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Don't I Look Fierce?
Home on the Rangeoriginal lyrics by Dr. Brewster Higley (1876)Oh, give me a home where the Buffalo roamWhere the Deer and the Antelope play;Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,And the sky is not...
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Sax Appeal
Their sharp uniforms and bright faces may attract our eye,but it's the six saxophones that command our attention.Six bandsmen in military cadet style uniforms stand at the ready with smiles and...
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Musical Dyspepsia
Some music makes beautiful art, evoking passions from the tragic to the sublime.While other music disturbs the sensesand distresses the listenerwith a ridiculously disconcerting pain.“Make it...
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Four Stories from Nebraska
It's not a flattering perspective. Looking like a giant grey cinder block,one side is built for utility with sensible fire escapes and unadorned stage doors. The other side shows an ornate public...
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Two Young Cellists
Vintage photographs of a child playing a cello are rare. But surprisingly there werea small number of young musicians who played the cello professionally. The traditional musical instruments for child...
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What did you think it meant?
It looks like a joke.But the snare drummer,he's not smiling.His companions on bass drum, bass and tenor saxhorns,they don't seem to see anything funny.The rest of the brass band,they're dead serious...
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Love is Blind
The bride wore whiteand played a violin.Her eldest sister beat a big bass drum.The younger squeezed an accordion.They kept their eyes closed. Her two bridesmaids blew fanfareson cornet and...
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Musical Marital Arts
Single life on the stage can be lonely.Better to have someone to share it with.Someone who understands youand can play alongwith the ups and downs of performing in musical theaters. And carry your...
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Musical Children at Work
Tools of a young musician's trade:violin and bow,ruffles and ribbons,hair combs and ringlets,stockings and slippers.And one more special item - a large ball to stand on.Her serious gaze is directed...
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Master Eddie Derville - Cornet Soloist
This kid's a real professional.His confident gaze, his relaxed demeanorexhibit all the traitsof a musician who's got chops.Who knows that he can play,and play well.His instrument?The premier musical...
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The Wedding Alphorn
Today is the day.Today is The Day!From mountain highto valley low,Hoo-ray!Hoo-ray!Hoo-ray!Some composers can write a tune at the drop of a hat.Some need the inspiration of a beautiful placeor a special...
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Master Harry Barreuther - Boy Cellist
It almost looks like a trick photo.A young boy dressed in a sailor suitstands with his armdraped comradely around what appears to be an enormous violin.Of course it's not a violinbut a...
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The 12th Cavalry Mounted Band
We can't see it but it's there in the air.Just enough to make one shiver.A not entirely unpleasant aromaof oiled leather and horse sweat.Of course there is morethat we can't smell,but we see it behind...
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A Band Afloat
Why would a musician march in a parade when they could ride?Or even float?A brass band of twelve young women and two men, (plus two drivers) sit tight in a gaily decorated carriage. The bass drummer...
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The Clarion Call
It was supposed to be a modern war.During the first decade of the 20th centurythe nations of Europe fiercely competed with each otherover the size of their artillery pieces;over the strength of their...
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The Drums and Trumpets of War
Today is Veteran's Day in the United States, a day when we recognize the incalculable service given by our present and past military veterans. It originally began as Armistice Day, a commemoration of...
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Music on the Eastern Front
His young eyes stare directly at us,his cheeks dark with grime, his lips expressionless.He is a soldier but he is also just a boy.His age, 17 ? Maybe 16. Surely no more than 19.He plays the bass...
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The Quedlinburg POW Camp Orchestra
Dressed in long military overcoats,we can see that they are soldiers.But as they are armedwith musical instruments,they are musicians too.Yet they are not a military band.With six violins and one...
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O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum?
'Twas a midsummer day in the town of Loon Lakewhen arose such a soundonly a melodeon could make.The chords were all wrongbut old Jim didn't care.He picked out a tunethat his cornet could blare.The...
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The Snowman
Fresh snowfallis a timeless universal wonder.Its sculptural and architectural qualitiessurely stimulated prehistoric manto roll balls of soft snowinto a giant pile.Inspiring a kind of test statue for...
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