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Phil May cartoon - Tuneless Street band
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Phil May cartoon - Tuneless Street band
1904
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 20614137
© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection
Awful Broke Clarinet Euphonium Ghastly Howling Musicians Noise Phil Player Poor Poverty Proportion Quotation Quote Racket Shakespeare Singing Sound Sour Sweet Terrible Urchin
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EDITORS COMMENTS
A Tuneless Symphony: Phil May's 'Tuneless Street Band' (1904) - A Humorous Take on Musical Ineptitude in the Early 1900s This Phil May cartoon, titled 'Tuneless Street Band,' transport us back to the early 1900s, where a group of hapless musicians attempt to create music on the streets. The scene is set in the 2nd act of Shakespeare's Richard II, with the quotation 'Sour time is sweetest' inscribed above, adding a touch of irony to the situation. The image features a ghastly assemblage of musicians, each playing their instrument with an awful lack of skill. A dog howls in response to the terrible noise, while a boy urchin in the crowd covers his ears and looks on in disbelief. The euphonium player, with a broken proportion of his instrument, seems to be the source of the greatest discord. The clarinet player, with a quizzical expression, appears to be the only one slightly amused by the situation. May's cartoon masterfully captures the spirit of fun and humor of the early 1900s. The musicians, despite their ineptitude, remain undeterred, continuing to play in the face of their own failure. The image is a poignant reminder of the importance of proportion and time in creating beautiful music, and the joy that can be found even in the most sour of situations. This charming postcard, with its caricatured style and witty commentary, is a delightful glimpse into the past and a testament to the enduring power of humor to bring joy and lightness to our lives.
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