The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-06
Musicians Association Ask $500
From SOrrentinO.
For Not Paying Mems Sleeping
Car Fares.
BUT PLAYERS REFUSE.
They Prefer Chair Car to
Sleeper.
Band Leader Will Take Matter
Into Court.
TT PLAYERS REFUSE.

AuOO OOUFIs
How would you like to offer to pay
sleeping car fare for a number of men.
have the offer refused. aud then be
fined $500 for not paying that fare? Is
that fair?
Sorrentino, whose Banda Rosa" of
45 pieces will close series Of two
Gays concerts at the Grand tonight,
says that is what has happened to him.
He tells that George Weber, of the
Musician National association, imposed
a fine Of $500 on him for not paying
sleeper fare for his bandmen after
they refused to use the sleeper How
ever, Sorrentino intends to take the mat
ter to the courts and his case will be
beard at Kansas " September 25.
by the rules of the association am
supposed to pay sleeper fare for my
men, when we make night jumps, but
they say We don't like the sleeper.
We prefer to stay in the chair car or
smoker play cards and nave good
time. They tell me this every time
go to buy sleeper tickets for them.
end Mr.. Weber fines me $500. However,
win take the matter into court and
see what can be done.
mo. don't pay hotel bills, but rail-
road fare and as said the sleeper fare
is supposed to be included also. The
alaries of my men range from $50 to
$50 a week Yes, all are artists and
soloists, all from Italy where every one
is a musician. Why? l don't know
Climate perhaps.
Boston Symphony Best in World.
But then, America is a musical
country. What city the most musical?
In the east, Boston. Perhaps this Is
because of the musical interest foster
ed there by the Boston Symphony or
chestra. 1t has 100 pieces. 1 consider
it the finest symphony orchestra in the
world. Next to Boston, New York Is
the most appreciative. In the west
think San Francisco leads as a musical
center. Yes, Kansas City, Topeka and
Denver are all good musical towns
las to local bands or American bands,
if I have any criticism to make ii is
rehearse often enough before starting on
a tour. My own band-we spend six or
seven weeks rehearsing-
THAT is in the spring In the win
ter we disband and play in Italy some
in opera houses, etc. In the sprir.g /
organize the band again and start out
my first tour in America? In 1897.
Some of the men vino were in the or
iginal Land are with me yet-the bass
drum player, the double bass man and
a flute player.
Before 1 was a bandmaster was
pianist. n the old countries the ma
1ority Of conductors have been plan
lists"
Not more than a half flled house
heard the splendid band at the Grand
TUESDAY afternoon and night. This may
have been due partly to the warm
weather, or to the fact that people
were unusually tired after attending the
Labor day celebration Monday Thus
many missed a great treat. One of the
features of the program last night was
the grand selection from Carmen which
is arranged by Sorrenttno himself.
.sNIOnas astery Bells" was encored, with
Mendelssohn's Spring Song for re-
Sponse.
Encore Misses Quinn.
The solos by the Misses Quinn were
encored. They responded With the sim
ple but wonderfully beautiful in its
nla:ntfveness: Come Back to Erin.
n'he vocalists make even the most care
less listener enter into the spirit OF the
SONGS Their tones are remarkably
clear and their pronunciation OF every
W ord approaches perfection-rarely true
Of singers.
The last half Of the program includ-
ed the story of Enoch Arden illustra-
ted with moving pictures ana accom-
panied by descriptive r1usic bV 'he run
band and vocal selections by the Misses
This afternoon one Of tte features
of the program was a grand selection
from "Iohengrin." The Misses Quinn
also sang and won much applause. The
Enoch Arden picture with a band ac-
compartment again closed the program
and will also tonight
The musical program for this even
ing follows:
March ..WfIlcw Grove .Sorrentino
overture, Raymond" ..-...-... Thomas
rT,he Rosary v.................S Sullivan
Trumpet solo by Sig. Bottega.
Grand selection from "Cavalleria
Rusticana" ....-..-.---.. Mascasni
vocal duet, BarcaroIle from Countess
ue Il The Misses Quinn.