"Hautboist" -- regimental bandsman, c. 1870s

[OliverM]

This is my first post, so please excuse me if I'm doing something wrong!...

I'm researching a "Hautboist" called Carl/Karl August Wilhelm Deter (b. 1846; d. 1918). Deter was stationed in Cassel/Kassel while serving with the "3. Hessischen Infanterie Regiment Nr. 83" from the very late 1860s to about 1880. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I understand "Hautboist" was the general term for a regimental bandsman.

Can anyone provide general information as to the what the general makeup of the band was likely to be? Would Deter have played just one instrument or several? How would a bandsman have been recruited? Who did the band play to? Do I have any reasonable prospect of getting information (rank, instruments played) specifically on Deter?

Many thanks for any thoughts and ideas!

 

[coert65]

Oboe – Wikipedia

de.wikipedia.org

Hautboist is the French name for a Hobo, which is an instrument. I guess he was a player on that instrument in 3rd Hessischen IR 83.
For your other questions I have no idea, as I know not much about regimental bands, but other members sure will!
Good luck!

Regards, Coert.

 

[OliverM]

Thank you for your response. Like you, I had assumed that the fact Deter was identified as a Hautboist meant that he played the oboe. But in Germany the generic term for a regimental bandsman was Hautboist but by the 1870s, the word had long since shed its literal French meaning. I guess he played a wind instrument of some sort, but I have no idea what kind. Nor do I know anything about how Deter's band was utilised.

 

[Glennj]

Oliver,

by the time of the publication of the 1st edition of the "Militair-Musiker-Almanach" in 1879, it appears that Herr Deter had already left military service as he is no longer listed in IR 83. You are correct regarding "Hautboist" being a generic term for a Prussian infantry bandsman although arounnd 1884 it was "Germanized" to Hoboist. Each bandman had a principle instrument, although many had secondary instruments as well. I have attached the composition of the band of IR 83 from 1879.

Regards
Glenn

 

[OliverM]

Hi Glenn,

Although Deter's name isn't listed, these pages are absolutely marvellous, providing a real feel of the makeup of the band! Of the 40 or so bandsmen, only two are oboists, more than I'd expected. As for a pre-1879 listing that might include Deter, I don't suppose you have any suggestions of where I should look?

Many thanks,

Oliver