Photo Hunters: Music
November 14, 2009 by Mrs. Mecomber
Filed under Photo Hunters
This is a terrific theme for this week, but I wish I had more energy and was feeling better to devote to it. 
Everyone in the family is a musician, and most of the kids have composed their own music… but I’m too exhausted and congested to muster the energy to snap photos of all their instruments!! So instead, I will treat you with some photos from our archives. 
Here’s an interesting musical device: it’s a polyphon. It is very old, and we saw it when we toured the FX Matt Brewery in Utica, NY. There was a fire there a few years ago; I hope the polyphon was not damaged.
The thing looks like a music box, and lo and behold, it is! Kind of… It’s from Germany, judging by the engraving on the metal disk. I think it was considered to have been the German jukebox of the 1800s. I couldn’t tell what song was engraved on the large metal disk, but I strongly suspect it was a rousing rendition of “99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall.” Ha! You can read more about polyphons here.
This is a photo from the Higginbotham home, in Oneida, NY. The Higginbothams were a prominent family in the settlement of the city. The first bank of Oneida was in their pantry room! Julia Higginbotham, an invalid daughter, was an accomplished musician, and she composed several songs that were published in the 1800s. This was her music room. The piano in the corner is still used for a Christmas celebration held here.
This is a tiny piano, constructed especially for Julia when she was bedridden. It is wide enough and tall enough to fit over her legs while she reclined in bed.
Here’s one of my favorite photos, of two of the kids fooling around, as usual, at the Erie Canal Museum in Syracuse. Can you detect their immense musical abilities?
That’s Elizabeth Cotton’s guitar. She was from Syracuse. One of my earliest memories as a kid is listening to my family play her music on guitars. My favorite was Freight Train.
Here’s the Hubs, playing tandem with Gene Autry. My Hubs had just learned to play “Ghost Riders in the Sky” before we visited the Rockwell Museum of Western Art in Corning, NY. He is an accomplished guitar player, and has written dozens of songs and compositions.
And the kids were yukking it up with Roy and Dale! Hey howdy hey!!
Did you know that Dale Evans Rogers wrote the song, Happy Trails? Here it is, from me to you! Have a great weekend, Photo Hunters!
Happy trails to you, until we meet again.
Happy trails to you, keep smilin’ until then.
Who cares about the clouds when we’re together?
Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather.
Happy trails to you, ’till we meet again.Some trails are happy ones,
Others are blue.
It’s the way you ride the trail that counts,
Here’s a happy one for you.Happy trails to you, until we meet again.
Happy trails to you, keep smilin’ until then.
Who cares about the clouds when we’re together?
Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather.Happy trails to you, ’till we meet again.
Alice Audrey on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 1:43 pm
I also hope the polyphone is all right. I saw one in a museum years ago and thought it was fascinating.
Lea on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 1:57 pm
Wonderful photos!! Ohhhh…you’ve dated me! I totally loved watching Roy & Dale back in the day. The Polyphon is amazing….beautiful carvings…stunning mechanics!
liz on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 2:14 pm
Thta polyphon is beautiful and what a gorgeous room.
jams O'Donnell on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 2:40 pm
Haha so much fun with music. I love that Polyphon. I had never heard of it before so thanks for sharing!
Daisy the Curly Cat on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 2:55 pm
The tiny bed-sized piano is so cute!
colleen on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 2:57 pm
and happy trails to you!
Great photos.
Tj on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 3:30 pm
thanks for sharing I never heard about polyphon. great photos!
Carver on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 3:54 pm
Great take on the theme. You have such an interesting sequence of shots for the theme. Happy weekend.
kaye on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 3:58 pm
you always have the most interesting things to show us. thanks for stopping by today.
Sherry @ EX Marks the Spot on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 4:38 pm
What a talented family you have and, as usual, a very interesting post. I love the polyphon!
Thanks for visiting my site today. I’ve edited by adding a few more shots.
http://blondesherry.blogspot.com/2009/11/ph-its-about-music.html
Hope you feel better soon!
ramblingwoods on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 4:39 pm
This is an interesting post. but I am so sorry to hear that you aren’t feeling well. Please take care and feel better soon.. Michelle
Jerry on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 4:42 pm
What beautiful workmanship on the polyphon!
I hope that you’re feeling better soon.
Mike on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 4:49 pm
Nice musical photos….
Have a great weekend, and thanks for your visit
Marites on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 6:22 pm
I’m never seen or heard of polyphon before. That’s quite informative. I’m quite impressed with the invalid lady and my, that little piano is awesome. thanks for visiting my blog. happy weekend!
gengen on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 6:37 pm
me too not know about polyphon…Thanks for the visit and comment…
Sparkle on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 6:41 pm
Wow, that polyphon is really something!
Thanks for the brief musical museum visit!
YTSL on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 7:37 pm
Happy trails to you (too)!
Jama on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 7:39 pm
Interesting instrument, I don’t think I’ve seen one like that around here.
Willa on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 8:31 pm
those are all wonderful photos and i do hope that you feel better now.
Bull Rhino on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 8:34 pm
Fun post with lots of interesting photos. Thanks for visiting mine also.
CY on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 8:43 pm
Hi Mrs Mecomber. Great shots of the music shots and knowledge too, as usual.
Have a great weekend. CY.
http://www.tangcyee.com
Renee on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 8:52 pm
That polyphon is so beautiful! I love the tiny piano, too. The music room is gorgeous! I hope you feel better soon.
melandriaromero on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 8:52 pm
Thanks for visiting. Hope everything goes well and get well soon.
Cat Lady Diary on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 9:08 pm
I was wondering if you were playing this week and what treasures you’d have for us…I really like that tiny piano.
Dianne on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 10:13 pm
I do like your polyphon photo! And the little piano is adorable. My hubs had a baby upright and brought it over from his parents for our son. Only problem, it would tumble over-missing a leg. Instead of fixing it, he put it in the basement where it got ruined (black mildew) and we just tossed it. Sad.
Thanks for visiting my blog.
magiceye on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 10:48 pm
wonderful post
travelingsuep on Sun, 15th Nov 2009 2:27 am
I like the first pics! The Polyphon is very interesting.
Thank you for stopping by.
lew on Sun, 15th Nov 2009 2:39 am
That is quite a music box! Mom had a small music box that played 5 inch disks.
Susanne on Sun, 15th Nov 2009 2:42 am
Now I have to say I have never seen or heard of one of those polyphon things. Interesting post!
Bengbeng on Sun, 15th Nov 2009 3:46 am
interesting to read about the polyphon and the previous post about aquarium
Irene on Sun, 15th Nov 2009 5:59 am
Great take on the theme. Thanks for dropping by.
MsRay on Sun, 15th Nov 2009 9:49 am
Thanks for the tour of that historical music room.
A. on Sun, 15th Nov 2009 9:58 am
I’ve heard of a polyphon but never actually seen one before today – so thank you for that, and the rest of your interesting post too.
EG wow on Sun, 15th Nov 2009 3:37 pm
So sorry to hear you aren’t feeling well, but I feel your enthusiasm when it comes to music.
And your family appears to love music as much as you do.
rdl on Sun, 15th Nov 2009 6:10 pm
nice take for the theme. like the eliz. cotton one.
jam on Sun, 15th Nov 2009 9:13 pm
Wow! What an interesting German old music jukebox!
kelly on Mon, 16th Nov 2009 10:53 am
Sorry to be late visiting. Most interesting post as usual!! Hope you are feeling better by now and have a great week.
p.s. thanks for visiting!
kim on Tue, 17th Nov 2009 12:28 am
The polyphone looks interesting. Wish I knew what it sounded like. Enjoyed your article too!
RJ Flamingo on Sat, 21st Nov 2009 3:48 am
Great selection for the theme! I do hope you’re feeling better – I’ll be back later to see what you’ve got for us, this week!