Evening star., 1936-06-03
BARGE CONCERTS
THIS YEAR SEEN
STILL POSSIBILITY
Orchestra Members Might
Seek Sponsor or Offer
Own Programs.
BIRDSELL COMMENTS
AFTER SYMPHONY STAND
Told in Letter by Secretary Howe
of Effects of Gaul and Outside
Talent Incidents.

Sunset symphonies played by an
orchestra aboard barge beneath the
Arlington Memorial Bridge one eve
ming a week this Summer still are a
possibility. despite the National SYM
phony Orchestra Associations deci-
sion to give up its own plans for a
continuation of the barge programs
it inaugurated last year.
"Our board has reluctantly in
Structed me to tell you that no con-
certs will be played here this Summer
by the National Symphony Orches-
ira" Walter Bruce Howe, secretary
of the National Symphony, yesterday
wrote John E. Birdsell. secretary of
the Musicians Protective Union, Local
l6l.
Thus was closed one chapter in the
associations long dispute with the
union concerning two labor problems.
The first was the objection by the
union to the associations engaging
for the Capital orchestra musicians
from other cities. The second was
the insistence by the union. against
the desire of the association, that
George Gaul. the personnel manager,
be discharged.
Musicians Names Withheld.
Gaul lost his union status as a result
of his refusal to make known to his
colleagues the names of the musicians
receiving more than the minimum pay.
Removal from the union meant that
him acceptable as personnel manager.
a post in which the association sought
TO keep him.
Concerning the unions ban on i'm
ported talent, the association makes
the argument that if the musicians it
needed were in other cities. it should
be free to go to those cities to get them.
Upon receipt of the letter, Birdsell
made guarded statement to the
effect that the orchestra members
might seek a new sponsor. or, failing
to find one, might produce the concerts
themselves.
The orchestra is still intact" Bird
sell said. ''and willing to give another
series of concerts at the Watergate.'
At the same time, Fairfax Oyster,
the Convention Hall butter merchant
who five weeks ago, announced his in
tention of establishing a rival or
chestra with Yasha Bunchuk. from the
New York Capitol Theater, as its di-
rector. disclosed that today he will re-
open his discussion with Bunchuk.
At first Oyster had planned to COM
pete with the National Symphony
under the direction of Hans Kinder
for the right to use the barge, but
he said this morning that he quickly
concluded that he would be unable
to swing enough local support to
Bunchuk from the long-establiShed
following of Kinder.
Late for Organizing.
81 don't know what can be done
now" he said 1T is rather late
to organize such a series of concerts
But I am going to talk with Mr.
Bunchuk today to see what can be
done The public here should have
music. They've shown their interest
in it, and it's a crime not to have it. -
That the members OF the orchestra
have long had in mind producing the
Summer orchestras themselves was
revealed last week in a statement
issued by Thomas ]. Mullikan, chair
man of the Orchestra Members Com
mittee. He demanded that the Ma
tional Symphony announce its inten-
ton to hold the concerts this Sum-
mer or reliquish the bridge site to
the orchestra members.