WHO ARE "ARTISTS"?

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 73, 23 September 1927, Page 7

WHO ARE "ARTISTS"?

THE SAXOPHONE PLAYER

(From "Tho Post's" Representative.) NEW YORK, 22nd August. Is a saxophono player or a trombono contortionist a professional musician? This is tho question that is stirring tho music world throughout America just now, arising out of a plaint by tho National Union of Musicians, numboring 138,000 mombors, that tho oxomptio'n of imported orchestra playors, as "professional artists," under tho immigration law, oporatcß to the disadvantage of native-born musicians. The union seoks to class thorn aa "labourers in tho field of music." Tho caso is eloquently put by tho president of tho union:—"Padorowski Kroislor, Hoifotz, Isayo nro artists, boeauso thoy nro engaged in aosthotio achievement and cannot bo roplacod. To exalt to tho samo piano individuals who form bands or orchestras, to compoto with tons of thousands of othor porHons of equal skill, is quito absurd. Jazz music had its placo hero. It 5s oxtronioly popular in our country. It is tho moans of ontortiiinmonf to millions. It has boon commorcialisod on an unprecedented scalo, and aupplios somo opportunity for tho cultivation of flowering or artistic genius. l^or thoso roasotiH Amoricun citizens engaged in this business aro entitled to tlio name protection that is afforded othor artisans. Scionco has givon us tho competition of tho vitaphono, tho talking machine, and tho radio, and wo do not opposo thoso manifestations of progress. Wo only insist that Congress meant us too when it enacted tho contract labour laws." Although tho Dopartmont of Labour at prosont hoklu that any musician who earns his livelihood professionally is a "professional artist," It has avowed itsolf as open to argument on tho point. Tho preliminary dociaion of tho Department was: "Upon tho basis of long-ostablishod practico and tlio foundation of authority, tho Dopartmont is satisfied that professional musicians, as such, aro properly rogardod as professional artists' for tho purposes of tho exemption;" Tho union president offers tho followmg doflnition:--"Ono who is an adopt; that is, has attained groat knowledge and skill i n tho flno b £« known as music and who, as a vocation, practises that art for tho woliaro and advancomont of mankind."