bavarikon4UDescription
This postcard motif depicts a military band, presumably that of the Royal Bavarian 10th Infantry Regiment. The musicians are in uniform (without swallow's nests) with peaked caps. The relaxed posture, the green setting and the instrument cases lying in the grass suggest a rehearsal or an unofficial gathering rather than a concert. The beer keg on the left of the photo, the objects hanging in the shrub (tankard?) and the text reference to a holiday season also underscore this theory. The musicians play from the landscape-format score books that lie on music stands. Albert Harttung is probably depicted on the right-hand side, marked in blue, to the right of Karl Eckart. Identifiable instruments include clarinets, brass instruments (trumpets, horns, tuba). At the back left there is perhaps a musician playing the drums.
Text transcription: "29.8.16. My dears! I am sending you a photograph of our company busy on our music holiday. This is only the half of them[,] since the others went on holiday after us. As you can see, we have already emptied a few barrels. It was a lot nicer here than here on the Somme. The third man after Karl Ekart [Eckart]. I am very happy that mother is able to go, I wish her good and speedy health. Greetings from your Albert."