What do you know about Herman Conrad?

[Dave Detwiler]

Having written a couple of articles now on the early history of the Sousaphone, I am interested in writing a feature on the first Sousaphonist, Herman Conrad (1867-1920).

I have already been able to track down most of his personal and family information (ancestry.com is a beautiful thing!), as well as the basics of his career as perhaps the world's first "rock star" tuba player:

1888-1892 - Gilmore's Band (helicon, it appears)
1892-1903 - Sousa's Band (helicon, then Sousaphone)
1903-1920 - Victor Talking Machine Company (tuba, it appears)

But what do you know about him? Any great (true!) stories? Any cool pics you would be willing to share, and perhaps have published - esp from his Gilmore and Victor days? (I have a lot from his Sousa days).

Other questions:

Any insight as to why he emigrated from West Prussia to the U. S. in 1887? Was it music-related? (the ship's passenger list, where I can identify him, lists him as a "farmer"!).

Do we know for certain he was in the army before he emigrated? A few sources mention that, but I have found no evidence.

Does anyone know the whereabouts of his massive helicon that he is seen playing while with GIlmore and for his first few years with Sousa?

Did he ever teach other players who went on to become famous?

Any information, and esp photos, about his brother, Gustave, who was a musician in the Ford Motor Company Band in Highland Park, MI?

Any information, or photos, about his daughter, Henrietta, who was a very successful dramatic soprano in both Europe and America?

I'd love to hear what you know!

[roweenie]

You've probably already seen this obituary:

https://books.google.com/books?id=ZO86A ... ba&f=false" target="_blank"

It says he passed away after a prolonged illness.

There's been some question as to whether or not the tuba player in this picture is Conrad, but it is from a Victor-published book:

[pwhitaker]

I'll bet some feminists would be appalled at the "man-spread" in that photo.

[Dave Detwiler]

There's been some question as to whether or not the tuba player in this picture is Conrad, but it is from a Victor-published book:

Do you know the name of the book, and the year it was published? Thanks for sharing this photo!

[roweenie]

"What We Hear In Music", by Anne Shaw Faulkner, published by the Victor Talking Machine Co., first printing 1913.

The edition I have was published in 1921 (4th revised edition).

I'm fairly certain now that the man pictured is Herman Conrad. It appears that he didn't use his Sousaphone for recording purposes, but then again, he might be just using that tuba (Conn New Wonder Phonograph model?) for the photo?

(For some reason, the photo is clipped off on the right in my post. If you click the photo, it will bring you to my photobucket, where you can see the entire image.)

[opus37]

I have several Sousa Band Recordings from 1903 and 1904. The bass part comes through clearly. I expect Conrad was the tuba player or was part of the band. They likely used forward facing bells in order for recording equipment of the time to pick them up as clearly as comes through on these original recordings.

[bisontuba]

Any information, and esp photos, about his brother, Gustave, who was a musician in the Ford Motor Company Band in Highland Park, MI?

FORD MOTOR BAND

The Company maintains a Band of 55 pieces, which was organized in the fall of 1910. All the members of the band, including the Director, are employees of the Company. It is very interesting to note the large number of vocations represented in this organization, as by far the largest percentage of the members is employed in the shops, as machine operators, bench men, factory clerks, tool makers, pattern makers and foremen.

The Company, each year, arranges a series of concerts and provides an auditorium, so that the entire Ford organization may have the privilege and pleasure of hearing high class and light music at no cost to themselves, as all expense of maintaining the band is borne by the Company. The program for these concerts is so arranged by the Director as to please the lovers of high class, as well as those of the lighter and more popular music.

The members of this organization are from 15 different nationalities, part of whom have come from some of the most prominent musical organizations of this country and Europe.

Nice!!!

[Dave Detwiler]

Hey Curmudgeon - what is the source for that photograph and description? Thanks so much for posting it!

[butch]

Hi Mr. Detwiler

A german genealogy-site lists a Hermann Conrad, who was born on the 10.9.1866 in Piwnitz, West Prussia. This Hermann Conrad had a younger brother named Gustav Bernhard Conrad, born on the 9.4.1869. I'm not sure if these brothers are the Conrad-Brothers you are looking for.
http://www.westpreussen.de/einwohner/in ... id=I162581
http://www.westpreussen.de/einwohner/in ... id=I162582

Where did "your" Herman Conrad sail from? On which vessel? Maybe I find something on german sites.

Regards
Butch

[Dave Detwiler]

Hi Butch (and please call me Dave!),

No, I have confirmed that my Herman Conrad was born Hermann Richard Konrad on April 21, 1867 in Danzig, West Prussia, and his brother Gustave Albert Konrad was born on Dec 9, 1868, also in Danzig. They had a sister, Martha Anna Konrad, born on Oct 26, 1871, also in Danzig. The parents were Carl Eduard Konrad (known as Edward Conrad in the U. S.) and Henrietta Natschke Konrad (known as Henrietta Conrad; they ended up living in the Detroit area, but I have yet to find their emigration info).

Herman's death certificate confirms his birth date and place. He emigrated to the U. S. on the S. S. Rhein, from Bremen, arriving at either Baltimore or possibly NYC (the former appears most likely), on Oct 3, 1887. His wife's 1912 passport confirms this information. However, the ship's log for that trip lists "Herm Conrad" as 20 years old (which matches), coming from Prussia (which also matches), but identifies him as a "farmer" (which wasn't what I was hoping for!). But that seems to be him.

Because he joined Gilmore's band in 1888, within a handful of months after arriving in the U. S., he must have already been a great musician (who, apparently, also farmed!).

His brother Gustave emigrated to the U. S. a few years later, on Oct 1, 1891, aboard the Obdam from Rotterdam. He is listed as a "musician" on the passenger list, and travelled with his wife, Gustava (yes, same basic name!), who was later known as Euphenia, and their 6-year-old son, Walter.