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RE: No Swing in the U.K.?

To: brass-band@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: No Swing in the U.K.?
From: "Guy Clark" <guyclark@xxxxxxx>
Date: Sun, 26 Jan 97 14:56:37 UT
Priority: low
Reply-to: brass-band@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hi, Gregor!

I disagree with you about brass bands playing transcriptions.  I agree that a 
transcription of an orchestral piece played by a brass band doesn't sound like 
it does played by the orchestra, but, I ask: SO WHAT?!

I suspect that the trascripitions originally came about back in the old days 
of no radio and phonographs (wireless and gramophones?).  People living in 
small communities (perhaps, like mining communities?) had no access to 
symphony orchestras to hear great music.  In order to bring culture to their 
small communities, music publishers provided many different transcripitions of 
new music, playable by a wide variety of instrumental combinations, especially 
piano and string groups.  This way, a poor farmer or miner didn't have to make 
the long trip to London, or Chicago, or some other large city to get to hear 
the latest opus from Richard Strauss, or Edward Elgar, or that newfangled 
composer, Igor Stravinsky.  They could purchase a transcription of  a work and 
perform it, locally.  As I understand it, brass bands and choral societies 
were formed in just such regions, for just such reasons. 

Anyway, I belong to a symphony orchestra as well as a brass band ( as well as 
other smaller groups), and enjoy playing such pieces as Schostakovich's 
Festive Overture both in the original orchestral arrangement as well as the 
brass band arrrangement.

I admit to not particularly like playing popular music (eg. the theme from  
the movie 'Batman"), but I dislike playing this sort of piece with any group, 
but that's just my taste in music...  

In fact, as I listen to classical music on a local radio station, I find 
myself often thinking that a piece would transcribe well for brass band, and 
wishing that I had the time and talent to begin doing it, myself! (time and 
talent in that order: I never have let a little thing like lack of talent to 
stop me from doing anything! ;-) )

Food for thought?

Guy James Clark
guyclark@xxxxxxx
principal cornet, Illinois Brass Band
principal trumpet, Northbrook Symphony Orchestra
etc...

----------
From: Gregor Spowart
Sent: Thursday, January 23, 1997 3:11 AM
To: brass-band@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: No Swing in the U.K.?

>snip<
...I believe that there is a
repertoire that each musical group should stick to.  If you want to listen
to Mahler, go hear and orchestra.  If you want to listen to Ellington, go
hear a big band.  If you want to hear brass band pieces and all that goes
with it, go hear a brass band or go to a concert.
I'm not knocking the movement, or all of the repertoire.  I just feel that
the brass band is a serious musical force, and playing transcriptions just
doesn't work.

Regards, 

Gregor Spowart


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