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Re: The Sop, the Picc, and the BB list.

Andy Wooler wrote :

> It is common practice to make it clear when humour is being used
> As this practice has not been observed here, it would seem that Ian actually
> means what he says - if you hate the instrument so much and prefer piccolo
> trumpet there are surely more appropriate lists you should be on!

If you had put this note on the soprano cornet list, you would have 
had some justification for saying this.  Unfortunately, this is the 
brass band list.  Soprano cornet is, last time I counted, about 
one twenty-sixth of the brass band complement.  Seems to me like 
you're over-reacting!

This has been an amusing and very enlightening thread.  Let me assure 
you that it is perfectly possible to like brass bands without liking 
every individual aspect of their instrumentation.  I do however note 
that the narrow-mindedness and insularity of many in the brass band 
movement and on this list mean that it is not acceptable to express 
any view other than one which exactly co-incides with theirs.  I have 
no intention of quitting this list : I still like to listen to (some) 
brass bands, even if many (not all) soprano cornet players set my 
teeth on edge.  I see no reason why this opinion - or any other 
related to brass bands - should be suppressed.  If you don't agree, 
great : use your delete key.

This is potentially a lively, informative and interesting list.  
There are a significant number of very good and experienced 
musicians on here, with whom it is a pleasure to correspond and whom 
I look forward to meeting in due course.  Unfortunately, there is 
also a significant contingent of people who really should try to get 
a life : however, the latter group do have the saving grace that 
being so easy to wind up is a source of endless amusement for the 
rest of us.  (Yes, I do mean you, Mr Beasley). 

I should say that even though it was couched in a rather antagonistic 
way, I though Dave Lancaster's reply was of considerable interest.  He 
suggests that the soprano cornet player must command a wider dynamic 
range and wider range of articulation than the picc player.  I really 
do not see that this is the case (though I do agree about the 
"amateur" picc player, and I like the seamstress joke.)  

In fact, I believe that the two instruments 
have much in common : in particular, because most players on trumpet 
or cornet start on the Bb instrument, the Eb sop (or Eb/D or picc 
trumpet) is usually the first departure to an instrument of another 
key.  Players who try to play the smaller instuments, without taking 
into account their particular playing needs, will do it badly.  But 
players who are sensitive to the differences in the instruments 
should be able to play either or both, probably with equal facility.  
Of course, with a modicum of musicality, it should be possible to 
make the transition from Bb cornet to Bb trumpet (and vice versa) 
without problems.  Many good players do (Willy Lang, Maurice Andre,   
Maurice Murphy, James Watson etc etc.) : the poor players can't (and 
usually take refuge in saying "Well, I wouldn't want to play that, 
anyway")

However, if the interests of peaceful and uncontentious discussion on 
the list, I will in future refrain from making any comment about the 
soprano cornet or its exponents on this list.  (Well, most of the 
time, anyway : after all, the sad, lonely and pathetic need to have 
something to respond to from time to time.  Is that not right, Mr Beasley?)

Ian McKechnie
<mckechnie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>


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