Playing Music without Music and other questions

[Henry Gertcher]

I have an odd question for the board here. I was recently contracted to play with a local group for a Peruvian parade. Specifically it was a parade for the festival called The Lord of Miracles. I had a lot of fun playing with the group but I felt that I was at a disadvantage for not being familiar with this type of music.

The first concern I had was that all the music I was given was written transposed. I checked my parts against the trumpet and trombone parts and found that even when I had a bass clef part it was transposing. The transpositions were Bb and Eb transpositions in both treble and bass clef. I am used to treble clef parts being transposing but bass is new to me. Does this sound familiar to anyone or is it possible that these parts, handwritten as they were, written for a former player?

Another question I have is that some of the parts were marked bombardon. I know that these were/are Italian instruments but that is about it. Were they transposing, any standard key? I have done a little searching online and have not found any reliable information. My main question about the bombardon parts is that they did not seem very bass like and was wondering if I should consider altering them to a more traditional bass part. Or would a bombardon have been a true bass instrument and I should try to play everything as written?

When I listened to the other tuba player in the band it almost always sounded as if he wasn't playing what was on the page. I attempted to discuss this with him however his English is not very good and my Spanish is pretty bad so we didn't get very far. No one seemed to disagree with what I was doing so I didn't really press the issue with the contractor.

Lastly, there were a few pieces that did not have music. The only direction I was given was to follow the band. Again no one seemed to disagree with my playing but that doesn't mean I don't want to get better. I would say that now I am good enough to say that I know when I play something that doesn't fit but not good enough to always know what to play next. When you play by ear what do you listen for to determine the chord changes? Is there anything I can do on my own to better this aspect of my playing?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Henry Gertcher

[djwesp]

The transpositions were Bb and Eb transpositions in both treble and bass clef. I am used to treble clef parts being transposing but bass is new to me. Does this sound familiar to anyone or is it possible that these parts, handwritten as they were, written for a former player?

This is common in some brass band settings and was also the primary notation of all brass drum corps in the USA until 2001. It is also common in some older music to see treble clef tuba parts. Eb tuba in particular reads treble clef/bass clef the same (minus accidentals and keys), so it is very common in countries that utilize Eb.

Another question I have is that some of the parts were marked bombardon. I know that these were/are Italian instruments but that is about it. Were they transposing, any standard key? I have done a little searching online and have not found any reliable information. My main question about the bombardon parts is that they did not seem very bass like and was wondering if I should consider altering them to a more traditional bass part. Or would a bombardon have been a true bass instrument and I should try to play everything as written?

Although Bombardon is an italian word, it is not restricted to Italian usage. The name applies in many situations to all helicon/sousaphone like instruments. Ambiguity and redundancy in instrumentation instruction is common. The Bombardon music I have encountered is non-transposing. I have noticed in old music, exactly what you speak, where the Bombardon line is not prototypical for what we are used to playing. Depending on how old the music is, it could involve the sax horn heritage of the bombardon, when the function of the instrument is much different. I would play it as written.

When you play by ear what do you listen for to determine the chord changes? Is there anything I can do on my own to better this aspect of my playing?

I think this depends almost entirely upon your ability to determine structure and progression. In easier western music I can do this, because the harmonic motion and phrase length is similar in much music. Once it gets harder or more analytical, I'm sure I'd be completely useless.

THIS SOUNDS LIKE AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE! I'm sure that the whole situation was unbelievable.

[Mark E. Chachich]

Henry,

I played a fair amount of Dixieland, etc... without music when I was younger. This is my advice for surviving the learning curve. Know your music theory cold. Listen to the type of music to understand the usual chord progressions and rhythms used in the style. As a bass line player you either have to know the tune or be able to make very accurate predictions about progressions and rythms while at the same time being responsible for time (even if you have drums). Be open to suggestions from the musicians in the band that know the style well. When you make mistakes, make them with authority. Also, remember that with time and experiance your skills will improve. It sounds like the band likes you, learn and enjoy!

Mark

[Paul Tkachenko]

Yes, this is my experience too, that Dutch Fanfare (pronounced Fanfaare) tuba parts are often in bass clef transposed.

As if we didn't have enough to think about as tuba players!