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Re: Baritones!

To: brass-band@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Baritones!
From: "Mac" <mac@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1999 01:14:20 +0100
Priority: low
Reply-to: brass-band@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

> Amanda Edson wrote:
>> Just an added note.  Could composers/arrangers actually give us 2nd baritone
>> players a challenge now and again please.

Hmmm... You have no idea how much time I spend after rehearsals trying to
convince my 2nd bari, 2nd horn, 3rd cornets etc that their parts aren't as
boring as they think they are, and that they really don't want to play a
different part, or join a different band or (God forbid) the University's
Water Polo team (who train at the same time we rehearse).

Maybe I'm just weird, but I've played 2nd baritone for most of my life (in
all sections), and apart from conducting there's nowhere else I'd rather be
in a band - the harmonies are always lush, and you frequently get the moving
note in any given modulation, the third in every triad etc... The part is
rarely stratospheric, so you can concentrate fully on expression, technique,
balance, ensemble etc, without worrying about losing your lip...

And you do get moments here and there, but I honestly believe most 2nd bari
players wouldn't notice, which is a shame.  My philosophy is that it's up to
the player to find the music in his/her part rather than only playing with
expression when you've got 'solo' marked above the line. You should play
every semibreve and 'um-chuck' with as much attention to detail as you would
put into a cadenza.

Having said that, it does help if you avoid playing Lloyd-Webber cheese all
the time...

Cheers,
Mac

--
Colin McDonald
Director, Warwick University Brass Band & 2nd Baritone fetishist

--

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