Band music and concerts contributed greatly to relieve boredom and stress on board warships. The topic "Ship's music" at www.navtechlife.com includes images of German Navy bands playing both ashore and at sea. Have a look !
Dockside concert
The German High Seas Fleet was bottled up in port for long periods during the First World War and a quayside concert such as is shown in this photograph would help to break the monotony. Note the men looking out of the scuttles.
Recto: “A band plays to a small group from a light cruiser” in German.
Verso: “1919/20” in pencil
Music and dancing
A brass band of the Imperial German Navy plays to the men after lunch whilst two sailors dance together.
Verso: “Playing music after lunch in Nagasaki” in German and in pencil
Music for a visitor
The band of S.M.S. Westfalen gather round an army officer on board.
Verso: “Captain of the 14th Jäger on board” in German and in blue ink
Take it steady,The band plays when leaving port
A small band is playing music as the ship goes through the lock gate and out to sea. Family and friends are on the dockside to wave goodbye. Two officers aft have binoculars to get a last close-up view of, perhaps, a loved one.
Recto: “Leaving for Spain” in German
Verso: “SMS Elsass” in light pencil
John