Norman Rockwell's Shuffleton's Barbershop: A Musical–Iconographical Riddle

Since appearing on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post on Apr 29, 1950, Norman Rockwell's Shuffleton's Barbershop has been recognized as one of the artist's greatest works. It is an amazing painting--but also a mysterious one, especially for the musically inclined viewers who might puzzle over the odd combination of instruments that constitutes this after-hours ensemble. Clarinet, violin, and cello trios are exceedingly rare; only a handful of compositions for such an ensemble exist--none from the standard repertoire.