Downsizing Of Service Bands

[imperialbari]

Sousa had been concertmaster for Offenbach’s tours through the US. Offenbach’s music is very entertaining, when it is played with an inner fire.

Sousa’s music is also very entertaining when played with an inner fire.

I have heard a very good US military band play a Sousa march with no life at all. Percussion exactly in time, but no forward energy provided. Cymbals and bass drum certainly not overpowering the winds, but bass drum with no bite and cymbals without sizzle.

Many French marches involve bugles as a primitive, but certainly generic, military element. Many German marches involve Eb cavalry trumpets for the same effect.

Sousa in some marches explicitly asks the Bb cornets and trumpets to act as signal trumpets in F through long sections of said marches by playing all of the notes fingered 1+3. That creates some intonation challenges, which were much harder to manage before triggers or throw rings became standard outfit, but the overtone patterns are much more alive and, yes, much more martial.

But the fine band mentioned has all of its cornets and trumpets playing these signals with standard fingerings, open F’s, A’s fingered 2, midrange C’ fingered 1. Very in tune, very lifeless.

Are these players substandard? Certainly not! But they are disciplined too hard to blend into a band machine that will cause no scandals at state events.

I have heard a video of said band playing a transscription of Sacre du Printemps. All fire and intensity, but then the conductor was from the orchestral scene.

Many more samples from several countries could be mentioned, point being: Don’t take the life out of the military bands in an attempt to make them fit for the civil(ian) society.

Klaus

[PaulMaybery]

I happen to enjoy watching international band tattoos on You tube and am in utter astonished-amazement of both the quality of the music and the drill. Brenda and I keep saying we need to attend one live. To me, any country that would summarily eliminate these groups is one with serious cultural/political/social problems, coupled with a weak and unwise leadership that simply does not know what is "good." Political power is all to often coupled with ignorance. I suppose that comes with military music as it functions at the pleasure of the government. When I watch the Edinborough Tattoo, or others, I see military units that very well address a contemporary audience and still provide that certain substance and of course a patriotic/emotional dimension. When I see music units at these events I am somewhat embarrassed at how mediocre many of our civilian groups are by comparison. Granted, military discipline for most military musicians, I gather from my friends in those situations, is akin to athletic super stars who have a window of opportunity in their lives. It is difficult or nearly impossible to execute that type of precision drill and performance when we are in our 60s. I applaud those who continue to amaze us with military precision and "esprit du corps." You continue to make us proud, and for some of us, of what we once could do but no longer can. When I was a student in Europe 50 years ago, there was always a thread in the musical conversation of pseudo intellectuals that military bands were irrelevant in modern society and should be phased out. They have managed to hang on through all those sophomoric discussions and remain today, albeit so much more compelling than ever. There was once a saying in France, I will try to paraphrase to my best ability. 'musique militaire est à la cuisine militaire ce que musique est la gastronomie' I think not quite so today. The music is better, and so is the food. We have come so far. IMHO.

Mabes

[Three Valves]

The military could function just fine without bands, but where would the world be without art and culture? Honestly, is it even worth fighting if there is no art and culture to fight for?

Former military and "musician" myself.

This deserves a

(Even though I agree with the sentiment, there is no point in going OTT!!)