The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Old Geezer
Date: 2007-09-09 15:05
A Leroy Anderson Pops concert favorite neatly done. Judging from the posted comments many in the audience didn't quite understand what a typwriter really is.
This is understandable, probably most people under 30 have never even seen or used a mechanical typewriter! Maybe that's why it's not programed so much anymore, most of the audience won't know what the sound effects were about!
Clarinet Redux
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Author: Garret
Date: 2007-09-10 05:53
And only certain models/brands of typewriters are loud enough to pull that piece off. It's a lot of fun!
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Author: Mike Clarinet
Date: 2007-09-10 08:04
Played it our band! The violin part is on 1st clarinets and is a bit mad!
I don't know the make / model of typewriter used, but our "soloist", who is our principal percussionist, found it in his father's garage. They have a desk-top bell for the bell and use a cabassa for the carriage return. When we play it on bandstands, they use the rim of a small drum for the keys. Much merriment is had in a concert by 'tuning' the typewriter and having to 'lip up' a flat note. A great way to annoy the conductor in rehearsal (especially when you find out its his birthday) is to go shhhht - ting instead of ting - shhht at the end of the phrases.
Photo of my band playing it:
http://www.southberksmusic.org.uk/archive/index.htm
and go to the bottom of the page.
There is a programme on BBC radio 4 called "The News Quiz", based on the week's news, that uses a brass band arrangement as its signature tune.
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Author: EuGeneSee
Date: 2007-09-11 03:16
Mike:
Who publishes a concert band arrangement of "The Typewriter"? I have been trying to find it for our community band and have struck out.
Eu
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Author: Mike Clarinet
Date: 2007-09-11 08:05
Eu:
I will let you know but it may be a while before I can get back to you (due to holiday)
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2007-09-11 17:12
Eu -
I played it when I was in the West Point Band many years ago. As I recall, it was a printed arrangement, so it was published for band. They undoubtedly still have the music. You might contact their librarian.
The soloist was the company clerk, who alternated index fingers on a mechanical typewriter, set in front of a microphone.
Ken Shaw
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Author: EuGeneSee
Date: 2007-09-11 22:18
Ken:
Thanks! Now, I wonder how they did the DING! ZIP! on cue? I haven't banged on a mechanical typewriter in a zillion years, but wasn't there a key to remove all the tab stops, then by hitting the TAB key, cause the platen to go to straight the end and ring the bell? That way one could ring the bell and do the manual carriage return just where such was noted in the score.
My rememberie fails me.
In the meantime I will check with the West Point band.
Eu
P.S. Yeah, I like that ZIP! DING!, too.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2007-09-12 15:11
Eu -
The Ding was done on a desk bell, like the one used to summon the clerk at a hotel, and came on the last 16th instead of a key stroke. As I recall, one of the percussionists rang it.
The Zip was a carriage return (this was a mechanical typewriter).
Ken Shaw
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Author: davyd
Date: 2007-09-13 21:12
"Typewriter", arranged for band by Werle, is available from JW Pepper; it's around $70 US. If memory serves, there's a special part for the "soloist", but I don't recall what it actually says to do.
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Author: Mike Clarinet
Date: 2007-10-03 12:07
Hi Eu,
Apologies for the delay, but I have been on Holiday.
Typewriter arranged by Werle is (was?) published by Mills Music. I don't know where our set was originally souced from, but it would have been a UK seller and no help to you anyway.
If you haven't found it yet, good luck
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Author: EuGeneSee
Date: 2007-10-03 13:48
Mike:
Thanx fer the lead . . . I'll follow it to see where it goes & maybe I'll find the concert band chart for the typewriter.
Since I'm up here in the deepest darkest part of Ozark hillbilly heaven, I think I'll hunt up a chart for "Chicken Reel" too. That's a down-home piece that folks in these parts will surely appreciate.
We have our fall concert Sunday next and all are looking forward to it. We are playing our typical eclectic mixture, including Theme from Swan Lake; Bonaparte's Retreat; Under the Double Eagle; Cold, Cold Heart; Colonel Bogey March; The Thunderer; Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue; In the Mood; Allegheny Moon; Ode to Joy; Baby Elephant Walk; Hosts of Freedom; and about a dozen other pieces. Bill, sorry no Canadian tunes in there, but we will probably play your "Red River Valley" in our next concert, as it is pretty popular in down here in US areas that have a Red River.
Eu
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2007-10-05 04:02
Picked up a remarkable CD a couple of weeks ago -- Paris Mecanique, with Sabine Meyer, Trio di Clarone, Michael Riessler (bass clarinet) and Pierre Charial (barrel organ). Odd stuff -- some original works and some familiar works that substitute the barrel organ for piano or orchestra -- but entirely delightful. I challenge anyone to listen to it without having it put a smile on their face. One of the pieces is Anderson's "The Typewriter" performed as a barrel organ solo. What fun!
BTW, apparently there is an Anderson centennial and the Anderson family has reached an agreement with Kalmus and Masters Music Publications to make most of his music for orchestra and band available for sale again.
Best regards,
jnk
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