Poor slotting between the C and the G

[Donn]

I may be wrong [Paul?], but the usual divisi you mention is actually for string bass/tuba. Still, many bands do split the part among the tuba section, as most do not have a string bass to double. I'm just not sure that is what souse had in mind. Paul Maybery would be the one to clarify that.

I am positive Basses is for tubas only. In this case it's an easy call, because this edition happens to have a separate String Bass part. I wouldn't bet Sousa wrote the String Bass part - it looks like nothing but a transposition of the lower tuba part (string bass plays 8vb), which is what a back room copyist would do.

More generally, these two parts tend to match up very well with contrabass and bass tuba. Low end is G -- both 3V BBb tuba and string bass go to E, but the string bass is much more convincing down there. And again, if John Philip Sousa ever did write a real string bass part, I bet a quarter it doesn't just double the tuba part (especially if he were writing for published version to be used by a wide range of bands, because a part like that isn't just musically questionable, it's hard.)

As for what Sousa had his own band doing - I'm sure Paul has as much of the story as anyone. But Sousa didn't get The John Church Company to print up an arrangement of Liberty Bell so he could pass it out to his band, and he probably didn't have them print up the arrangement they played. All these arrangements are for standard band configuration of the time, so certainly would need to account for an Eb tuba, and in this case the arrangement shows more signs of some musical intelligence at work - I mean, the line is always divided if it goes below A, but above that, a C for example may be doubled in some places, not in others, for what I suppose are musical reasons that wouldn't have motivated a copyist. So whether Sousa had an Eb tuba in mind at some point in the process of getting this arrangement to the publisher, anyway it's a real part that does serve that purpose pretty well.

[Three Valves]

my two cents (what it's worth).

Can you buzz the 2 notes cleanly and in tune?

You may find that you are buzzing them out of tune and thus increasing the likelihood you will miss the notes.

If you can buzz them cleanly and in tune, try on the horn with tuner and see if they are in tune on the horn. A flat note on the horn or a stuffy note and you might have some resistance on the 1-2 combo that you are blowing right past.

good luck

Luke

That's what is so frustrating.

Though it is diminishing, the C and G issue ONLY reared it's head when played in rapid succession in the two bars given in the opening example. Elsewhere there is no problem finding the notes.

[Three Valves]

As much as Sousa is worshipped in the band world, the details of his marches leave MUCH to be desired.

As for what Sousa had his own band doing - I'm sure Paul has as much of the story as anyone. But Sousa didn't get The John Church Company to print up an arrangement of Liberty Bell so he could pass it out to his band, and he probably didn't have them print up the arrangement they played.

Fascinating stuff.

I recall hearing about a Sousa fest in Cape May, NJ, and one will be in DC this year.

Have either of you been to or can you recommend such an event??

[scottw]

As much as Sousa is worshipped in the band world, the details of his marches leave MUCH to be desired.

As for what Sousa had his own band doing - I'm sure Paul has as much of the story as anyone. But Sousa didn't get The John Church Company to print up an arrangement of Liberty Bell so he could pass it out to his band, and he probably didn't have them print up the arrangement they played.

Fascinating stuff.

I recall hearing about a Sousa fest in Cape May, NJ, and one will be in DC this year.

Have either of you been to or can you recommend such an event??

Interesting idea of Sousa reappearing in Cape May. He was there pretty much every summer for many years. I searched the Cape May calendar and can find no mention of such an event planned. It would be a nice event if it happened. I am located about an hour from CM and well-connected to a lot of the musical activities there, but I haven't heard anything about this. I hope it happens.

[Three Valves]

Interesting idea of Sousa reappearing in Cape May. He was there pretty much every summer for many years. I searched the Cape May calendar and can find no mention of such an event planned. It would be a nice event if it happened. I am located about an hour from CM and well-connected to a lot of the musical activities there, but I haven't heard anything about this. I hope it happens.

The event I recall was some time ago. I was staying at Congress Hall and there was an ad for it.

"JPS slept here"

I was hoping for a reprise.

When Hughes was elected to Congress in 1828 the name changed to Congress Hall. The hotel has hosted more than its share of the rich and
famous - Presidents Grant, Pierce and Buchanan visited. President Harrison made it his Summer White House and during the summer of 1882 John Phillips Sousa and his Marine Corps Band played on the lawn of the hotel. Sousa later
composed the "Congress Hall March."

[scottw]

Cape May has a long and storied history of musical acts playing there. From about mid 19th century on, CM was THE summer resort for NY, Philly, and DC. The Wilson Liners would come down from Philly, almost always with a band on board [Often Becks' #1 Band out of Philly, with whom I play in the present day]. Once in CM, the tourists would swim, eat, dance, and catch concerts. The resort had what was at the time what was claimed the largest hotel in the country, the Mt. Vernon Hotel; unfortunately, it burned before it was even fully open.
But, I am afraid we have hijacked the OP's thread! Apologies!

[Donn]

I'm a skeptic about such things, as usual. Sousa, Elvis, sorry man - not only are they dead, but they weren't exactly at their peak when they died. The big question is who's taking up the baton, so to speak - will the music always be a creation of Sousa, Fillmore, King, et al. from an era long past? And will they write parts for Eb tuba?

[Three Valves]

But, I am afraid we have hijacked the OP's thread! Apologies!

I'm the OP so hi-jack away!!

[Three Valves]

I'm a skeptic about such things, as usual. Sousa, Elvis, sorry man - not only are they dead, but they weren't exactly at their peak when they died. The big question is who's taking up the baton, so to speak - will the music always be a creation of Sousa, Fillmore, King, et al. from an era long past? And will they write parts for Eb tuba?

I would hope an homage to JPS could include new arrangements for chamber/quintets or other ensembles.

I'm sure we have all given up on the next King of the military or circus marches to emerge...

[swillafew]

You can make your own chamber music and get a good effect with 7 players on the important parts. I was inspired to do this from hearing it done well at a theme park.

As for playing Liberty Bell: If I can't play something, I haven't spent enough time playing it slowly, and at every tempo from slow up the performance tempo. Sometimes playing the material in more than one octave helps to locate the pitch.