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Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2000 17:28:35 -0700
From: Grant Green <gdgreen@contrabass.com>
Subject: Archive Update
Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.comI've been rebuilding and uploading the archives, a bit at a time,
working backwards from the present. So far, the archives are current
to today, extending back in time to 2/1/99. This included
constructing a few digests that were never distributed when the list
crashed around the beginning of February - anyone who still has
burning curiosity as to what transpired then can now look it up at
http://www.contrabass.com/contra-archive/1999-02-01.html et seq.Its been interesting reviewing all these old digests, the themes that
come and go and come again. Say Lelia, what ever happened to your
novel with the mad organist and the erotic contrabass saxophone
engraving?Grant
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Grant Green gdgreen@contrabass.com
http://www.contrabass.com
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
---------------------------------------------------------From: BassSaxer@aol.com
Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2000 21:06:18 EST
Subject: Change my contrabass list
Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.comHI Grant. I love the contrabass mailing list.
Please change my subscription for: Forsuccess@erols.com
I would like to unsubscribe to it under that address for the current time.
Thanks Johnathan Steen
---------------------------------------------------------From: "Bret Newton" <jbnbsn99@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2000 21:08:58 CST
Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.comYou guys are never going to believe what I found. On the site that I
pointed out the other day- http://perso.clubinternet.fr/cjsax/ -I went to
the auctions page and found a sarrusophone. The only thing is that it is
not a contrabass but a TENOR!! The price was 18,000Fr. If my memory serves
me correcet that corresponds (if the exchange rate is still the same) to
between 3-5 thousand dollars. i know nothing about the horn but thought you
all would appreciate the info.
Thanks,
Bret Newton
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com---------------------------------------------------------
From: Heliconman@aol.com
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2000 02:13:45 EST
Subject: Re: The name game
Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.comIn a message dated 01/20/2000 9:46:46 AM Eastern Standard Time,
LeliaLoban@aol.com writes:
<< Has anybody been keeping track of the various weird identifications that
dealers on eBay and elsewhere give to contrabass instruments? A member of
this list recently told me about buying a soprano sax that an eBay dealer
advertised, in the "Brass" section, as "French horn clarinet," but it seems
to me that the bass winds get mis-identified even more often than other types
of instruments. Might prove amusing to collect the dealers' guesses.
Lelia
You can imagine the confusion when people see a "frumpet" advertised!
"Must be a typo!" Then there was the trumpet that had its lead pipe bent 30
degrees and its trumpet bell replaced by a bass clarinet bell. Sometimes the
best deals are on the badly identified items that people miss because they
only do a word search for what they want to buy.
---------------------------------------------------------Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2000 06:34:55 -0800 (PST)
From: LynnEttte Mueller <bluwinterfox@yahoo.com>
Subject: Introduction
Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.comI'm new to this list. I have a Leblanc E-flat contra-alto clarinet (name
of grandpa), which is why I decided to join. I also have a Bundy B-flat
soprano clarinet (name of junior), a Malerne Oboe (still nameless), and
I'll be getting either an E-flat alto or soprano clarinet (my friend isn't
sure which one it is).A question I've had for sometime: Why do band directors, basically anyone
who know musical instruments, get buggy eyed when they learn I own the
contra-alto? I agree that it is a beautiful silver horn and has a
wonderful tone (although I am partial to the oboe right now since I've
wanted one for years) but why do they drool when they learn I own grandpa?I have other questions but this one has been utmost on my mind.
=====
LynnEtte Muellermusic allow the heart to sing
and the soul to fly
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger.
http://im.yahoo.com
---------------------------------------------------------From: "Leanne Enck" <kontragirl@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Introduction
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2000 10:00:50 MST
Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.comHello! It's nice to know I'm not the only one naming her instruments! I
also play contralto. It's name is Lawny Sr. because it sounds like a
lawnmower in the low range. My friend that plays alto clarinet named his
Lawny Jr. The bass is Big Benny and the soprano is Little Benny after my
all time favorite clarinet player, Benny Goodman.I think I know why they drool when they hear about our big horns. Chances
are if you own one, you are really good. Lawny is not my horn, I'm just
renting it. I went to tryouts for a band at camp this summer and I came in
there and played some stuff. I thought nothing of it, but I had to tell
them I was done because they were sitting there, staring in amazment!Infact we just got a new band director. He came here and he was surprised
to learn the band had a contralto. So, it's probably a mix of you actually
playing it and owning one yourself. I know I had to wipe my mouth when you
said you own your own contra.Leanne, the contralto clarinetist.
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com---------------------------------------------------------
From: Kadamasuta@aol.com
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2000 13:35:26 EST
Subject: Re: Introduction
Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.comIn a message dated 1/21/00 9:44:37 AM, bluwinterfox@yahoo.com writes:
>I'm new to this list. I have a Leblanc E-flat contra-alto clarinet (name
>of grandpa), which is why I decided to join. I also have a Bundy B-flat
>soprano clarinet (name of junior), a Malerne Oboe (still nameless), and
>I'll be getting either an E-flat alto or soprano clarinet (my friend isn't
>sure which one it is).
>
>A question I've had for sometime: Why do band directors, basically anyone
>who know musical instruments, get buggy eyed when they learn I own the
>contra-alto? I agree that it is a beautiful silver horn and has a
>wonderful tone (although I am partial to the oboe right now since I've
>wanted one for years) but why do they drool when they learn I own grandpa?That's what I used to call my Uncle's clarinet when I was four years old...
"Grampa" but it was "mickey mouse" his little Eb which played the cartoons
and got me into trouble.
Being spanked with a wooden spoon by "Aunie Em" for sneaking into the music
room made me want to be a drummer. So I still cannot make up my mind what I
want to play except for having the "bigger wooden spoon" has always seemed
the safest way to go :)K
---------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2000 13:55:39 -0700
From: Grant Green <gdgreen@contrabass.com>
Subject: Contrabass recorder
Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.comToday's curiosity: a contrabass recorder at
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&tc=ps&item=242240074. Opening bid $800...Grant
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Grant Green gdgreen@contrabass.com
http://www.contrabass.com
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
---------------------------------------------------------From: Mackbrat1@aol.com
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2000 17:30:20 EST
Subject: Re: Introduction
Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.comi wish i owned my own contra bass clarinet...or contra alto...or even a
bass....but for right now i just get to play on the crummy school ones...~Liza
---------------------------------------------------------From: "Merlin Williams" <merlinw@netcom.ca>
Subject: Re: Contrabass recorder
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2000 17:44:14 -0500
Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.comI went to have a look - I'm pretty sure it's a Great Bass (down to C), not a
Contrabass (down to F a fifth lower.)Merlin Williams
http://www.netcom.ca/~merlinw
A member of the SaxRing,
the Duke Ellington Ring,
and the Single Reed Ring.
-----Original Message--------------------------------------------------------------
From: Grant Green <gdgreen@contrabass.com>
To: contrabass@mail.contrabass.com <contrabass@mail.contrabass.com>
Date: January 21, 2000 5:27 PM
Subject: Contrabass recorder>Today's curiosity: a contrabass recorder at
>http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&tc=ps&item=242240074
>. Opening bid $800...
>
>GrantDate: Fri, 21 Jan 2000 14:47:52 -0700
From: Grant Green <gdgreen@contrabass.com>
Subject: Re: Induction of bug-eye syndrome...
Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.com>A question I've had for sometime: Why do band directors, basically anyone
>who know musical instruments, get buggy eyed when they learn I own the
>contra-alto? I agree that it is a beautiful silver horn and has a
>wonderful tone (although I am partial to the oboe right now since I've
>wanted one for years) but why do they drool when they learn I own grandpa?I think that filling the low woodwind section is a perennial problem
for band directors. Nearly all woodwind players are started on
soprano instruments (alto sax being the exception, along with those
few people who actually start on bassoon). A fair number of brass
players start on tuba or trombone, and a sufficient number of trumpet
players can usually be induced to play euphonium, so the low brass
section is typically well-represented. However, it seems to be often
a problem finding people to play bass clarinet, bari sax, bassoon,
contrabassoon, and the contra clarinets. Students rarely have these
horns themselves, so we have this syndrome:
(a) the students must rely on using school-owned instruments;
(i) these instruments may not be well-maintained;
(ii) these instruments may, in fact, be barely functional;
(iii) the students may have little experience on the instruments;leading to:
(b) difficulties with the instrument that can be frustrating to the
student, in addition to a perception that the lower parts are dull or
unchallenging;
(i) so many students will not be interested in the lower instruments;
(ii) so the director may have to cajole, convince, or require
some students to play them, and is likely to pick students who are
not the 1st chair players;
(iii) so the students who *are* picked may not be particularly
happy about it, and be even *less* inclined to practice the horn;
(iv) and, without exception, the bass and contra sizes are
heavier and harder to carry than the soprano size of whatever that
the student is used to, so that the student is even less likely to
take the horn home for practice, and thus practices almost never;which leads to:
(c) the student doesn't like the horn, and feels obscurely
punished for having to play it, and is unprepared when a truly nice
part comes along;
(i) causing the student's further loss of status;
(ii) reinforcing in other students' minds the stigma of being
forced to play that burdensome pile of antique plastic;
(iii) which encourages the student to further abuse the horn;which leads to:
(d) the horn goes to the repair shop for 9 months or until the band
director forgets about it, or gets stuffed back into the instrument
locker until the director has forgotten the debacle, the student has
graduated, and he runs across another piece to perform that really
just *needs* a bassoon, or a contra clarinet... and starts over.SO, when you show up *owning* a contralto, the director immediately concludes:
1. here is an instrument in good repair, probably even capable of
euphonius sounds;
2. here is someone who will willingly *play* the horn;
3. in fact, here is someone who actually *enjoys* the horn, and
loves music enough to invest in it to that degree;
4. in short, here is a true *gem* of a student, of the sort that
reminds the director of why he or she went into music ed in the first
place. When you walk into band the first day, and start assembling a
contra clarinet, you make the director's *week*, and he/she thinks to
him/herself "Ahhh, maybe this will be a good year *after all.*"I may have exaggerated a bit.
I think the next time I update the List homepage, I'll mention
something about the dangers of open-ended questions posed on
Fridays... ;-)Grant
BTW, the above applies only to band directors. With essentially
everybody else, the reaction is because they don't have a *clue* what
you're talking about. GDG+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Grant Green gdgreen@contrabass.com
http://www.contrabass.com
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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