update on playing with "band director" band...

[bloke]

This is what is on the concert, next week: (Williams-dominant)


- Williams: Midway March (4.5)

- Williams: Theme from Schindler’s List (4:00)

- Bernstein: Candide Suite (12:00)...no. not the overture

- Sousa: People Who Live in Glass Houses (11:00) a set of four humorous drinking-related pieces from the El Capitan operetta

                -Intermission-

- Gershwin: Second Prelude (4.5) a piano prelude, originally in C-sharp minor, transposed to C

- de Meij: Hobbits (9.5)

- Williams: The Jedi Steps and Finale (9.5) (Star Wars jazz)



It's nearly an hour's worth o' tuba playin' ...but (being "band") a good bit of "mezzo" and "piano", so...

[Billy M.]

Jealous and wish I could come up and listen. Midway is my favorite March by a long shot.

And the rest looks to be quite enjoyable.

Have fun, Bloke!

[bloke]

Jealous and wish I could come up and listen. Midway is my favorite March by a long shot.

And the rest looks to be quite enjoyable.

Have fun, Bloke!

Williams changed up the bass line in Midway when it started becoming monotonous, so it actually has to be read.

[bloke]

I begged out of this band for the fall concert. I'm playing a bunch of other no rehearsal or single rehearsal gigs for remuneration, but since I ignored (did not sign) the offered contract for an orchestra with which I've been playing for 13 years, it didn't seem to make sense to show up weekly for several weeks to involve myself in a bunch of rehearsals with yet another ensemble (whether for pay or for "the love of it"). There's just too much to do around here... I'm snowed with repair work (more than ever in my life - here towards the end of my 7th decade on the Earth), I need to continue to regain control of this epic property, and there are quite a few repairs to do to this huge log lodge, (an abode that we thought we were tough enough to manage when we bought it roughly 20 years ago).

It's not because of the repertoire, though - having seen the list - it's not quite as intriguing as last spring's. There were quite a few challenging licks in those tunes, but when that happens in the tuba parts, that always defines the upper parts as - not just challenging, but - virtuosic. Those mostly band directors did pull it together for the concert, but just barely and just in time. It seems to me as though the list for this fall ("good" stuff) isn't quite as blazing and rip-roaring.

The band director band thing... I was told that I could jump back in in the spring, so that's good.

[bloke]

I begged out of this band for the fall concert. I'm playing a bunch of other no rehearsal or single rehearsal gigs for remuneration, but since I ignored (did not sign) the offered contract for an orchestra with which I've been playing for 13 years, it didn't seem to make sense to show up weekly for several weeks to involve myself in a bunch of rehearsals with yet another ensemble (whether for pay or for "the love of it"). There's just too much to do around here... I'm snowed with repair work (more than ever in my life - here towards the end of my 7th decade on the Earth), I need to continue to regain control of this epic property, and there are quite a few repairs to do to this huge log lodge, (an abode that we thought we were tough enough to manage when we bought it roughly 20 years ago).

It's not because of the repertoire, though - having seen the list - it's not quite as intriguing as last spring's. There were quite a few challenging licks in those (last spring's concert) tunes, but when that happens in the tuba parts, that always defines the upper parts as - not just challenging, but - virtuosic. Those mostly band directors did pull it together for the concert, but just barely and just in time. It seems to me as though the list for this fall ("good" stuff) isn't quite as blazing and rip-roaring.

The band director band thing... I was told that I could jump back in in the spring, so that's good.

... Just this week in the shop - on top of everything else:
> "Those used marching baritones I saw in your shop a couple of months ago, could you slick out three of them and sell them to my school?"
> (someone I've known for 60 years) "Do you have a double horn that you could sell me for under $XXXX so that my wife can play again?
etc., etc., etc...

... and just two or three of the really nice instruments that we actually own that I would like to have put in really nice shape and offered for sale this winter... Those are looking more and more doubtful.

[bort2.0]

* that's a lot of John Williams
* I love it when non-standard and unexpected Sousa pieces get called. So much excellent music that doesn't get played often
* de Meij/Hobbits... I think I'm still recovering from how overplayed it was during the early 2000s. For a while, it was like every band needed to take a turn with it. I must've played it 4 times in 2 years at one point. Fun the first time**, but half as fun each time moving forward.

**The first time I played it was in college, and it was the full Lord of the Rings symphony (or suite, or whatever). All the movements, with all the weird stuff, with narration. And full instrumentation including contrabassoon, and all the various clarinets, flugelhorn, etc... A very solid ensemble

[bloke]

I had never played it, because I pretty much quit playing in wind bands around the end of the 1970s.
At least the John Williams things we're full-blown transcriptions, and not arrangements reconfigured for school children...

...but I never really heard much of that "Jedi" music, because I've never watched any of the Star Wars movies...and when I've played John Williams orchestra pops concerts, that stuff has never been programmed, because they tend to cover a broad spectrum of this stuff, and not just Star Wars.

[bort2.0]

About 20 years ago now, I was recruited to play in a band director's band in Baltimore. It was awesome!

They picked great music, everyone was a SOLID player, and the conductor was great to work with too. I think he was ex military, and at the time he was in charge of the music dept for the entire county (well over 150 schools).

This was where I first met Kevin Ladd, who had recently moved from Syracuse to Baltimore after the Syracuse Symphony had folded. He was a band teacher at a HS. I had no idea who he was until I started chatting with him, at one of the breaks. He complimented me on my playing, but I was like thanks but yeah right, because he was obviously a professional and sounded incredible and played with such ease. Super nice guy. This was a long time ago, so I hope he's still doing well.

One of the other people I remember from the band was retired, but had also been an orchestra pro... I forget where though. He was a French Horn player -- still to this day, he was the best horn player I've ever played with in a group.

I also knew some of the people from college. Because I knew a lot of music ed majors at my school and a few other schools in the area. And when you get a music ed degree you... Well, become a band director.

I'll have to dig out the recordings, it was a really excellent band.

[bort2.0]

I never played it, because I pretty much quit playing in wind bands around the end of the 1970s.

I think the de Meij was from the late 80s. But when the Lord of the Rings movies came out, then the music got popular. Even though people were like "hey, this song wasn't in the movie."

Eric Whitacre's "October" was another piece like this. Played it in college with an excellent group, I think it was new then...? And since then, it gets called up a lot, and always falls short. It's one of those pieces that isn't very technical, so it is pretty easily playable... But musically, it's a lot more challenging than it seems.

[The Brute Squad]

I played both Gandalf and the Paul Lavender "Excerpts from" arrangement when it was being overplayed (maybe a couple times on Gandalf even).

About a decade ago, I did get the opportunity to play the entire symphony. My employer also used a recording as filler music at an event once (without actually listening to it, I'm sure). Seeing people's responses to Gollum made my week.

[bort2.0]

Side note: my favorite Hobbit-based song is still this one:

[arpthark]

Ballard?

The Ballard of Bilbor Bargins…

[bort2.0]

Ballard?

The Ballard of Bilbor Bargins…

LOL, yeah close enough, right?

[bloke]

I was a bit concerned regarding this upcoming concert and set of rehearsals (all on an oddball night of the week,to avoid most conflicts), because - this time - one of the other tuba players has returned, and (as I've related) I'm not all that comfortable playing in a "section" of tuba players.
(I'm ok with one other, but three or more becomes sonically confusing [to me]).

...so (an hour ago) I was asked if I'd be willing to play euphonium (as there's only one other euphonium player).
Heck yeah...Here's an opportunity to get my euphonium playing back up to a higher level, as well as to play my compensating instrument (instead of the 321, which I pull out for projection and high playing).

This ought to be interesting...I'll STRIVE to (also) make it GOOD, and not just interesting.

Decades ago, I spent much more time playing the euphonium...
I recall (a long time ago) reading a twisty-turny David Holsinger piece and keeping up with it.
I doubt that my reading-at-sight (though I can read most things and play the euphonium) skills are where they once were.

[BopEuph]

What model euph would you play?

Out of curiosity, do you ever get the opportunity to play your rotary tenor tuba?

[bloke]

What model euph would you play?

Out of curiosity, do you ever get the opportunity to play your rotary tenor tuba?

The kaiser bariton was sold a few years ago. Before selling it, I finally realized that it played BEST with SMALL mouthpieces (staying in the 6-1/2AL to 5G range max.)

My compensating euphonium is very large. It's a stencil brand Meinl-Weston (sorta rare) and is extremely large (referring to the bore of the bell and bottom bow). The bell is so VERY large, that (with UN-TRIMMED corks) the Wick metal euphonium mute NEARLY bottoms out. These instruments (made in the B&S factory) were dismissed years ago as "playing out of tune", but - truth be told - I discovered these things:
- the #3 compensating slide (on the back) was comically short (only affects double-low F-sharp, F and E, but still...and I lengthened it)
- unlike most euphoniums, the (front-side/regular) valve slides all require a SIGNIFICANT pull for pitch. Likely (decades ago), when people tried these out, they didn't understand that and ALL of the tuning was (quite understandably) wonky during their testing.

All I have to do (for decent tuning, and with all of the slides optimized for best compromises) is to play two of the G's with third valve.
HOWEVER, being so freakin' huge, I have to PRACTICE to easily play it in the high range (which is why I use my 321 for that sort of playing).
ALTHOUGH (also from being so freakin' huge), it does REMARKABLY well with a (regular trombone-length mouthpiece) a Doug Elliott contrabass trombone mouthpiece (only for covering bass trombone parts or - obviously not a commercially viable use - playing "1st tuba" parts in tuba quartet music).

It's THIS (except a store brand is engraved on the bell, it's lacquered, and the bell is gold brass).

I don't particularly like the Mead line of euphonium mouthpieces, but one of those (the 2...?? I can't remember...) actually works pretty well with this particular instrument. Previously, I owned a Willson 2900 (whereby I had to tune the "tuning notes" - top-of-staff A and B-flat - FLAT, in order for most everything else to play close to in-tune).

Being a "bottom feeder", I didn't pay any sort of "real" money for any of my euphoniums.

What I'm playing (other than the name engraved on the bell)
https://poppasmusic.com/products/meinl-weston-bb-euphonium-phoenix-model-nickel-silver-751-s

[BopEuph]

The kaiser bariton was sold a few years ago. Before selling it, I finally realized that it played BEST with SMALL mouthpieces (staying in the 6-1/2AL to 5G range max.)

That does sound like a very fun instrument. Probably great for oberkrainer music. It's also why I'm looking for that YBB-103 (got a great lead I'm looking at soon), because it's required to be a tuba on that gig, but the leader loves the more "baritone" sounding instruments.

It's a stencil brand Meinl-Weston (sorta rare) and is extremely large (referring to the bore of the bell and bottom bow). The bell is so VERY large, that (with UN-TRIMMED corks) the Wick metal euphonium mute NEARLY bottoms out. These instruments (made in the B&S factory) were dismissed years ago as "playing out of tune", but - truth be told - I discovered these things:
- the #3 compensating slide (on the back) was comically short (only affects double-low F-sharp, F and E, but still...and I lengthened it)
- unlike most euphoniums, the (front-side/regular) valve slides all require a SIGNIFICANT pull for pitch. Likely (decades ago), when people tried these out, they didn't understand that and ALL of the tuning was (quite understandably) wonky during their testing.

I'd love to see it at some point. The link you sent seems to have the same specs as a 2900.

I don't particularly like the Mead line of euphonium mouthpieces, but one of those (the 2...?? I can't remember...) actually works pretty well with this particular instrument. Previously, I owned a Willson 2900 (whereby I had to tune the "tuning notes" - top-of-staff A and B-flat - FLAT, in order for most everything else to play close to in-tune).

Interesting, as I kinda like the Mead line for the help to make the horn a bit punchier. I don't know if the Brian Bowman BB1 is still around, but you might like that, too.

Being a "bottom feeder", I didn't pay any sort of "real" money for any of my euphoniums.

Honestly, I think unless you're at the very top (Steve Mead level or so), there's really no need for such an instrument price. I made MAYBE $500 in the 10 years I had my Willson. My 12J, which cost a few hundred, my Kay bass, which cost me $700, and a few >$500 electric basses are what puts a roof over my head. Other than that, I decided it's a fool's errand to go for most orchestral gigs, when the vast majority of them pay less than a club date and they keep disappearing. And a euphonium job outside the military (which I went to auditions for and never advanced)? Fuggetaboutit.

[bloke]

I'm playing a bass gig tonight.
Thankfully, it's just one set, but it doesn't start until 8:00, and it's an hour and a half drive home.

I think I'm going to take vintage Peavey 115 BW, since we're on stage and the only thing going on. The little Polytone sounds fine, but this one has more depth at the same volume level.

[Heavy_Metal]

We played the entire deMeij LOTR symphony eleven years ago in MASCB: