Klarinet Archive - Posting 000675.txt from 1997/08

From: benevolent1@-----. Horney)
Subj: Re: marching for looks, not sound
Date: Sat, 16 Aug 1997 23:01:49 -0400

What? You aren't supposed to march French Horns? On some of our pieces,
we have our French horns in cases on the sideline, so we can switch from
flugal to the other and sound really cool. I personally love the sound
of French Horn on the field, but I'm a little biased because that is what
I play during marching season. I am personally of the school of thought
that says that woodwinds do belong inside, but make an excellent
contribution to a marching band. Just think if the trumpets had to do
repetitive runs that were written, oh lets say starting on a C above the
staff. (We have that in our music from _Far and Away_, C-G-C triplets
for eight measures at a time, it is a pretty neat effect, if a little
hard on the ears on the field.) I think that saxophones especially can
add colour to any marching arrangement, and the clarinets, flutes, and
piccolos particularly, can also help out in that department. However,
your attitude toward French Horns is astonishing. I can project, and our
section is smaller than the tubas and trombones, but is louder than both.
The French Horn is one of the untapped voices on the field, and I enjoy
playing it immensely. It does also add a unique look to our band. Every
time we saw a band with them, there would always be a sort of "Ohh,
what's that?" from the crowd. By the way, we have always marched bass
clarinets, but this year, ours opted not to march. Our band director is
very kind, ;-), and let them decide as a section if they wanted to march.
So I guess the crowd gets a "double feature" when bands with French
Horns and bass clarinets march.

Have fun!

Sarah
benevolent1@-----.com

On Sat, 16 Aug 1997 18:35:30 -0700 Bill Edinger <wde1@-----.com>
writes:
>Marching with bass clarinets makes about as much sense as marching
>with
>oboes or French horns - which is not to say that it makes no sense at
>all. Nobody can hear them, so musically they are ciphers, but at
>least
>half the effect of marching bands is appearance, and the bass clarinet
>is always a favorite with crowds because of its odd appearance. Of
>course, hardly anyone knows what it is, but that's also part of its
>appeal. When I was playing bass in our community band, I always got
>lots of attention when they taped our concerts, and it was most
>assuredly not due to any of the player's physical attributes.
>
>Of course, there are also many who feel that the bass clarinet has
>more
>to offer muscially than just an exotic appearance. I happen to be
>among
>them.
>
>Bill Edinger
>
>(Still no cracks. Am I tempting fate, or what?)
>