Klarinet Archive - Posting 000383.txt from 2001/12

From: Tom.Henson@-----.com
Subj: RE: [kl] OT - Playing With Glasses
Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2001 14:16:47 -0500

David Hattner said:

"I like to have at least three or four glasses before pops concerts myself."

This brings back fond memories of when I played in the Army band in Germany.
Since we were the top band for the US in Europe, we got all the choicest
gigs. We certainly did our share of Beer Tents.

The Army would allow us to "perform" at a Beer Tent if the money being
raised was for a charitable organization or for a good cause like the Red
Cross.

The cities hosting the Beer Tent would always feed us before the performance
and give us lots of beer tickets.

By the time the tuba player was performing the piccolo solo (note for note)
to the Stars and Stripes, it really did not matter whether you could see the
conductor anyway, glasses or no glasses.

He usually performed this much in demand solo while standing on any table
top within reach of the stage. It would invariably bring the house down and
end with a mass singing of "Ein Prosit".

On the trip home, the brass players would carry their instruments on the bus
out of their cases. This was due to their cases being full of bottles of
bubbly brew.

Ah, those were the days!!!!

Tom Henson

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