pittsburg is
Young in art yet, and men have not had
lime to become good organists and at the
same time teach tor living, as most of the
musicians IN the city are compelled to do
In 'hc course Of years there will be plenty
of iirSt-class organists in this city, as there
are elsewhere We must have patience,
ard il will come in due course. | should
like 10 see a virtuoso established in Pitts
li~clv 20 the organ, but we cannot expect it
until we otIer some inducements to such a
man 10 sertle here.
ORGANIST ECKER'S ENDEAvoRS.
H. p. Ecker. at present organist of the
Carnegie Music Hall, Allegheny, said: az
try 10 give the people the music they want
We're l TO give a programme of classical
music for whole evening, the audience
would get up and leave the hall, with the
exception Of few educated musicians, who
would appreciate and enjoy the works of
The masters. l mix nv programmes SO that
there will be little of everything. play
gavotteS and marches and waltzes, with a few
classical Numbers interspersed. find this
gives general satisfaction, and 1 do not see
any reason to change The policy L have |
adopted. 1t is all very well to talk about |
educating the people in music, but if they |
DO not want to be educated you cannot do |
anything with them. Perhaps in the course |
OF time the public will get TO enjoy classical |
music, if they get little each evening.
That is my idea L try to give them enough
Of it TO make them acquainted with its
beauties
{. c. Mellor, one of the best organists in
the State, is Of the opinion that there are
perhaps TWO men in the city now who, with
two or three years practice, could play the
best works of the masters on the organ sat
isIactorily.
WORTH MUCH MORE MONEY.
"There are not more than two," said he
They might, with long practice, sit down
10 an organ and do justice 10 il. The people |
OF Pittsburg are not satisfied with their |
home talent, no matter how good it might |
be. They want strangers. The organ is |
such a difficult instrument that player |
must have ewes and ears everywhere. The |
people want those eyes and ears to belong |
TO a stranger Let us import a competent |
organist and let us pay him decent salary. |
A city organist should be paid not less than |
$1,000 a wear. He is worth that if he is |
good. and if he is not worth it he should not |
be PLAYING the organ in public at all
Henry Kleber said: The music rendered |
in Carnegie Hall is not at all wha: it should
he. 1t is becoming every week less suited
10 the taste of real lover of the divine
art. have no doubt large crowds gather
III the hall, but they are, for the most par,
people who will go anywhere so it is free A"
REVIEW--The n ews of the week reviewed
and illustrated will be feature of THE