Cornetists at Ease

The best trumpet players
can seem very relaxed
with a carefree manner.

They develop a cheerful spirit
that displays a nonchalant confidence
in their instrument.

They never get anxious or agitated.
They just sit back and wait their turn,
knowing they have the best tunes to play.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

The first musician, a very dapper gentleman, holds a piston valve trumpet, not a cornet. With its mouthpiece on his lips, he could very well be playing a melody from the folio of sheet music attached to the lyre clip on his instrument.

But if we look closely we can see there is a piece of string tied to the back brim of his straw hat which runs down to the front of his coat, presumably secured to a button. I can only think this is a practical accessory to prevent the loss of his boater hat should a gust of wind come up while he is performing. This postcard photo was never mailed and I believe it is likely of French origin from around 1910.

 

 

* * *

 

 

The second musician has a cornet which is more curvaceous than the trumpet. Otherwise the two instruments share the same sound, pitch, range, and fingerings.
 

This gentleman is posed seated on curious high back upholstered chair and seemingly floating on a cloud of smoke. This cabinet card photograph was taken by H. R. Huested of Pulaski, Orwell, and Altmar, New York. Three small towns in the upper state north of Syracuse, NY.

 

On the back is name and place for the cornetist, Clarence Reese, Kirkville, NY. Kirkville is a hamlet, east of Syracuse. In the 1900 US Census for Syracuse, Clarence G. Reese, age 26, single, was living at home with his parents George and Fanny Reese. Clarence was employed as a street car conductor.

In 1910 Clarence was still in Syracuse, but now married three years to Katherine E. Reese. His occupation was now listed as Machinist, Automobile Works. He may have worked at the factories of either the H. A. Moyer Automobile Company, or the Franklin Automobile Company, both founded in Syracuse.

 

I found two newspaper reports from 1902 and 1903 of Clarence Reese playing his cornet for events at a lodge of the Independent Order of Good Templars. This was a fraternal Temperance society that was started in 1850, in Utica, New York. Though based on quasi-masonic rituals this abstinence organization was also open to women and made no restrictions on race. It became very popular in the 19th century and by 1900 had hundreds of chapters around the world. It remains an active society today with membership in Europe, Africa, Asia, as well as the United States. 

 

Since Clarence does not wear a wedding ring on his left hand. I believe this photo was taken before 1907, perhaps around 1902. In the center of his bow tie is a small pin with what looks like a fraternal symbol.

* * *

Hello Carrie what do you think of
that for a little boy like me. Well
I expect to come your way
soon.

Guy H.      So So.

The third cornet player is posed outdoors seated on a kitchen chair. He wears a very fancy bandsman's uniform with embroidered stripes on his trousers. We know him as Guy H., but the object of his affection was on the postcard's address, Miss Carrie Hengst, of Roaring Springs, Blair Co. Pennsylvania. The postmark is obscured, but the undivided back, dates it to pre-1907.

A quick search of Ancestry.com produced a likely family tree match with Carrie May Hengst, born in 1886, in King, PA. In 1907 she married George Henry Guyer in Roaring Springs. He was also born in Pennsylvania in 1885. His 1918 draft card offers a signature that I think matches the handwriting style of Guy H.  (The other information was filled in by the registrar.)

 

Was it Guy's cornet playing?
His uniform?
Or just his way with words?
Whatever it was,
Guy got her attention and
Carrie was impressed.

This is my contribution to Sepia Saturday
where the sun is always shining.