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 Are Cues Out Of Fashion?
Author: Jacy 
Date:   2002-08-14 21:26

I was thinking about some of the band music I've played these past two years and came up with a rather puzzling deduction: older compositions/arrangements (like Emperata Overture, for example) seem to have a lot of cues written in, whereas newer music is often devoid of them (or eefer/alto parts). Composers are still writing for (relatively) uncommon instruments, but without the cues, we're completely missing those parts. It seems awfully backwards; if school bands used to have more complete instrumentation, why would cues be more necessary then than now?

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 RE: Are Cues Out Of Fashion?
Author: David Pegel 
Date:   2002-08-14 22:12

I guess that many parts are doubled on other instruments, or that the lines weren't that important anyway. (Or awkward for other instruments?) But it's weird, all right. It seems that composers expect every band to have an English Horn.

Maybe the publishers just want to save money on ink.

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 RE: Are Cues Out Of Fashion?
Author: diz 
Date:   2002-08-14 23:15

I would have thought that a Cor Anglais was a pretty normal part of a military band/concert band. According to Groves' Dictionary of Music and Musicans, all European/American bands (professional) from around 1880 onwards had at least one in their ranks (unfortunately Australian or New Zealand statistics are not included in Groves - god knows why).

It would be interesting to find out the personnel of professional bands. Anyone wishing to persue a career in music and hasn't thought of the professional military/concert band might want to look at these options. It has been discussed here before and the big fact is that you're an officer (if your in an armed services band) and are required to do the basic training (shudder).

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 RE: Are Cues Out Of Fashion?
Author: JMcAulay 
Date:   2002-08-15 04:09

diz, curiously enough, I've been told that members of the US Marine Band are not required to undergo "Boot Camp" as every other Marine must. Perhaps that is because the US Marine band is "The President's Own" and is never expected to do battle (except perhaps musically).

Also, unless things have changed enormously very recently, the only officer in most US Army bands is likely to be the director, who is not uncommonly a Warrant Officer.

Regards,
John

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 RE: Are Cues Out Of Fashion?
Author: diz 
Date:   2002-08-15 04:12

Their a fine band, too - I've heard 'em - though, not live.

Reminds me, thanks John, must order some Band Music CDs for GBK for Christmas - I know he just LOVES band music.

*ducks for cover*

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 RE: Are Cues Out Of Fashion?
Author: Jim E. 
Date:   2002-08-15 04:24

I would suspect that cues may be included/ excluded to determine the page layout and to (hopefully) put any page turns on rests.

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 RE: Are Cues Out Of Fashion?
Author: GBK 
Date:   2002-08-15 05:11

diz said: "..., must order some Band Music CDs for GBK for Christmas - I know he just LOVES band music..."

Diz - You really don't have to. Really, really you shouldn't. Please (I'm begging you) don't...

However, you are getting an official Buffet swab from me...GBK

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 RE: Are Cues Out Of Fashion?
Author: diz 
Date:   2002-08-15 05:49

:-|

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 RE: Are Cues Out Of Fashion?
Author: Ken Shaw 
Date:   2002-08-15 14:44

I certainly went through army basic training before I went to the West Point Band. Marine training is of course famously tough, so maybe Marine Band players get to skip it, but I'm pretty sure the other services require it, even for special band members.

On the absence of cues, I think it's the expense. If you put, say, all the exposed parts for English horn into the clarinet parts, you have to transpose them and often add them on a separate staff. Concert band pieces have a small market, so the up-front expense is difficult to absorb. Music publishing didn't become computerized until 10 or 15 years ago, and until then, preparing the parts was a major part of the initial cost.

Best regards.

Ken Shaw

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 RE: Are Cues Out Of Fashion?
Author: BeckyC 
Date:   2002-08-15 15:22

Speaking of CUES.......

When playing in a small orchestra consisting of only two clarinets, should both clarinets play the OBOE cues or just one.

MY opinion is that only one should play it.
Of course, when the OBOE is there which is not often, HE would play it alone, and beautifully I might add.

I have much more to say about splitting the parts up with the second clarinet.........but it would sound too much like whining. It's unbelievable how much it is still like HIGH SCHOOL with this other clarinet player. SO I'll hush about that.

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 RE: Are Cues Out Of Fashion?
Author: Don Berger 
Date:   2002-08-15 18:22

Re: Cues and Eng Horn. In our Comm Band etc music, Bass Cl parts, I find frequent cued-in passages for Bassoon [1 and 2] and Bari Sax. If these are "covered" [and played adequately] I pass them by, unless instructed by the conductor [happens quite often!]. Some cues I've seen [Bdy musicals etc] appear to have only the purpose of alerting to come in, saves counting measures!! Re: Eng Horn, any pro-semi pro oboist should have one available [I did], our Comm Band oboist has one, needed maybe 10% of the time. Have never seen one in marching-military bands! Don

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 RE: Are Cues Out Of Fashion?
Author: ron b 
Date:   2002-08-15 18:22

(shhh... we won't tell, Becky :) On the other matter, I agree with you; in a small orchestra and in the absence of the oboeist one clarinet should play the [one] oboe part. At least that's the way it's been in my meager experience. Why would someone question that?
I guess if you only had one clarinetist it might be a problem :

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 RE: Are Cues Out Of Fashion?
Author: Pete 
Date:   2002-08-18 02:19

What in the world is a Cue?

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 RE: Are Cues Out Of Fashion?
Author: msroboto 
Date:   2002-08-18 02:38

Pete -
A cue is when notes are inserted into your part that should be played by another instrument.

It is common in clarinet parts to see oboe cues but other cues might be present. If the instrument is available and the part is covered the cues are often ignored. This is unless directed by the conductor to play them.

HTH

MsRoboto

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 RE: Are Cues Out Of Fashion?
Author: David Dow 
Date:   2002-08-19 14:17

iN A GOOD DEAL OF THE ORCHESTRAL MUSIC I PLAY CUES NOTES ARE QUITE COMMON.

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 RE: Are Cues Out Of Fashion?
Author: Meredith 
Date:   2002-08-20 02:24

Cues parts are good to save counting bars of rest but unless otherwise instructed I always ignore them assuming they were written for another instrument for a reason.

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