The morning call., 1894-01-28
MUSIC VERY BAD.
The Iowa Band Proves a
FiZZle.
CAN'T PLAY CLASSIC SCORES.
Engaged at One Dollar a Day
and Cheap Board.
PLENTY OF MUSICIANS HERE.
Recognized by Critics and Could
Form Several Bands Credit
able to the State.


day night in appointing a committee o
five from its own body to wal. upon Direc-
tor-General de Y Dung and ask the discharge
of the Iowa State band at the expiration Of
its thirty days contract has met will
the appreciation not only of Californi;
musicians but to a large extent of the gen
eral public alike.
That this sentiment was doubly in
creased after Yesterdays performance al
the fair grounds was plainly apparent
Lovers Of bend music stood in little groups
discussing the music rendered by the
imported musicians. and condemnation Of
their melody was heard on every hand
To add TO this the criticism OF visiting and
local musicians. instead of placing the
visitors in the list with Gilmore and SOuza,
laughingy rated them with performers al
one or the other Of the various country
fairs that predominant in every State in
the Union. To speak OF them as artists
would serve well to provoke mirth and
merTiment among music lovers and critics
that surrounded their stand.
AS to what the Iowa State band is and
why it is a the California Mdwinter In
ternational Exposition might we'll be
spoken Of at this time. What 1t is
here for is answered IN few wOrds-viZ.
SOY d Hloutb each dDu UOaT u III % week
IN lodging-h0use near the Geary-street
car-barns. Who its members are is not a
matter of record, and can only be entered
on the judgment book from what they say
of themselves This, however, could never
be used as passport in the realms of
music. earthly or otherwise.
Iowa, noted for its agricultural products,
conceived the idea that to add to the glory
of the State q the Columbian Exposition
at Chicago it must have what it was
pleased to call a brass band. One was or
gained from the numerous rural districts
and took up its position in the Iowa State
building In Yankee Doodle" 1.-Two
Little Girls in Blue" etc, these
musicians were admitted to excel,
but with classical music il was not
their inclination OF ambition to toy
AS consequence their six months
practice together rendered them competent
IN light common airs to render service at a
Juvenile entertainment. Their thoughts
never scared among the classics. and with
notoriety sufficient to please themselves
and their State they returned to their
homes among the corn fields at the conclu-
sion Of the Worlds Fair. never expecting
to again have an opportunity to parade
themselves before music glowing world.
That they are here in San Francisco to-
day is due wholly to their willingness and
disposition TO accept the same wages as are
paid to San FranclscO's unem ployed
identifying Golden Gate Park, TO which
was added land found" in a So a week
lodglng-house.
San Francisco has within her borders at
the present time over 500 professional
musicians, members of the International
Musicians Union. without speaking of the
remainder in the State. For many years as
musical center it has ranked with Boston
and New York, recognized the world over
as the musical centers of the United
States. In many respects for years back
1t h as dictated in musical matters to the
muslc-loving public of the Union outside of
that territory taken in by New York and
Boston. In con sequence of its position,
within Its limits are more professional
musicians than any other city west of the
Eastern musical canters. Many Of the
members of the Musicians Union here
have received their musical education in
the music centerS Of the world and have
drlfted here on account OF the reputation
Ban Francisco bears for music.
During the progress and in the days of
It's infancy the musicians Of San Francisco
did much to aid the cause of the Midwin-
fer Fair. At every entertainment given
TO raise money to aid in the work their
services were tendered and used without
compensation. For the exercises AZ Metro
pOIItan Temple they furnished 125 must
Clans of sufficient merit TO pass the
critics they were subjected to at that
cent a helping hand. Among the first
subscriptions to come into the fair was
one of $3.50 from the Musicians Union
of San francisco, and now, in payment
fer their labor and coin, they stand by
and listen to an importation of uniformed
men. who will furnish music for the fair.
The conviction that they have been un-
fairly treated is being taken up and
bruited from mouth to mouth. while a
comparison of the talent seen, raised and
living in San Francisco with that from
the prohibition State brings a blush of
shame to the face OF all who are interested
10 think that such stigma should be so
placed on California musicians.
Among those who willingly gave CON-
ment on the musical talent of San Fran
cisco yesterday at the fair grounds was
Professor r. T. Trognitz, a saxophons
soloist, who arrived from Boston four
weeks ago. Professor TrognitZ has stud
ied and visited the principal musical CEN
tiers of the world, and is fully competent to
sudge the talent he has found here.
When asked if 1t was possible to get to
Rether in San francisco band of equal
rmerit to that possessed by the Iowa State
band, he said: Eyes; [ will gladly saw
-Four bands of much better merit and OF
equal size. The Iowa State band cannot
play classical music. The Midwinter Fair
band, organized among your own people
and who will play here with the Iowa band
IS far superior to it In every respect. Now
listen to Wagner's 'Tannhauser.' which
the Midwinter Fair band is now playing
Why. the Iowa band is no more capable OF
playing hat piece of music than man W &c
never heard of music. They could moi
touch it. They are very good on what we
call hand-organ tunes. but can't touch
classical music.
''San Francisco is one of the three
musical fields of the United States. Boston
and New York are the other two; and here
you have musicians, and numbers of them
just as good as any the other fields have
L have always been told that San Fran
cisco was one ot the best musical fields liz
the Uuiied States, ana since / have beer
here ] have found iC 10 be the best. 1t wa:
SAD mistake 10 bring that Iowa banO
here al all. 7 on have hundreds of much
better than they are living here every day
1.-THE Austrian band, which Is also q
foreign band. is a good one. / think i
equal 30 any nave ever heard, but there
Is no reason Why San Francisco should
not furnish several Just as good"
a prominent band-leader in the city
who would rather not have his name
mentioned, sai0 There are a great
many musicians here. probably 500 to 600
They read music at sight, have played