Klarinet Archive - Posting 000175.txt from 1999/07

From: Jack Kissinger <kissingerjn@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: [kl] re: 4th of July Celebrations
Date: Tue, 6 Jul 1999 12:44:05 -0400

Michael Cogswell wrote:

> There is no reason, other than lack of expertise on the part of the
> cannoneer, why a civil war field piece would not fire reliably. The
> North-South Skirmish Assn. regularly shoots them in competition, and I can
> only recall one misfire in over twenty years. Personally, I'd be a bit
> nervous around someone who is fiddling with a cannon and has a misfire rate
> of over 50%.

I don't know why they didn't work better Sunday but I don't think it was a lack
of experience. In total, there were three different "old time" units there and
the guys I saw running around before the concert in their union uniforms looked
like they'd been at it for a few years. But you're right, a misfire rate that
high is alarming. BTW, however, last night the cannons worked -- oh boy did
they work! ;^)

Richard Bush wrote:

> MAYBE those canon operators choke up when given a cue or when the
> director looks at them with too much expectation.

Now, what would make me nervous would be having the cannons close enough for the
cannoneers to see the director, let alone his expression. Sunday the cannons
were in a field, in the dark, at least 200 yards from the band shell. Last
night (different park) the cannons were at least 150 yards away (and behind the
bandstand). Both nights a band member (who has done it several times before)
was with them to cue the firing. Considering how dark it was and the spacing
between the cannons, however, the cannoneers may have had trouble seeing/hearing
him Sunday. Whatever the problem was, they fixed it.

Best regards,
Jack Kissinger
St. Louis

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