Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-04-01
A fine ORCHESTRA
Sing Sing Has Great
Musical Aggregation.
Thugs, Forgers and Bigamisis
Pour Out Souls in Music.
twenty-five Prisoners Interpret
Work Of the Old Masters.

New York, March 3l.-If all our muir
dererS of melody We're sent to Sing
Sing that place would be the greatest
musical conservatory in the world. EV-
en- as it is, the prison has an orchestra
that may be classed as one Of the most
remarkable in the world. 1t is remark
abe FOR tho character Of its MEMBERS
perhaps it would be more appropriate
to say their lack of character. 1t is a
good orchestra, too. in the sense that it
makes fine music. 1t has % members.
a reporter was permitted by Princi-
pay Keeper Connaughtcn to hear this
striped orchestra play. A rehearsal
was got up ut s O'Clock one evening for
the newspaper mans especial benefit
The ~ musical rrisonerS We're ordered
to come to the chapel and bring their
Instruments. The order caused delight
to every player in his little cell
The Sing Sing chapel is huge. The
only lights turned on that night We're
over the platform. The bright glow
there served to deepen the cavernous
gloom IN the recesses beyond.
AS the convicts entered, clutching
their Instruments, their faces shone
with JOY. 1t was needless for keepers
to trail aften them so closely; the con-
victs had no thought of trying to es-
cape. Their souls were concentrated on
the expected music.
The conVicts, OF course, Wore their
striped suits, bat several had the extra
adprnmcrt OF eyeglasses. The leader,
man of 50. serving u 15-year Germ for
approprating 4 few thousands of the
money OF the bank III which he worked
as 4 teller, wore an expensive pair of
go!I-rimmed spectableS. He quickly
placed himself at the front Of the plat
form, his back to tie auditorium, and
arranged his music on the rack. He
was the only one who stood. his men
being seated in horseshoe formation
around him.
Every man eagerly turned the leaves
in front OF him. all intent on haste, 50
is not to lose any of the precious hour
gl.,nte1 for rehearsal. The FIRST violin
was a middle-agcd man. with the face
ii a dreamer. His poetic soul ran to
music ana to love He was serving II
living; none divorced. Just now his
entire being was concentrated on the
music before him.
The 50 cond violin, an elderly man,
was serving 10 years for burglary, and
the Wicldcr of the bow across the
strings OF the cello was doing" 20
years for forgery by which he had
swindicd a bank The cornct player
was Il "SeCCnd-story" man. and the two
picIolos we're italian blackmaiers of
the Black Hand type. The convict who
pounded the bass drum and banged the
symbols was one of four highWayGlen
who had robbed an express car after
beating the messenger unconscious.
And thus it went, down the line of
The -. Yet, looking at them, as they
sat intent on their music, their faces
seemed as MILD and honest AS the aver
age face. Indeed. Illuminated by the
spiritual light CT their music they ap-
pearcd to be a body of men rather
above tho average in character.
And how they did play! With what
vigor and earnestness they entered in
to thoir music. The leader had select
cd classical pieces Wagner. Bach. Bee
thCven. The productions of those mas
tiers newer haG a more enthusiastic or
conscientious Interpretation. The con
yicts seemed utterly obivious to their
Nti f'tiii'i4ljfNS Ilt' f'.tlfI, Jdlbli III
hand. led Ike q veteran. All his mo-
tons. all his emphasis. his directions
for light ana shade. We're given With
III" arlo,nb of master. The orchcs-
ira followed him with cxactness Their
music sounded like that of any we'll
trained orchestra of similar size.
After the classics, the leader, who
seemed eager to please and who smiled
ana bowed like the usual director of a
popular orchestra, wanted to know if
strauss WaitZes would pc acceptaDl
They We're played by the convicts With
Il swing and rythm that would have
made Niennnse cry out with delight
Infected by the enthusiasm Of the
orchestra Keeper Connaughton gcner-
ously gave his charges an extra half
hour for their music.
The playing Of the Sing Sing Orches-
ira is q feature of the great prison ON
all HOLIDAYS and the unhappy inmates
If the prison look forward eagerly to
the pHrfo;manccS-brigh spots i'm
ot herWisc sombre lives.
AEIPc DPONE aiMe