Klarinet Archive - Posting 001396.txt from 1999/01

From: "Frederick S. Sterns" <fssterns@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] U.S.Army Field Band CD
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1999 10:46:04 -0500

>I was waiting for someone more recently connected with the "special bands"
>to come up with this, but I'll try it based on my 27 year old memories. When
>I was in the Field Band (1969-72), I think the man designated as section
>leader was the ranking member of the section (could be the last third
>clarinet player, if he was the guy with the most stripes on his shoulders -
>usually an E8 or, in the special bands, even an E9). If there were more than
>one at the rank, I suppose time in service was considered next. Principals
>were what they are in civilian ensembles, and they were usually the best
>playing career guys in each section, although when I was there a lot of the
>actual soloing was done by first-timers sitting next to the principal.
>
>Dave (Hughes), Fred (Sterns), if you're watching the list these days, does
>this sound right?
>
>Karl Krelove

Karl...sorry to be tardy in responding to your comment...was out of town
through yesterday.

Yes, you are right on in your description of the organization! In the Army
Band, for example, the senior noncommmissioned officer is the section
leader and the first chair is usually the person determined, in a collegial
way, by the section, the section leader, and the band director as the best
qualified for that postion. And, not surprisingly, first chair assignments
are not necessarily fixed. Players can move up or down depending on
experience with the particular type of music and *even* improvement in
individual performance!:-)

So, and unusually experienced E-5 who just got out of basic training could
go into the first chair in a section where the leader is an E-9 with more
service time than the Army Chief of Staff! [Probably an exaggeration, but
it does make the point!]

Cheers...Fred Sterns

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org