Contrabass Digest
To subscribe or unsubscribe, email gdgreen@contrabass.com

 
 

1998-11-24

 
list                           Tue, 24 Nov 1998           Volume 1 : Number 34

In this issue:
 

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 11:46:16 -0800
From: Grant Green <gdgreen@contrabass.com>
To: list@contrabass.com, mbeyer@slip.net
Subject: Conn Bass Sax FS

Just found at BrookMays (http://brookmays.com/classifieds/CONNBASSSAXOPHONE.html):

"* Conn bass sax #55XXX
      * relacquered & overhauled
      * with custom built wood case
      * GREAT CONDITION
      * $3,200.00

Contact - Chris 207-725-6426, cgutsche@polar.bowdoin.edu "

Enjoy!

Grant
 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Grant Green                        gdgreen@contrabass.com
sarrusophones and other seismic devices
list@contrabass.com             http://www.contrabass.com
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 12:13:42 -0800 (Pacific Standard Time)
From: Frank D Diaz <Frank.D.Diaz@wdc.com>
To: list@contrabass.com, mbeyer@slip.net, gdgreen@contrabass.com
Subject: RE: Conn Bass Sax FS

Another relaquered bass sax. What a shame. I guess silver or gold wasn't good enough.

Frank Diaz

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 16:38:35 -0200
From: timjt@awod.com (Timothy Tikker)
To: list@contrabass.com
Subject: FW: Trombone artillery

I was just sent this... seemed of suitably contrabass-oriented interest!

- Tim Tikker

>Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 11:30:20 -0800
>To: timjt@awod.com
>From: "Connie Lysinger" <clysing@pps.k12.or.us>
>Subject: FW: Trombone artillery
>
>Hi Tim,
>
>I just got this from a friend who is a member of the Seattle Symphony.
>
>Hope y'all are well!
>
>Connie
>
>
>>From: joanfiddler@juno.com
>>To: Joetrumpet@aol.com
>>Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1998 20:55:09 -0800
>>Subject: FW: Trombone artillery
>>X-Mailer: Juno 1.49
>>
>>--------- Begin forwarded message ----------
>>
>>Sometimes truth is really stranger than fiction!      Joan
>>
>>
>>Subject: Trombone artillery
>>
>> August, 1998; Montevideo, Uruguay
>>
>>      Paolo Esperanza, bass-trombonist with the Simphonica Mayor de
>>Uruguay, in a misplaced moment of inspiration decided to make his own
>>contribution to the cannon shots fired as part of the orchestra's
>>performance of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture at an outdoor childrens'
>>concert.  In complete seriousness he placed a large, ignited
>>firecracker, which was equivalent in strength to a quarter stick of
>>dynamite, into his aluminum straight mute and then stuck the mute into
>>the bell of his quite new Yamaha in-line double-valve bass trombone.
>>
>>      Later, from his hospital bed he explained to a reporter through
>>bandages on his mouth, "I thought that the bell of my trombone would
>>shield me from the explosion and, instead, would focus the energy of the
>>blast outward and away from me, propelling the mute high above the
>>orchestra, like a rocket."   However, Paolo was not "up" on his
>>propulsion
>>physics nor qualified to use high-powered artillery and  in his haste to
>>get the horn raised before the firecracker went off,  he failed to lift
>>the
>>bell of the horn high enough so as to give the mute enough arc to clear
>>the orchestra.
>>
>>      What actually happened should serve as a lesson to us all during
>>those delirious moments of divine inspiration.  First, because he failed
>>to sufficiently elevate the bell of his horn, the blast propelled the
>>mute between rows of players in the woodwind and viola sections of the
>>orchestra, missing the players, and straight into the stomach of the
>>conductor, driving him off the podium and directly into the front row of
>>the audience.
>>
>>      Fortunately, the audience were sitting in folding chairs and thus
>>they were protected from serious injury, for the chairs collapsed under
>>them passing the energy of the impact of the flying conductor backward
>>into the row of people sitting behind them, who in turn were driven back
>>into the people in the row behind and so on, like a row of dominoes. The
>>sound of collapsing wooden chairs and grunts of people falling on their
>>behinds increased logarithmically, adding to the overall sound of brass
>>cannons and brass playing as constitutes the closing measures of the
>>Overture.
>>
>>      Meanwhile, all of this unplanned choreography not withstanding,
>>back on stage Paolo's Waterloo was still unfolding.  According to Paolo,
>>"Just as I heard the sound of the blast, time seemed to stand
>>still.  Everything moved in slow motion.  Just before I felt searing
>>pain to my mouth, I could swear I heard a voice with a Austrian accent
>>say "Fur every akshon zer iz un eekvul und opposeet reakshon!"  Well,
>>it should come as no surprise, for Paolo had set himself up for a
>>textbook demonstration of this fundamental law of physics.  Having
>>failed to plug the lead pipe of his trombone, he allowed the energy of
>>the blast to send a super heated jet of gas backwards through the mouth
>>pipe of the trombone which exited the mouthpiece burning his lips and
>>face.
>>
>>      The pyrotechnic ballet wasn't over yet.  The force of the blast
>>was so great it split the bell of his shiny Yamaha right down the
>>middle, turning it inside out while at the same time propelling Paolo
>>backward off the riser.  And for the grand finale, as Paolo fell
>>backward he lost his grip on the slide of the trombone allowing the
>>pressure of the hot gases coursing through the horn to propel the
>>trombone's slide like a double golden spear into the head of the 3rd
>>clarinetist, knocking him unconscious.
>>
>>      The moral of the story?  Beware the next time you hear someone in
>>the low brass section yell out,  "HEY, EVERYBODY, WATCH THIS!!!!"

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 13:50:46 -0800
From: Grant Green <gdgreen@contrabass.com>
To: list@contrabass.com
Subject: Re: FW: Trombone artillery

Can't vouch for that one, but I have witnessed slide demolition before.
Our high school marching band once played the opening ceremonies for the
Kansas City Royals (baseball).  The director didn't want to try any
marching patterns, as we weren't used to marching on baseball diamonds
(what do you use for references?).  Instead, we marched out in two lines,
did a 90 degree turn, and played a few pieces standing in two "company
fronts."  We exited the field via "Stanford Scramble", in which after a
signal, we all did an about-face, and ran off the field with as much chaos
and confusion as possible.

As it turned out, a trombone player in the front line failed to hold onto
his slide during the about face.  It flew 10 yards across the field, and
hit another 'bone player in the knee.  Unfortunately, he had weak knees
(actually, he has steel pins in both knees, as the result of a soccer
accident), and collapsed, rolling across the projectile in the process.  He
was helped off the field, carrying a nicely helical trombone slide.

Grant
 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Grant Green                        gdgreen@contrabass.com
sarrusophones and other seismic devices
list@contrabass.com             http://www.contrabass.com
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 17:06:07 -0800
From: mgrogg@juno.com
To: list@contrabass.com
Subject: Re: FW: Trombone artillery

The trombone story has been pretty much torn apart and debunked on the tuba list as well as the trombone list.

No such orchestra or player, as well as no muted parts in the 1812.  Good story though.

It also seems to be gaining embellishments as time goes on.  Last week there was nothing about a clarinetist being hit in the head.  The birth of yet another Urban Legand.

>As it turned out, a trombone player in the front line failed to hold
>onto his slide during the about face.  It flew 10 yards across the field,
>and hit another 'bone player in the knee.  Unfortunately, he had weak
>knees (actually, he has steel pins in both knees, as the result of a soccer
>accident), and collapsed, rolling across the projectile in the
>process.  He was helped off the field, carrying a nicely helical trombone slide.

You witnessed the birth of the Slide Helicon, an instrument only slightly more useful than the Slide Saxophone.
 

MG

___________________________________________________________________
You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html
or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 17:15:17 -0800
From: Grant Green <gdgreen@contrabass.com>
To: hb@mplp.com, list@contrabass.com
Subject: Re: bassoon looking for new owner

Close enough!  I'll post it to the contrabass list.  Replies to you at hb@mplp.com?

Grant

>Hello, Grant
>
>I'm doing a favor for a friend who is selling a
>Baroque bassoon. I have a feeling that it may be
>a bit out of your line, but maybe you know a
>good place to list it, or perhaps an interested player.
>
>Here is the info. Thanks for any help or advice.
>
>Best,
>
>Harry Bernstein
>
>-----------------------
>subject: Baroque bassoon for sale (modern copy)
>
>Hello
>There is a Baroque bassoon available for sale, a copy of a
>Stanesby (Jr.?) that was made in the U.S. by Phil Levin,
>probably around the early '80s. The instrument is pitched
>at a' = 415 and was previously owned by well-known bassoonist
>Marilyn Boenau. It plays well. The asking price is $2500 (U.S.).
>This bassoon is now available for viewing in the San Francisco area.
>
>Please send a message if you may be interested or would like
>further information. I'm posting this notice for a friend
>without web access. I'll be happy to relay your message
>or inquiry to the owner of the instrument.
>
>Best wishes,
>
>Harry Bernstein
 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Grant Green            gdgreen@contrabass.com
                    http://www.contrabass.com
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 00:52:59 -0500
From: Farfl <farfl@idirect.ca>
To: list@contrabass.com
Subject: Re: Conn Bass Sax FS

Conn also offered their basses in bare brass and brass lacquered.....wait a minute.....haven't we been through all this before?

Regards,
Steven Lederman
Conn bass saxophonist (SILVER!!!)

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 01:16:12 EST
From: PaulC135@aol.com
To: list@contrabass.com
Subject: Re:  Re: Conn Bass Sax FS

In a message dated 11/24/98 5:47:41 AM, you wrote:

<<Conn also offered their basses in bare brass and brass lacquered.....wait a
minute.....haven't we been through all this before? Regards,>>

Conn basses from the 'teens up to 1930 were not available lacquered, as that
was not a covering used by the instrument manufacturers.  It is possible that
basses purchased after 1930 were offered with factory lacquer, but there would
be very very few of them around.
Paul Cohen

------------------------------

End of list V1 #34
******************
------------------------

 
Next Digest ->
Previous Digest <-
Index
Top