Otto Schwarz

Schwarz was eight years old when his father died, but he was assisted in following in his father's footsteps by his home town's "close-knit community" and musical culture. In Hinzweiler, the music club "played a strong and central role in public life ... The village music teacher took Otto as a pupil teaching him clarinet, flute and piccolo, for which he had an obvious aptitude".[2]^{: 878–880} He was apprenticed from the age of 13 years, and travelled with a band during the winters.[3] In England he received encouragement as a travelling musician from Hinzweiler, because in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the itinerant bandsmen or Wandermusikanten from the Upper Palatinate area of Bavaria were "famous in Europe ... Shortly before the First World War there were about 2,500 bands from the former Pfalz locality travelling outside Germany". Around 1890 he became a member of his uncle Jacob Hoffmann's itinerant band, and later travelled to Liverpool and Manchester as leader of one section of that band.[2]^{: 878–880}

The Bavarian String Band at Harrogate, 1908

At twenty years old in 1897, Schwarz came back to England, performing in Whitby, Saltburn and Morecambe with his own seven-man band, the Bavarian String Band, which included his brother Gustav, four of his other relatives, and Ludwig Bollenbacher on double bass.[2]^{: 878–880}[3][4][5] He appeared in Harrogate, North Riding of Yorkshire, in 1902 as a "fresh musical phenomenon", and brought Amalia with him. Visitor numbers had increased at that time, and there were at least four council-owned bandstands available to those with official permission. He must have got permission, because the Harrogate Herald said, "I must say that the little German String Band which has so long been in residence in Harrogate plays exceedingly well a tasteful repertoire". He was also performing in hotels for rich guests, and outdoors at Bog's Field (now Valley Gardens), next to the Grand Opera house, and at Pierhead, Harrogate.[2]^{: 878–880}[6] In the 19th and early 20th century, money was collected from audiences at outside venues by bottling – walking around the audience during performances with a collecting-bottle or other receptacle.[7] Schwarz performed from 1897 to 1914 in Harrogate, returning there from Germany during most summers. He rented many different terrace houses in the town for the band, for example in Bedford Row, Belmont Avenue, Valley Road, Strawberry Dale, Duchy Avenue and Valley Mount.[2]^{: 878–880}[3]

Advert for Schwarz's Otley performance, 1908

It was normal practice for bands such as Schwarz's to be resident all summer in one town, but to take extra bookings in nearby locations.[3] On 16 August 1904. Schwarz and his band provided the music for the annual dinner of the United Billposters' Association, at the Crown Hotel, Harrogate.[8] On 23 June 1906 at the Wells House Hotel and Winter Gardens, Ilkley, Schwarz and his band were one of several playing at the hotel's 50th anniversary celebrations.[9] In 1907 the band – described as the "Blue Bavarian Band" – performed "A brief, though artistically-rendered programme" at the Queen's Hall, Otley. They were on their way to Blackpool, where Schwarz's father used to perform.[10] On 30 March 1908, the Bavarian String Band performed at the Queen's Hall, Otley: the march from Tannhäuser, a Suppé overture, a Strauss waltz, The Gondoliers, Troop March by Lutz, and a fantasia from Lohengrin.[11] Monday 28 March 1910 was a day of "glorious weather", in which bands and other entertainments played across Harrogate, to attract visitors at the spa. Those on Prospect Hill in daytime, and at the Kursaal in the evening, were "regaled by Otto Schwarz's Bavarian Band".[12] On 28 July 1904 and 3 August 1912, Schwarz and his band provided the music at the annual sports day of Clifton College, Harrogate, on Harrogate Cricket Ground, in front of a "large and fashionable assemblage of spectators".[13][14]

Schwarz was a philanthropist on a modest scale, in that he gave charity concerts for the benefit of poorer performers such as the Harrogate Glee Singers, and hospitals such as Harrogate Infirmary.[2]^{: 878–880} At Hoad Hill, Ulverston, on 2 April 1905, Schwarz and his band gave a performance for "a large crowd". The programme included items from his father Daniel's repertoire: the march from Tannhäuser, and Messiah. The other items were selections from Lohengrin, the William Tell overture, Queen of Angels cornet solo,[nb 5] the overture from Zampa, and selections from Cavalleria Rusticana, Half of the band's collection was donated to Ulverston Cottage Hospital.[15] This effort was repeated on 7 May 1905, when the Bavarian Band played another set on Hoad Hill for the same cause. "A substantial sum was realised".[16] In 1907, Schwarz donated 8s 5d, (equivalent to £4,726.87 in 2021) half his band's takings at Blackpool on 3 March, to Driffield Cottage Hospital. His band was playing as (or perhaps with) the Blackpool Band on that occasion.[17][18]

Waldernheath, where Schwarz performed in 1912

After a musician and friend of Schwarz – Wallace Henry Hartley – was drowned on the Titanic in 1912 while performing as its bandleader,[3] Schwarz gave a benefit concert with carefully-chosen pieces, including the overture or march (reports vary) from Tannhäuser (about a travelling poet or musician), on 1 May, in memory of those lost in the disaster.[2]^: 1000 It also featured baritone and tenor duets from 'Watchman, what of the Night and Excelsior,[nb 6] Old Kentucky Home, a cornet solo, and the overture from Poet and Peasant. The weather was bad, but they still had "a good audience".[19] The concert brought £4 (equivalent to £421.33 in 2021), which Schwarz "handed over to the Lord Mayor of London".[2]^: 1000[17] In July 1912, Schwarz and his band supported efforts to raise money for the Missions to Seamen at the school in the Waldernheath villa in Cornwall Road, Harrogate, by entertaining the paying visitors.[20][21]

For Schwarz, at home, there was work to be done on the farmland, but the musicians had extra work. On return to Germany for the winter, Schwarz would divide the summer's profits with the band, who had been paid basic wages during the tour. He would then prepare the band for the next season, purchasing new music sheets, practising with the band, and teaching apprentices.[3]