Lacking any marks for who, when, or where
the fate of most vintage photographs
is reduced to basic curiosity.
Who are these people?
the fate of most vintage photographs
is reduced to basic curiosity.
Who are these people?
In my collection there are hundreds
of such anonymous photographs of musical groups.
Small clues in this grainy 10" x 8" print suggest
these musicians posed for a camera
at some vague time in the late 19th century
somewhere in the United States.
But finding their personal details
are regrettably impossible.
Were some of the men brothers?
Father and son?
of such anonymous photographs of musical groups.
Small clues in this grainy 10" x 8" print suggest
these musicians posed for a camera
at some vague time in the late 19th century
somewhere in the United States.
But finding their personal details
are regrettably impossible.
Were some of the men brothers?
Father and son?
A cello and a snare drum
are not out of place in an orchestra.
But what kind of orchestra would include
a double-bell euphonium?
A novelty solo instrument
usually found in brass bands.
are not out of place in an orchestra.
But what kind of orchestra would include
a double-bell euphonium?
A novelty solo instrument
usually found in brass bands.
And what about the dog
lying down in front like a sack of potatoes?
What position did this canine
hold in the orchestra?
lying down in front like a sack of potatoes?
What position did this canine
hold in the orchestra?
Yet for sheer humor of the human condition
nothing beats a photo with funny face.
Any flutist with such a schnoz and mustache
must have been a remarkable character
even if it was a theatrical fake disguise.
nothing beats a photo with funny face.
Any flutist with such a schnoz and mustache
must have been a remarkable character
even if it was a theatrical fake disguise.
It's proof that even a photograph
of an unknown orchestra
can be a priceless artifact of music history.
of an unknown orchestra
can be a priceless artifact of music history.
This is my contribution to Sepia Saturday
where everything has gone to the dogs this weekend.
where everything has gone to the dogs this weekend.
5 comments:
I wish there had been some names for you to follow and get the story! Looks like it would be an interesting one.
They do look like a cast of characters. Maybe something will come along one of these days to lead you to their identity.
Small community orchestras generally try to include anyone who plays any kind of instrument. I remember doing The Messiah for Christmas one year with an orchestra composed of the usual orchestral instruments plus a couple of saxophones, a tuba (and I mean a full size tuba), and at least two guitars. The orchestra was directed by the local high school band director and he wrote out the parts for the sax, tuba, and guitars. And it worked. Though Handel may have been turning over in his grave, the 'enhanced' orchestra sounded great. Then there were the bluegrass groups. Three or four times a year we'd all get together at someone's home and play practically all night. What fun we had. In addition to fiddles, mandolins, banjos, and guitars, we had a harmonica, an accordion, a washboard, spoons, tub base, and kazoos. There were probably other things I can't think of at the moment. I remember playing the castanets I had left over from when I was a pompom girl in high school. Our teams were the Gauchos and we danced with castanets. :)
Glad you're posting some of those anonymous photos...they probably outnumber the ones that have some indication who what and when. Maybe we should just start giving people names right out of thin air...what would we lose?
I wish I could see the dog's face. I do also wonder why he was included.
I like Barbara's idea about names. I'd love to see a movie about one of these bands.
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