Kazoo Bands...
Wiblur the Once
the interwebnet.
Here, for your listening pleasure, I present:
The Ophir Prison Marching Kazoo Band and Temperance Society, LMTD
http://www.ophirprison.com/
(they are a little overmixed on the horns and the Kazoos don't stand out
as well as I would like, but hey, Rocky and Bullwinkle Strike Again and
The Beer Barrel Polka.)
The All Girls Kazoo Band
http://www.kazoogirls.com/
(Tequila! With Solos!)
Anyone know of any other Kazoo bands that are worth checking out?
--
"Mogu is a tiny golem wife ... and your best friend ...
and your worst nightmare."
- Joe Bay
The Wiblovian Institute of Kibology - http://www.aros.net/~jchapman
Rich Holmes
> Anyone know of any other Kazoo bands that are worth checking out?
They're not online, and they made only sporadic use of solo kazoo with
other instruments and voices, but The Cranberry Lake Jug Band's
rendition of "When Erastus Plays His Old Kazoo" from their second
album "Lowdown Symphony" is decidedly worth a listen. There's some
kazoo also on their first album, "Old Time and Jug Band Music"; little
or none on their last recording, "If This Ain't Genius", because the
kazoo player had left the group by then (though the latter is still
worth seeking out if only for the only old-timey song about special
relativity and quantum mechanics you're ever likely to hear). All
three are out of print of course, not that they ever were in print by
much.
--
- Doctroid Doctroid Holmes <http://www.richholmes.net/doctroid/>
"IE should let web pages use your credit card to buy five tons of gravel!"
"IE should let web pages give you a wedgie and paint Smurfs on your face!"
- Dag and Manfire
Wiblur the Once
about...
>> Anyone know of any other Kazoo bands that are worth checking out?
>
> They're not online, and they made only sporadic use of solo kazoo with
> other instruments and voices, but The Cranberry Lake Jug Band's
> rendition of "When Erastus Plays His Old Kazoo" from their second
> album "Lowdown Symphony" is decidedly worth a listen.
This afternoon, I was watching VH1 Classic and they had the Sex Pistols
from their reunion tour doing Pretty Vacant. And it occured to me that
it would be a fine song to set to the kazoo, if you could pull off a
punk-kazoo style. Then I got to thinking that it would be funny to give
it the whole jug band treatment, with a good pianist playing a toy piano
(quality playing, but rinky-dink sound), a tuba for the base line, and a
harmonica to play harmonies with the kazoo. For the vocals, I'm not sure
which would be better, a straight Rohnny Rotten, snarly, surly rendition,
or a hard edged, but lounge-singer-like vocal track. Then I thought a
bodhran would be good for the drum track (and there happens to be a good
one in the Irish band I'm in).
I'm going down to the Toys R Us tomorrow to look for a kazoo and see what
other instruments might be fun for this project and start the ball
rolling. Anyone play an interesting instrument and some sort of
recording program that would like to get involved? (I would especially be
interested in finding a tuba player, since I don't know anyone that plays
one.)
Jacob W. Haller
> This afternoon, I was watching VH1 Classic and they had the Sex Pistols
> from their reunion tour doing Pretty Vacant. And it occured to me that
> it would be a fine song to set to the kazoo, if you could pull off a
> punk-kazoo style. [etc]
>
> I'm going down to the Toys R Us tomorrow to look for a kazoo and see what
> other instruments might be fun for this project and start the ball
> rolling. Anyone play an interesting instrument and some sort of
> recording program that would like to get involved?
I have a washboard if that's any use.
Also, a semi-broken banjo, a kazoo, a pennywhistle, a bell, a
tambourine, and a couple of drumsticks.
-jwgh
--
'The strip is beautiful, btw. I laughed, I cried, I showed it to a
friend, the friend said "I don't get it," I laughed.'
-- Reid Orsten, 27 August 2003
Rich Holmes
> Anyone play an interesting instrument and some sort of
> recording program that would like to get involved? (I would especially be
> interested in finding a tuba player, since I don't know anyone that plays
> one.)
I don't know anyone who plays tuba players either.
Kingbarry2000
news:Xns942BD45117994...@216.196.97.136...
Yes, and when selecting yer Kazoo, be sure and get one of those new electric
ones.
Disregard the label where is says - ungrounded - this is just a disclaimer
so that those
disgusting gangsta' bands don't get one.
--
Conlige suspectos semper habitos
Joseph Michael Bay
>Wiblur the Once <wib...@comcast.net> writes:
>> Anyone play an interesting instrument and some sort of
>> recording program that would like to get involved? (I would especially be
>> interested in finding a tuba player, since I don't know anyone that plays
>> one.)
>I don't know anyone who plays tuba players either.
I tried to, long ago. Actually a Sousaphone player, but close enough.
--
Chimes peal joy. Bah. Joseph Michael Bay
Icy colon barge Cancer Biology
Frosty divine Saturn Stanford University
www.stanford.edu/~jmbay/ fhqwhgadshgnsdhjsdbkhsdabkfabkveybvf
Glenn Knickerbocker
> I don't know anyone who plays tuba players either.
We used to, but nobody will anymore because they always cheat.
ŹR
swt
news:u43cd0j...@mep1.phy.syr.edu...
> Wiblur the Once <wib...@comcast.net> writes:
>
> > Anyone play an interesting instrument and some sort of
> > recording program that would like to get involved? (I would especially
be
> > interested in finding a tuba player, since I don't know anyone that
plays
> > one.)
>
> I don't know anyone who plays tuba players either.
Submitted for interrobanging:
A potential oom-pah drinking song "I'm not a tuba player, but I play one on
TV", singable in something vaguely resembling iambic heptameter:
I'm not a tuba player, but I play one on TV
I don't act like an actor, but I'm in the SAG
I've never starred in Hamelet, but I am a little ham
I'm not Popeye or the son of God, but I am what I am.
I was never lying when I said I would be true
And I won't pretend that I am not in love with you
I stand before you naked (metaphorically, of course)
There's no sticker on my Geo saying that my other car's a Porsche
I'm not a chimney cleaner, though I've come down with the flu
I'm not a latin lover, but ego amare you
I was never lying when I said I would be true
And I won't pretend that I am not in love with you
[ insert another verse or two here ]
--
.:*~*:. .:*~*:. .:*~*:. .:*~*:. .:*~*:.
`*._.:*' :// `*._.:*' ers. `*._.:*' net/ `*._.:*'
.:*~*:. http .:*~*:. memb .:*~*:. cox. .:*~*:. swt2/ .:*~*:.
`*._.:*' `*._.:*' `*._.:*' `*._.:*'
The Avocado Avenger
> Wiblur the Once <wib...@comcast.net> writes:
>
> > Anyone play an interesting instrument and some sort of
> > recording program that would like to get involved? (I would especially be
> > interested in finding a tuba player, since I don't know anyone that plays
> > one.)
>
> I don't know anyone who plays tuba players either.
OK, I know Wiblur spends most of his time ignoring me, but he may want
to know this:
I can play the tuba.
God, I wish I was joking.
I can (or could, but I can't imagine I've forgotten how) play
trombone, baritone, and tuba. I'm the heavy metal section of
Interrobang Cartel, didn't you know?
Stacia
The Avocado Avenger
> Anyone play an interesting instrument and some sort of
> recording program that would like to get involved? (I would especially be
> interested in finding a tuba player, since I don't know anyone that plays
> one.)
Oh, wait. Do I have to have a tuba in my possession? Because those
things are bad expensive. Like $27,000 and your first born and all your
Mogu. AND YOUR SOUL. My main instrument was the baritone, and I always
used the school ones, because they always had some funky ass baritone
off in the corner. Like my high school, which had this crazy stainless
steel, four key, two bell baritone. The fourth key was okay, but the
nasty thing had the regular sized bell (small tuba sized) and then off
to the side, like a vestigal extra head, was a small bell. It was the
circus freak of instruments. It scared me to just look at it.
THAT is one of my best memories of high school.
Stacia
again with the storytelling
Jeremy D. Impson
I considered submitting this to ahbou, but I think it has too many
in-jokes. Plus, I can't be bothered.
--Jeremy
--
Jeremy Impson
jdimpson can be contacted at acm dot org
http://impson.tzo.com/~jdimpson
Conmidhe
news:3FAC7929...@io.com on 08 Nov 2003:
> OK, I know Wiblur spends most of his time ignoring me, but he may
> want
> to know this:
> I can play the tuba.
>
> God, I wish I was joking.
>
> I can (or could, but I can't imagine I've forgotten how) play
> trombone, baritone, and tuba. I'm the heavy metal section of
> Interrobang Cartel, didn't you know?
>
You left out the Sousaphone. If you can play tuba its automatic that you
can play Sousaphone as well. Its the same thing only shaped different,
the fingering is the same. I cant tell you how I know this. (at least not
without reliving the horror that comes from trying to wrestle a
SOusaphone onto a school bus everyday during the 7th grade.)
-Con
PS I still HATE the BASTARD music teacher that wouldnt let me switch to
baritone just because none of the cool kids wanted to play Sousaphone. I
also still think the baritone is way cooler.
Wiblur the Once
about...
> OK, I know Wiblur spends most of his time ignoring me, but he may
> want
> to know this:
> I can play the tuba.
>
> God, I wish I was joking.
>
> I can (or could, but I can't imagine I've forgotten how) play
> trombone, baritone, and tuba. I'm the heavy metal section of
> Interrobang Cartel, didn't you know?
SUBSCIRBR!!
If you would like to join me in this project, I would welcome your
input.
Do you have the ability to record a track on your computer? (I would be
glad to accept it on cassette, but prefer using a file.)
I can send you a wav, mp3 or ogg (or an audio CD) when I get the basic
stuff recorded, so you can use it for a reference, then you can return
your part for me mix into the master.
If it would be helpful, I can transcribe a bass part to sheet music, if
you are not a master of Tuba Improvisation.
Matt McIrvin
Conmidhe <ark1.20....@spamgourmet.com> wrote:
> You left out the Sousaphone. If you can play tuba its automatic that you
> can play Sousaphone as well. Its the same thing only shaped different,
> the fingering is the same. I cant tell you how I know this. (at least not
> without reliving the horror that comes from trying to wrestle a
> SOusaphone onto a school bus everyday during the 7th grade.)
My father's musical career in school consisted entirely of playing the
sousaphone, supposedly because he was capable of lifting one.
--
Matt McIrvin http://world.std.com/~mmcirvin/
Conmidhe
news:mmcirvin-AAE263.19180408112003@localhost on 08 Nov 2003:
Mine too. I think the reasoning used by the music teacher was similar,
that and no one else could be talked into it. I had the last laugh
though. The kid who sat in front of me in 7th grade band class and got to
play the way more coolerer baritone, I quit band before high school so he
was forced to carry the sousaphone onto the football field at halftime of
every game for 4 years. Plus he had to wear a dorky uniform and march
about in circles while packing the sousaphone. HAW HAW LOOZOR!
-Con
Glenn Knickerbocker
> Oh, wait. Do I have to have a tuba in my possession?
Depends. Got a mouthpiece, some duct tape, and a vacuum cleaner?
¬(electric elephant trunk)R
The Avocado Avenger
> The Avocado Avenger <sta...@io.com> wrote:
>
> > I can play the tuba.
> >
> > God, I wish I was joking.
> >
> > I can (or could, but I can't imagine I've forgotten how) play
> > trombone, baritone, and tuba. I'm the heavy metal section of
> > Interrobang Cartel, didn't you know?
>
> You left out the Sousaphone. If you can play tuba its automatic that you
> can play Sousaphone as well. Its the same thing only shaped different,
> the fingering is the same.
Yes, I know. I was forced to try sousaphone but my tiny high school
sized frame usually lost The Battle of the High School Sousaphone. This
meant the sousaphone would end upside down, over my head, completely
obscuring me from view. They decided to have me play the marching band
tuba instead, which is the kind that you put on your shoulder and the
horn points towards the crowd. Oh yeah, that worked out well, and I
only tipped over seventeen times in one half time.
But! I was really fukken good at the baritone. I was first chair at
the state concert band thing three years in a row, first place soloist
all four years in high school, and at the Shrine Bowl I was so cool I
ended up ON TV!!!!! and I didn't know it. Thank Kibo I didn't empty the
spit valve. I just faked "Oh Canada" and looked really intense.
This was in my punk phase. I wore yellow nail polish and yellow eye
shadow. I don't really remember why I did any of these things.
> I cant tell you how I know this. (at least not
> without reliving the horror that comes from trying to wrestle a
> SOusaphone onto a school bus everyday during the 7th grade.)
My fondest memory: the flimy plastic handle of the baritone case
(made of really heavy solid wood) broke off, so my dad fixed it. With
rope. Yes, you too can be so damned cool you get to walk to school
carrying a 40 pound baritone with a ROPE HANDLE!
You just cannot get more hillbilly than that. Without losing toes.
> PS I still HATE the BASTARD music teacher that wouldnt let me switch to
> baritone just because none of the cool kids wanted to play Sousaphone. I
> also still think the baritone is way cooler.
Of course.
My music teacher was a soulless bastard who completely obliterated my
love of music. I mean, I was good enough to do this music shit as a
hobby, but Satan the Wonder Teacher ruined it. I'm 32 and I still can't
relive the memories without chewing a hole in my face out of
frustration.
Stacia
still telling stories
Jeremy D. Impson
> This was in my punk phase. I wore yellow nail polish and yellow eye
> shadow. I don't really remember why I did any of these things.
Cuz it was PUNK!!Q
Kenton Cernea
<ark1.20....@spamgourmet.com> wrote:
>Mine too. I think the reasoning used by the music teacher was similar,
>that and no one else could be talked into it. I had the last laugh
>though. The kid who sat in front of me in 7th grade band class and got to
>play the way more coolerer baritone, I quit band before high school so he
>was forced to carry the sousaphone onto the football field at halftime of
>every game for 4 years. Plus he had to wear a dorky uniform and march
>about in circles while packing the sousaphone. HAW HAW LOOZOR!
In 7th grade, I started out on trumpet. The problem was, in a
30-or-so-piece band, there were 10 trumpeteers, and I wasn't very
good, so I was 9th chair. So, I quickly changed over to an instrument
that wasn't already represented in the band - French Horn. I was
automatically FIRST CHAIR! YAY!
There were also about 10 alto sax players, because this was 1986, and
everybody wanted to play the sax because of INXS. The rest of the
band was flute, clarinet, and snare drum. And ONE trombone, but no
bass instruments at all. Needless to say, the band sounded like ass.
Kenton "Blue Three" Cernea http://www.bluethree.us
"KENTON HAS RUINED THE INTERNET FOR AN ENTIRE GENERATION."
-- Jeremy Impson
Rich Holmes
> My music teacher was a soulless bastard who completely obliterated my
> love of music. I mean, I was good enough to do this music shit as a
> hobby, but Satan the Wonder Teacher ruined it. I'm 32 and I still can't
> relive the memories without chewing a hole in my face out of
> frustration.
What, didn't he even select Holst's Second Suite just so you could
have the cool baritone solo in the first movement? Twice! Because of
the da capo, you know.
Our band teacher liked me so much, he had us play Tubby the Tuba. Not
because he liked the tuba player, oh no; the REAL reason was the bass
clarinet solo he wanted me to have. I am very sure of this.
Morris dancing is rife with recovering bass clarinet players.
Kibology probably is too.
The Avocado Avenger
>
> The Avocado Avenger <sta...@io.com> writes:
>
> > My music teacher was a soulless bastard who completely obliterated my
> > love of music. I mean, I was good enough to do this music shit as a
> > hobby, but Satan the Wonder Teacher ruined it. I'm 32 and I still can't
> > relive the memories without chewing a hole in my face out of
> > frustration.
>
> What, didn't he even select Holst's Second Suite just so you could
> have the cool baritone solo in the first movement? Twice! Because of
> the da capo, you know.
No. In fact, in several instances he selected concert material with
heavy baritone parts/solos, but then made a point of purposely
forgetting who the baritone player was. I have a box full of
competition play lists, concert programmes and the like which list every
single two-note solo, real or imagined, but my name was NEVER
mentioned. Even if the entire fucking song was called "Baritone Solo,
Everyone Else Shut the Fuck Up Already" he would have "forgotten" about
me.
It was so bad, a concert band judge my senior year wrote something to
the effect of "I've judged your high school band four years, and every
year your baritone soloist does an outstanding job, and every year you
pretend like she doesn't exist. I find this unconscionable."
The band teacher ACCUSED ME, IN FRONT OF EVERYONE ELSE IN BAND PLUS
CHAPERONES AND HIS OWN WIFE AND CHILDREN, ON THE BUS HOME, OF GIVING THE
JUDGE ORAL SEX.
I have to stop. My right arm is tingling. This man is why I drink.
I guess I should be happy that I'm able to actually type/talk about it
now without attempting either some sort of 'cide (usually geno-) or
"self-medication".
> Our band teacher liked me so much, he had us play Tubby the Tuba.
Fuck you.
Sorry.
No I'm not.
I should be.
Augh.
Can we go back to talking about stuck tampons now?
> Morris dancing is rife with recovering bass clarinet players.
> Kibology probably is too.
The band teacher once said to the bass clarinet players, "I made you
guys play bass clarinet because we can't hear you, and that's good,
because you all suck."
Oh my, yes, he was a fine man. I hope he's being anally raped by a
syphyllitic demon and having his intenstines ripped to shreds by hot
sand ejaculate.
Stacia
focused
Matt McIrvin
Rich Holmes<rsholme...@mailbox.syr.edu> wrote:
> What, didn't he even select Holst's Second Suite just so you could
> have the cool baritone solo in the first movement? Twice! Because of
> the da capo, you know.
I was feeling proud of myself for actually recalling what the tune of
this was, but then I checked and I was thinking of the SECOND movement
of the Second Suite. The first movement is the very jaunty one and I
am listening to it RIGHT NOW etc.
Glenn Knickerbocker
> The band teacher ACCUSED ME, IN FRONT OF EVERYONE ELSE IN BAND PLUS
> CHAPERONES AND HIS OWN WIFE AND CHILDREN, ON THE BUS HOME, OF GIVING THE
> JUDGE ORAL SEX.
Whoa, I may never complain that "THIS IS BULLSHIT" again. That's what
"Tommy" the long-term substitute English teacher wrote across the top of
my paper after I couldn't answer his essay question and he told me to
write an essay about why I couldn't answer it instead. Why I then
proceeded to show that paper to my mom instead of the principal, I will
never know. It was good practice for the NEXT time I couldn't answer an
essay question, though, three years later, asking me to compare (and NOT
contrast) my educational experience to Herman Hesse's. That one the
TEACHER showed to the principal, who then called me into his office for
an interview to make sure I hadn't intended it as some biting satire
that he was too dull to get. I only wish I had thought to make knowing
smirks when I got back to class and triple-reverse-troll EVERYBODY.
ŹR
The Avocado Avenger
> The Avocado Avenger wrote:
> > The band teacher ACCUSED ME, IN FRONT OF EVERYONE ELSE IN BAND PLUS
> > CHAPERONES AND HIS OWN WIFE AND CHILDREN, ON THE BUS HOME, OF GIVING THE
> > JUDGE ORAL SEX.
>
> Whoa, I may never complain that "THIS IS BULLSHIT" again. That's what
> "Tommy" the long-term substitute English teacher wrote across the top of
> my paper after I couldn't answer his essay question and he told me to
> write an essay about why I couldn't answer it instead.
That's pretty cool. It's not hard to break a teacher's brane, really,
but it helps (when on the teaching end) to at least be upset about
something sane when having the nervous breakdown.
That doesn't make the kind of sense I thought it would.
Basically, as an assistant teacher, I did almost call a kid an
"asshole". I didn't stay in the job much longer. However, the stoodint
teacher in 5th grade who said, "All you kids do is fucking BITCH!" is
probably still teaching. Kansas State University didn't even note that
little incident in his file.
> three years later, asking me to compare (and NOT
> contrast) my educational experience to Herman Hesse's.
He was so great on WKRP.
Stacia
Conmidhe
news:0ga1rvs5lul7rgk8n...@4ax.com on 11 Nov 2003:
> In 7th grade, I started out on trumpet. The problem was, in a
> 30-or-so-piece band, there were 10 trumpeteers, and I wasn't very
> good, so I was 9th chair. So, I quickly changed over to an instrument
> that wasn't already represented in the band - French Horn. I was
> automatically FIRST CHAIR! YAY!
>
> There were also about 10 alto sax players, because this was 1986, and
> everybody wanted to play the sax because of INXS. The rest of the
> band was flute, clarinet, and snare drum. And ONE trombone, but no
> bass instruments at all. Needless to say, the band sounded like ass.
>
I started on trombone, but we had too many of them, and I couldnt quite
get the hang of that whole "guess where to hold the slide to make the
note" thing so I got moved to Sousaphone cause we didnt have any of them
and it has keys to make the notes. We had about 5 guys playing drums and
at least that many on sax. Our band was broken up into 3 or 4 band
classes, each of which sounded very much like ass as well, but in the 2
or 3 times they let us all play together it was actually pretty good. I
guess that counts as a score for the bastard music teacher who wouldnt
let me play baritone instead of Sousaphone.
-Con
Conmidhe
news:slrnbr1u8k.9...@gmx.net on 11 Nov 2003:
>
> I think I may be a recovering piano player. Or perhaps not a player,
> as such; I never quite got that far, but I did take piano lessons for
> a whole year once. I've never understood why.
>
Do you have a mother? The smart money is on "because I'm your mother and I
said so, THATS WHY!"
-Con
Andrew Pearson
Holst? You're listening to Holst? I think that "someone" is turning
British old chap, I really do Dr. McI.
Just as soon as you forget the idea that Holst wrote 2 suites (a
suggestion which I find most perplexing) and only remember "The Planets"
you will be 100% British and entitled to tax peoples' tea.
--
Soon the giant flaming baby face would dip below the horizon, and the
Dark Teletubby would come to collect what he was owed. Soon it would be
time. -- swt, ark, somewhen
S.J. Klein
I've always wanted to be a recovering bassist. I own a nice electric bass
but I've never learned more than two or three notes (which I keep forgetting)
and it is a most cool bass, a blond wood P-copy. Heck, I just love bass
guitars.
Oh, did I say "recovering bass player"? No, sorry, what I want to recover
from is the alcohol and drug abuse that successful rock bassists have
to enjoy^h^h^h^h^hendure. Thanks for the opportunity to clear THAT one
up: I love a.r.k.
What was the question?
Sam Klein, rock dinosaur at ea...@agora.rdrop.com
"her name is Rio and she dances on the saaaaand..."
From the albumen "Rio Grandy" by the band Durian Durian
>-Con
--
Samuel J Klein Reply-to:eagle(at)agora.rdrop.com
Hompeage at www.rdrop.com/users/eagle - The SunDial Earth Station
Better living through the Lambert Conformal Projection
Der kosmische Schmetterling
Matt McIrvin
wrote:
> Holst? You're listening to Holst? I think that "someone" is turning
> British old chap, I really do Dr. McI.
I am married to a horn player in a wind band. Consequently I hear lots
and lots of music for wind band, and that which is not American is
mostly British, and much of that is by Holst.
Oh, and then there is Percy Grainger, who was Australian and then sort
of American but also seems to have thought of himself as culturally
English but is best known for popularizing the Irish tune now known as
"Danny Boy."
Andrew Pearson
What a turnip for the books! Mat McIrvin gets something w0rng - here,
let me 'splain you: I've just checked my facts, in fact I had a
pleasant and informative 10 minutes Googling Percy Grainger. Now
you're almost entirely correct of course except for one funny little
slip. Mr. Grainger was born near Melbourne - that's in sunny,
shark-infested AUSTRIA... not, as you mistakenly stated, lofty
snow-capped AUSTRALIA! HAW HAW!
But leaving that aside, I didn't know that PG wrote for wind bands. Or
indeed that he had become a Usonian citizen. I only knew of his piano
music, which is pretty nifty. Many of the pieces are nicely difficult
in the right way (without too many fiddly twiddly bits, IIRC). And the
directions are pretty good too - he had a thing about writing them in
English, and pretty imaginative English too. Not quite as odd as the
stuff Satie used to slip into his scores, but pleasingly different.
But I digress.
So, tell me again about silly mid-off - it's in front of the picket or
something isn't it?
Glenn Knickerbocker
> English but is best known for popularizing the Irish tune now known as
"the theme from *Make Room for Daddy*."
Bop, bop, ba-DAAAAAAAH! bop bah-da-dah, etc.
ŹR
Matt McIrvin
apea...@pt.lu (Andrew Pearson) wrote:
> Matt McIrvin <mmci...@world.std.com> wrote in message
> news:<mmcirvin-E2CF03.22160712112003@localhost>...
> >
> > Oh, and then there is Percy Grainger, who was Australian and then sort
> > of American but also seems to have thought of himself as culturally
> > English but is best known for popularizing the Irish tune now known as
> > "Danny Boy."
[...]
> But leaving that aside, I didn't know that PG wrote for wind bands. Or
> indeed that he had become a Usonian citizen. I only knew of his piano
> music, which is pretty nifty. Many of the pieces are nicely difficult
> in the right way (without too many fiddly twiddly bits, IIRC). And the
> directions are pretty good too - he had a thing about writing them in
> English, and pretty imaginative English too. Not quite as odd as the
> stuff Satie used to slip into his scores, but pleasingly different.
Grainger was a truly bizarre character. Most of what I know about him
comes from the John Bird biography that Sam bought:
<http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0236400045/qid=1068771022/
sr=8-8/ref=sr_8_8/103-3257706-5236639?v=glance&n=507846>
First, the salacious stuff: He was apparently a pedophile by
inclination (though there's no evidence he ever acted on it, and he
seems to have consciously decided not to), and a sadomasochist by both
inclination and behavior, and he had a really, really weird
codependency/love/hate/obsession relationship with his mother, and
elaborate crackpot theories about Anglo-Saxon supremacy (which led him
not only to English directions on scores, but to attempt to purge all
Latin-descended terms from his speaking and writing, thereby
anticipating a brief fad among Francophobic political bloggers by
decades); though he also on occasion campaigned against the exclusion
of blacks from music education.
He was also a mad genius in the best sense of the term. As Sam has
pointed out to me, lots of people around that time were researching folk
music and incorporating it into new compositions, but Grainger was
unusually thorough, almost anthropological about it, apparently
anticipating later techniques in ethnomusicology. A few of his pieces
even have irregular time signatures expressly designed to mimic some guy
singing unaccompanied out in the field.
He also developed an interest in electronic music (including the
theremin), and made some jury-rigged electronic instruments, such as the
ingenious analog programmable "Free Music Machine":
<http://www.obsolete.com/120_years/machines/free_music_machine/>
Theresa Willis
<mmci...@world.std.com> wrote:
>In article <3FB288AF...@pt.lu>, Andrew Pearson <apea...@pt.lu>
>wrote:
>
>> Holst? You're listening to Holst? I think that "someone" is turning
>> British old chap, I really do Dr. McI.
>
>I am married to a horn player in a wind band.
OMG.
Does Sam know?
Rich Holmes
> I'm not a tuba player, but I play one on TV
> I don't act like an actor, but I'm in the SAG
> I've never starred in Hamelet, but I am a little ham
> I'm not Popeye or the son of God, but I am what I am.
>
> I was never lying when I said I would be true
> And I won't pretend that I am not in love with you
>
> I stand before you naked (metaphorically, of course)
> There's no sticker on my Geo saying that my other car's a Porsche
> I'm not a chimney cleaner, though I've come down with the flu
> I'm not a latin lover, but ego amare you
>
> I was never lying when I said I would be true
> And I won't pretend that I am not in love with you
>
> [ insert another verse or two here ]
If you could read my mind, oh, what a tale my thoughts would tell
I'd give you earth and heaven but you'd probably give me hell
I'm good at taking bad advice and bad at taking hints
Kiss me and I will not turn into a handsome prince
I was never lying when I said I would be true
And I won't pretend that I am not in love with you
I won't discuss your politics and won't bore you with mine
If you're nice to my lager then I won't insult your wine
I've never been a roadie but I'll always take a stand
I only wish that I could play a tuba in a band
I was never lying when I said I would be true
And I won't pretend that I am not in love with you
--
- Doctroid Doctroid Holmes <http://www.richholmes.net/doctroid/>
"You are standing in a large vat of wrong, which is being rapidly
filled by a tanker truck pumping out more wrong."
- Kevin S. Wilson