Klarinet Archive - Posting 001093.txt from 2002/11

From: DGross1226@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Fastest Flight of the Bumblebee I have heard
Date: Sat, 30 Nov 2002 18:05:40 -0500

In a message dated 11/30/2002 1:13:08 PM Pacific Standard Time,
LeliaLoban@-----.com writes:

<<A couple of weeks ago, Jay Easton announced on the Contrabass list that he
was playing a concert at Caltech in Pasadena on November 23, with the
Caltech/Occidental Concert Band, in which he meant to play an arrangement of
"Flight of the Bumblebee" on . . . bass saxophone--! I play bass saxophone
but am not too proud to admit that the thought of trying to play "Flight of
the Bumblebee" on it had never occurred to me, although I wish I could have
heard Jay Easton launch such a monster. Alas, his giant mutant bumblebee
took flight on the opposite side of the continent from me.>>

Lelia,

Hopefully the concert will be uploaded to the Caltech/Occidental College
Concert Band Website shortly (http://www.music.caltech.edu/band.html).

I play contrabass clarinet with the ensemble and Jay's performance of the
Flight of the Bumblebee on Bb bass sax was marvelous. Jay keeps his bass sax
is in absolutely perfect adjustment which is why most of us on the pedal
instruments tend to shy away from attempting flash trash.

But...you shoulda heard him play an arrangement of "You're a Mean One, Mr.
Grinch" on the Eb contrabass sax. That sucker stands about 6' 4" and weighs
50 pounds. He played standing up using a shoulder harness; the instrument
is almost perfectly balanced. However, as Jay told me at the dress
rehearsal, because my low C Leblanc paperclip Bb contrabass clarinet can
actually play a minor third below his lowest note, he's having an instrument
builder in Germany make a Bb contrabass sax for him. I didn't get all the
details, but it will be a narrower bore instrument featuring a looped design
so that it can be played sitting in a regular chair. Keep watching Jay's
Website for details (www.jayeaston.com).

And to make all you Eb clarinet players happy, he also played an Eb sopranino
sax. Hearing that instrument is like sticking an ice pick in your ear.

It was a fun evening.

Don Gross
La Canada, California

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