Klarinet Archive - Posting 000220.txt from 1998/10

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Marching band
Date: Sun, 4 Oct 1998 18:19:15 -0400

At 12:07 PM 10/2/98 -0500, Roger Garrett wrote:
>> > At 03:56 PM 9/29/98 -0500, Roger Garrett wrote:
>> > >Musical from the standpoint that the elements are there. The one
element
>> > >that will never be in a marching show that is a major part of
>> > >self-expression is spotantanity (did I spell that correctly?).
>Bill responded
>> > And your point is...? OK, marching shows aren't spontaneous. String
>> > quartets do not have the sheer power of a marching band. Dixieland bands
>> > lack precision. Computer music lacks expression. Modern atonal
>> > compositions lack beauty. You don't have to have EVERYTHING in
EVERYTHING
>> > for it to be a valid musical expression.
>Roger responded back:
>> All of the forms you mention above have spontantanity......as with every
>> musical medium I can think of (at least the complex ones). I don't argue
>> it is not a musical expression - just that it is not one that has more
>> colors and dynamic textures than it's concert hall counterpoint(s).
>> Reread my first post - without removing the statement (and using just the
>> closing example).........
>
>Notice the words "colors" and "dynamic textures"? Case closed.
>
A quick review of the post to which I was responding is in order to clear
up some of the confusion:

At 07:51 AM 10/1/98 PDT, Jennifer McKenna wrote:
>>And for top level marching bands and drum corps, the shows they can
>produce
>>are not only musical, but they are often as moving and emotional as any
>>symphony orchestra can be, and often moreso because it's on a larger
>scale.
>>(I've never heard one orchestra that had a range of dynamics as large
>as a
>>better marching band or drum corps, and I'm talking about both ends of
>the
>>spectrum.)
>
Note the reference above to RANGE OF DYNAMICS. No mention of "depth."

>SCREECHING HALT!!!!!!!!!
>HOLD ON. I hope you realize that drum corps have NO WOODWINDS, OR
>STRINGS. The depth of a orchastra CAN NOT be compared to a marching
>band. The depth of Vivaldi can not be compared to Fleetwood mac
>transposed for marching band. I am offended.
>
Drum corps have no woodwinds and no strings. Really? And this relates to
the discussion how? The original poster did not use the word "depth"
either, or attempt to compare Vivaldi to (*gasp*) Fleetwood Mac, as funny
as it might have been if he had. He merely referred to the fact that he
has heard marching organizations capable of playing a very great dynamic
range, i.e., the difference between soft and loud. I, for one, believe
him. A couple of hundred brass players can play MUCH louder than an
orchestra, and, by reducing the number playing, can get quite soft.
Quality was not an issue, only range. But, yes, a marching performance CAN
be very moving, too, but usually not in exactly the same way as "deeper"
music. (duh!)

Note in above posting, the word "depth" is used, but is out of context,
since it does not relate to the original poster's comment on dynamic range,
and it is so stated in my response. "Colors" and "textures" don't enter
into it until later postings. So, one more time: a marching band/corps
has a potential DYNAMIC RANGE that exceeds that of a symphony orchestra
(short of 1812 with cannons). Period. That is the sole point I was trying
to make. "Depth,", "colors," "textures," etc., are side issues added in later.

Bill Hausmann bhausman@-----.com
451 Old Orchard Drive http://www.concentric.net/~bhausman
Essexville, MI 48732 http://members.wbs.net/homepages/z/o/o/zoot14.html
ICQ UIN 4862265

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is too loud.

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