There are some instruments
that are best appreciated
from a distance,
bagpipes for instance.
But I think bells also fall
into that category of faraway music.
Whether they are bicycle bells, hand bells,
jingle bells, church bells, chime bells,
or fire bells
it is wise not to get too close.
that are best appreciated
from a distance,
bagpipes for instance.
But I think bells also fall
into that category of faraway music.
Whether they are bicycle bells, hand bells,
jingle bells, church bells, chime bells,
or fire bells
it is wise not to get too close.
However once upon a time there were percussionists whose ringing talent for tintinnabulation made them stars of the music hall stage. This man, Paul Nemson ~ Meister Instrumentalist, was one of those clangorous entertainers. He is pictured here on his promotional postcard with three small bells clutched in one hand and with the other is about to set off a wall of sleigh bells. In front of him is a xylophone and a table with more hand bells and behind him are racks of various kinds of tubular bells.
The caption implies that Paul Nemson is a solo metallophone artist but it's quite possible he led a vaudeville type group of other instrumentalists too. I have postcards of other German ensembles from earlier decades that feature these same instruments, especially racks of tuned jingle bells and wine bottles. Maybe German audiences developed a novelty fad for tinkling and jingling music that people enjoyed outdoors in a beer garden. Even with a full glass of beer I would have preferred to watch Paul perform from a very long distance.
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| 1934 Berlin city directory |
I found Paul Nemson listed in several editions of the Berlin city directory with his address in 1934 at Kottbusser Damm 95. The word after each name in the directory describes a person's general line of work. For Paul Nemson's listing "Konzerthallen" translates as Concert Halls which I interpret as someone employed in music halls such as an entertainer. Of course I can't help feeling sorry for Paul's poor neighbors who had to listen to him practice his bells.
Paul's postcard was sent from Berlin, Germany on 14 September 1932, just four months before Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany on 30 January 1933.
The postmark includes a public service slogan:
Werdet Rundfunkteilnehmer
~
Become a radio listener (subscriber/owner)
an interesting promotion of a new modern device
that would become very popular over the next few years
for more than just the ringing of bells.
Werdet Rundfunkteilnehmer
~
Become a radio listener (subscriber/owner)
an interesting promotion of a new modern device
that would become very popular over the next few years
for more than just the ringing of bells.
