perennial community-band down-an-octave players

[roweenie]

Very generally speaking, P.I.T.A.

(Not to be confused with P.E.T.A.)

Disclaimers:

1) This phenomenon is not necessarily restricted to "community-band players"

2) If tastefully done, enhances the music sometimes

3) On rare occasions, I have been known to indulge in this same transgression

P.S. - Berlioz has moved on to bigger (and hopefully better) things.....

[arpthark]

First you have to warm up (on the Vaughan Williams, John Williams, Die Walküre, Gregson, maybe a light touch of Penderecki Capriccio) to show everybody you're a serious musician, though.

[ken k]

Actually bass trombone players who do it all the time are really annoying, especially when they are playing a note that is not the root of the chord down below the tuba, or playing tenor range countermelodies in marches an octave down.

kk

[arpthark]

I like to -really- lay into it on the final chord of A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square.

[windshieldbug]

I'm going to do it on every piece.

More effective if, instead of the octave, you do it at the minor 7th...

[Three Valves]

If God wanted us to play that hi, he would not have blessed us with the euphonium!!

[edsel585960]

If God wanted us to play that hi, he would not have blessed us with the euphonium!!

Amen brother!

[Michael Bush]

If the composer had known the best player with a world class sound especially low would be playing the piece, he definitely would have written it in. No doubt.

Edit: About Berlioz, I have no opinion. Never played it, never likely to. But community band I know about...

[TheGoyWonder]

There are average 2-3 notes per entire concert where this is a good idea. Hate the dicks who do it all the time (and don't even find the 2-3 correct notes)

[Biggs]

generally annoying?

I was thinking/hoping "should be launched into the sun" was after-the-click.

[Billy M.]

generally annoying?

I was thinking/hoping "should be launched into the sun" was after-the-click.

+1

[Billy M.]

Actually bass trombone players who do it all the time are really annoying, especially when they are playing a note that is not the root of the chord down below the tuba, or playing tenor range countermelodies in marches an octave down.

kk

+1,000,000

I know that guy too.

[timothy42b]

Wisdom from our bass trombone player: "Take it up an octave, .........and......leave it out."

[Dan Schultz]

Annoying to say the least. Most of the time it's waaay out of tune.

That coupled with the trumpets taking stuff up an octave is enough for me to want to just leave the bandroom for a while.

[southtubist]

Down only an octave? Psh, real pros play only down (or up) two octaves!

[bort]

BTW, I know what I'm doing if I ever get to play next to Joe.

[tubeast]

I guess it´s just as recreational and educating as reading all those top-quality articles in Playboy magazines...

There´s a pro-version of such behavior, too:
The type of super-professional guys at elephant rooms and the Musikmesse, checking out each and every horn with the "ride of Bydlo´s fountains". I just stand in awe admiring the creativity of these people...

[Billy M.]

I guess it´s just as recreational and educating as reading all those top-quality articles in Playboy magazines...

There´s a pro-version of such behavior, too:
The type of super-professional guys at elephant rooms and the Musikmesse, checking out each and every horn with the "ride of Bydlo´s fountains". I just stand in awe admiring the creativity of these people...

That's Vaughan Williams' ride of Bydlo's fountains. Get it right.

[windshieldbug]

Vaughan Williams' ride of Bydlo's fountains.

John Vaughan Williams' Ride of Bydlo's Fountains Amaya

[doublebuzzing]

And then let us not forget those players in the warm-up/waiting room at orchestral auditions playing the most dizzying, loud, high, low, technical stuff imaginable. Hear what Phil Smith says about these people at around 37:30: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2Z1qlpU6DU" target="_blank