Pop goes the Blatweasel?

GC · Post by GC » Fri Jul 07, 2006 3:14 pm

I've heard the Eb alto horn (Eb tenor?) referred to semi-affectionately as the "Blatweasel" on a couple of occasions. What is the source of this name? Who uses this name?

Also, are there nicknames for the other brass band instruments (other than "Giant Golden Commode" and "Poot-O-Phone"

)?

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 3:35 pm

This ought to be an 'interesting' thread!

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 3:45 pm

GC wrote:What is the source of this name?

I think it is descriptive of the parts they are often given to play.

Tuba-G Bass · Post by **Tuba-G Bass** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 3:59 pm

I have heard Trombones called "Spit Pumps"

I have had people in my own band refer to the tuba as
a "Sousaphone", no wonder our director has admonished the band
saying "This isn't marching band!"

In High School our 4 person tuba section [5 with the barisax thrown in] was called the "Boogins" by our band director, because there was a horror movie out with a creature called a boogin that dragged people down into the nether regions, well, our main fault was dragging the tempo, nuff said.
We were so proud of the name
we had shirts made with The "Boogins" on the front and our name and year on the back.

TonyZ · Post by **TonyZ** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 4:38 pm

"Blatweasel" is onomatopoeic in nature, if you've ever sat close to an alto (tenor) horn!

I enjoy "Slushpump" and "Push-me-pull-you" for the trombone!!

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 6:17 pm

According to the CONTRABASS-LIST, "blatweasels" were considered saxes in KC, as referenced by the following rule posted in a bandroom:

"Blatweasels (saxophones) should never be taken from the bandroom. Practice is not needed on this instrument."

Shockwave · Post by **Shockwave** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 8:55 pm

I've heard the alto horn referred to as the "peck horn" and "snitweasel", but never "blatweasel".
-Eric

tubatooter1940 · Post by **tubatooter1940** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 12:46 pm

I play Eb tuba or fart horn. My tuba is not the blat weasel. I am the blat weasel.

tubeast · Post by **tubeast** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 3:28 am

I can only contribute German expressions, of course, but here goes:

French Horn: "GlÃ¼cksspirale" ("Spiral of fortune", name of German lottery), "Rollmopsposaune" (Rollmops: rolled and stuffed fish filet soaked in vinegar, Posaune = trombone)

Baritone saxophone: "GÃ¼llepumpe" (GÃ¼lle: farmerÂ´s expression for fluid taken out of stables and spread over fields, GÃ¼llepumpe being a mechanical device with hose dimensions similar to a barisax to carry out such task.

Tenor sax: "Staubsauger" (Vacuum cleaner)

Clarinet: "Wimmerpin" (Wimmern = to whimper, whine; Pin: small, pointed stick (NOT: needle-formed device to put drawings on walls), "Kohlstrunk" (what remains on the field when you harvest white cabbage: the cabbageÂ´s trunk)

Tuba: Waschmaschine (about the same in English)

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Pop goes the Blatweasel?

Pop goes the Blatweasel?

Re: Pop goes the Blatweasel?

Instrument Nicknames