1909 high school orchestra

[robcat2075]

The Waukeegan (Illinois) High School Orchestra of 1909.

I don't know what became of trombonist Clifford Forrester, but violinist Benny Kubelsky (lower left) went into vaudeville and later emerged as the violin-toting comic, Jack Benny.

Any ideas what Clifford has there for a trombone?

Waukeegan1909sm.jpg

[Macbone1]

That is one modest HS music program. Looks like fun though.

[harrisonreed]

What did they play, Castello and Buxtehude? Or did they go for Mahler, Symphony for a Thousand

[Posaunus]

What did they play ... Mahler, Symphony for a Thousand?

In addition to being wildly shorthanded for the work, the group would have had to be pretty precocious - Mahler's 8th Symphony wasn't premiered until September 1910!

[robcat2075]

What did they play, Castello and Buxtehude? Or did they go for Mahler, Symphony for a Thousand

I don't know what they played, but there was then a substantial business publishing music slimmed down for small ensembles, like a small-town theater orchestra.

Think Viennese waltzes, melodies from opera and light classics, ragtimes. Maybe with lots of cue notes to cover missing instruments.

[JohnL]

It's possible that their director did some arranging for them.