Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1897-05-07
SALARIES OF MUSICIANS.
Tie Orohestra's Demands larger In Pro-
portion Than Those Of Opera singers.


The Orohestra's Demands larger In Pro-
portion Than Those Of Opera singers.
4 somewhat novel object was pro-
posed not long ago f1T the Mutual Mu-
steal Protective union, commonly known
as the Musical union, and the new
branch of the OF ganization' s work prom
ised to develop yer. interesting ccnse-
quences. a composer who was also an
instrumentalist wrote a comic opera
that Jared very we'll until, through
some alleged extrava yance on the part Of
the managers, the author and the COM
poser failed to receive their royalties
The composer proposed to have the men,
bcrs of the orchestra refuse to play until
he had been paid, claiming that as a
member Of the union he had right to
call his fellow members to his protection
Just as he would have done if he had
been a player in the orchestra instead Of
the composer and the director at times
of the band. The matter was settled be-
fore the composer had TO use this rem
edy. The question involved was an en-
tirely new one, and persons have been
critical enough Of the society to say that
if the union saw an opportunity to eX-
tend its powers Of interfering with poo
pie it would not fail to take advantage
of it.
When there was considerable talk last
winter about the high prices demanded
by foreign opera singers when they came
to this country. the best known operatic
manager IN New York told a Sun re-
porter something which is not generally
known about the compensation Of for
eign musicians that come to this cOun-
try. One hears q great deal about the
difficulties musicians have Of finding
regular employment and the necessity
Of their playing all sorts Of music and
accepting all sorts Of engagements, as
well as Of the other complaints which
Justly or unjustly are attributed to the
fact that New York supports no orches-
ira that can be called permanent in the
real sense of the word-that is to say,
an orchestra which pays its members
enough TO enable them to live without
seeking employment in other bands.
One Of the seyerest complaints that
the good musicians make-those, for in
stance, that play in the Symphony or the
Philharmonic orchestra-is that they
are compelled after playing at concert
70 20 10 a dance or a reception and play
there until early in the morning in or
der TO make their incomes large enough
for their necessities. In Europe there
are a number Of permanent orchestras
claiming a mans entire time and re-
warding him proportionately in return.
THE difference between the salaries
that musicians demand here and what
they get in Europe" said the impre-
sario, lis out Of all proportion to the in
crease in the salaries paid to singers. a
good musician, who Is satisfied 10 earn
$50 a month in Europe expects $3.50 or
$500 here, and the majority Of them get
it, Our men are paid On the latter scale,
and ridiculous increase it is over the
amount that they could get for their
services in Europe. But we are com
PEELED to pay it. If we don twant q for
eign singer because he or she charges
too much, we can settle the matter hy
quietly engaging another. But that Is
not possible with AN orchestra. We've
got TO engage the musicians on practi-
cally their own terms. and for that rea-
son we have to pay them the salaries
we do. With the guarantee Of so many
performances "a week and the pay they
get for each particular appearance, their
salaries mount to very high figure
compared TO the compensation they
should receive for their services. They
demand far more than the singers in
comparison, although the really high
prices 20 to only the finest Of the sing
ers. New York sun.