Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 09: BIOGRAPHY
HALL FAMILY
Reunions and Music

541 WWI creech_columbus_5_541
TAGS: Hall family, music, brass bands, WWI, James Columbus Creech,
HALL FAMILY Reunions and Music
In the Eastern Kentucky HALL FAMILY, reunions and music have remained a constant. Many family members played and continue to play musical instruments or use the voice as a musical instrument. In WWI brass bands were introduced to calm the troops and many of the rank of these bands came from these cornet musicians. Appalachia produced a good share of the talented musicians.
The record of music of all kinds is a long one in most all branches of the Hall and related family. The recent donation from the Creech Family of the papers and photographs of James Columbus Creech who married into the Hall family yielded a number of photographs of Hall relatives enjoying the popular instrument of WWI years, the Cornet. It is not surprising to find within the papers of the Hall and related families a deep appreciation of the brass instruments such as the Cornet.
The following curious cornet reference is from the papers and sheet music of Grazia Combs of Viper, Kentucky who for years taught piano and also served as Principal of Dilce Combs School. The papers include a flyer for a “Hometown Saturday Night that featured a band called “Mr. Jack Daniel’s Original Silver Cornet Band.” The flyer notes that the band apparently had its origins in Lynchburg, VA around 1905. The flyer tells us
The year is 1905. It is a warm summer evening in Lynchburg, Tennessee ….a perfect night for a band concert. It is a quiet, more gentle, and emiently more peaceful period before the phonograph, the telephone, the motorcar or moving picture. Small town bands, amateur brass or “silver cornet” bands are the cultural hub around which rural America revolves.
Back at the turn of the century, Mr. Jack Daniel’s Original Silver Cornet Band played for the fun of it … and the pride of the people of Lynchburg went with them. In the same spirit, this concert is offered for your enjoyment.
PROGRAM
Overture:
Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight
The Bear Went Over the Mountain
Ta Ra Ra Boom Te A
Hail Hail The Gang’s All HereUna Voce Poco Fa Shenandoah Lasses Trombone Waiting for the Robert E. Lee INTERMISSION Aura Lee Dixie/Bonnie Blue Flag How to Build a Band How to Lead a Band In the Evening By the Moonlight U & I Rainbow Ripples
The Three Trees Londonderry Aire Stephen Foster Medley:
Camptown Races
My Old Kentcky HomeCharleston
Professor’s Choice
Let Me DemonstrateSong Medley
By the Light of the Silvery Moon
For Me and My Gal
Shine On, Harvest Moon
Wait Till the Sun Shies, Nellie
Meet Me in St. LouisPoor Butterfly
Moore County Toodle-oo
Amazing GraceMUSICIANS TECHNICAL STAFF
GALLERY of MUSIC SING-ALONG REPERTOIRE
- 001 “Program” hall_jack_daniels_silver_cornet_band_001
- 002 “Sing-Along Lyrics” hall_jack_daniels_silver_cornet_band_002
SING-ALONG
The music of the day was often pulled from popular tunes and lyrics and it is not surprising that the audience was often invited to “sing-along.” The following tunes were chosen for one of the Hall Reunions (undated) and clearly signals the range of musical interest in much of the population of the area.
GALLERY SING-ALONG REPERTOIRE FOR UN-DATED HALL REUNION (?)