dgannett wrote:
Man, this was just a general statement and NOT directed at you personally! I'm sure I join others on this list who applaud your efforts, in all their facets, to make the tuba world a much more interesting and rewarding place. It's folks like Bryan, Sean and others of their ilk that move our instrument into the forefront and into the future. Bryan, you're a prime example of putting your money where your mouth is!
Dave "Scattergun" Gannett
I didn't really take it personally, but since I was the first to respond to the thread...
I enjoy .mp3 downloads, but very much look forward to the hard copy version of "Bill Bell and His Tuba"!! Count me in when it is available.
I would like to offer the following points about this very important historical solo tuba recording and Mr. Gannett's postings on this forum:
I too am contributing to the profession by publishing and bringing products to market-- including Mr. Phillips' arrangement of Air on the G String. Also, it has also been my honor and pleasure to assist Mr. Phillips with his discography. To date we have documented over 200 recordings! Within the next six weeks or so I will be making available The Happy Farmer for solo tuba and band accompaniment. This is the version Mr. Bell performed with Paul Lavalle's Band of America. I have also published a number of previously unpublished tuba solos by Fred Geib.
Perhaps it would have been good for Mr. Gannett to mention in his original post that both mp3 and CDs would be available. As I stated earlier-- I have nothing against mp3's, but-- simply prefer to purchase a product I can hold in my hands! In fact, I would almost rather have an LP-- with a large picture on the cover and liner notes with print large enough for me to read! I recently purchased a sealed LP of the New York Philharmonic Brass Ensemble (with a picture of Mr. Bell and the other members of the ensemble on the cover). To me, it was well worth $50.
Regarding my comment that CD sales are currently slow: The fact of the matter is-- for whatever reasons-- CD sales ARE slow. I did not mean to suggest they are over priced, just that sales are slow. I realize production costs are generally high, and our niche market is small-- resulting in a small amount of profit per unit. That's why I mention in my advertisements that the price of my CDs are set by the artist(s).
Stephen Shoop wrote:
I too am contributing to the profession by publishing and bringing products to market-- including Mr. Phillips' arrangement of Air on the G String. Also, it has also been my honor and pleasure to assist Mr. Phillips with his discography. To date we have documented over 200 recordings! Within the next six weeks or so I will be making available The Happy Farmer for solo tuba and band accompaniment. This is the version Mr. Bell performed with Paul Lavalle's Band of America. I have also published a number of previously unpublished tuba solos by Fred Geib.
Can you post a link where these pieces, cds etc. can be purchased?
[I noticed the word "hokey" tossed about regarding Mr. Bell's solo album, which adjective was also applied to my album "Tubas from Hell". For all you tuba players who walk on water, here's a simple challenge: duplicate Mr. Bell's album on your own. Show us you can play with the style, personality and authority he demonstrates while singing your *** off. Then submit your recording to the list (as a, dare I say it, MP3 download!) so that we can admire your superiority. There are tons of tubists out there playing lots of notes, but there are precious few that demonstrate the musician's HEART in the manner of Bill Bell, Harvey Phillips, Arnold Jacobs, Roger Bobo and a few others.
DAMN RIGHT BROTHER DAVE!!! Thanks so much for what you do man!
Ken Riddle
