Evening star., 1942-08-23
Music
Notes
The Case For and
Against Orders
OF Mr.. Petrillo
By Alice Eversman.

The order by James c. Petrillo,
president of the American Fedora
ton of Musicians halting the max
ing of records by union musicians
and his effort to prevent the high
school orchestra at Interlochen
Michigan from playing on the radio,
has aroused heated com I'M en- t
throughout the country Almost
everything that could be said for
or against the orders themselves and
the Musicians Union in general has
been said in varying degrees Of feel
ing. Many of these comments have
been made by musicians or by those
who should have sympathy with
their difficulties.
The reason for Mr.. Petrillos de-
cisions is to prevent recorded music
taking the place of hired musicians
in cases where the latter could be
utilized and of featuring a school
organisation that is plain publicity
for its Alma Mater and so depriving
those who might be earning some
thing on that same radio time Of
their just recompense. There is
much to be said on both sides of
the question but one fact stands out
50 prominently that the others be-
come insignificant beside it.
This fact has to do with musicians
being able to earn a living wage by
their music. It has been of prime
Importance in peace time and be-
comes more so In war time. That
playing or teaching music is busi-
ness as serious as that of any other
profession the general public simply
will not recognize. In spite of union
ization and other methods taken to
bolster up this idea, whenever it is
possible for those who should pay
to get around doing 50 an effort will
be made to have music for as little
money as possible If not entirely for
nothing.
The consequences for the musi-
clan during the last war were apal-
ling leading in many cases to COM
plete abandonment OF a career and
others to real want. They are not
fitted to take up other professions
after lifetime of devotion to one.
Yet 1t costs and still costs plenty
to get a musical education. Twen-
ty-f1ve years ago records and the
radio were not such a menace to the
livelihood of the professional musi-
clans but today they, while being
valuable adjuncts in spreading mu-
sical appreciation, are offering ser
ious difficulties to the players or
singers who might be heard in real
ity.
Mr.. Petrillo's edicts have brought
demands from governmental au-
thority for an explanation and 1t is
worth while to quote in part his
answer. In response to James l..
Fry, chairman, Federal Communica-
tions Commission he gives a picture
of both the situations under ques-
ton. He says:
In answer to your inquiry of July
22nd as to our objection to the
broadcast of the National High
School Orchestra at Interlochen,
Mich, and also in answer to many
press releases repeatedly coming
from you in the. matter of canned
music, will give you the entire
picture.
The Federation action on canned
music was taken by its convention
in 1941 at Seattle, Washington, by
unanimous vote of 518 delegates,
representing locals OF the United
States and Canada. It was referred
to our International Executive
Board to be put into effect, and the
subsequent acts were directed by
that Executive Board.
There are thousands, not hun
dreds, of school bands and orches-
tras, and these school bands and Or
chestras in 80 per cent of the cases
receive instruction from members of
the American Federation of Musi-
clans. In Interlochen the conduc-
tors are also members of the Amer
lean Federation of Musicians. The
fact that the Interlochen band was
on the air for some twelve years
plainly shows that we were not op-
posed to these boys and girls being
on the air. However, Interlochen is
not in as good a position as other
school bands and rchestras, because
Interlochen is commercial propo-
sition while in public schools
throughout the country the children
receive their tuition free.
THAT Is not the sole reason for
the Federation's protest; it is also
necessary for the protection OF
the professional musician. Since the
outbreak of the war. Army and Navy
bands are on the air any number of
times each day. This of course you
can easily understand has taken up