ALL THE SAX
March 21, 2018 7:46 AM Subscribe
All the kinds of sax you've probably never ever seen before, and a huge, mammoth one. [SLYT][11:26] Today's post crowdlinked by mefichat.
Bonus
- I wonder if they do concerts with that big one? [SLYT][4:12]
- Not so big, put there's a big band so it's all good (feat. Jamie Cullum) [SLYT][8:50]
- If you'd like to have a seizure for 10 hours, epic YT comments and EPIC SAX [SLYT] [10 hours] thanks evilspork
Bonus
- I wonder if they do concerts with that big one? [SLYT][4:12]
- Not so big, put there's a big band so it's all good (feat. Jamie Cullum) [SLYT][8:50]
- If you'd like to have a seizure for 10 hours, epic YT comments and EPIC SAX [SLYT] [10 hours] thanks evilspork
Sax-Loaded-Youtube?
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:56 AM on March 21, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:56 AM on March 21, 2018 [3 favorites]
This is just gratuitous sax in the pursuit of favorites. Surprised there's no senseless violins to go with it.
posted by SansPoint at 7:57 AM on March 21, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by SansPoint at 7:57 AM on March 21, 2018 [12 favorites]
What does SLYT mean?
Single link YouTube. It's a courtesy for those on smartphones who can't hover.
posted by Juso No Thankyou at 7:59 AM on March 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
Single link YouTube. It's a courtesy for those on smartphones who can't hover.
posted by Juso No Thankyou at 7:59 AM on March 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
I was hoping to have sax this morning.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:01 AM on March 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:01 AM on March 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
I have heard that the Army bands are super-elite and very hard to get into, and those guys seem like they indeed play very very well.
posted by thelonius at 8:10 AM on March 21, 2018
posted by thelonius at 8:10 AM on March 21, 2018
I have heard that the Army bands are super-elite and very hard to get into, and those guys seem like they indeed play very very well.
I've heard this too, but I think I've also heard that it's not pro-orchestra levels of hard, perhaps because I think they do rotations such that you can't, ya'know, join up just to spend an entire military career in the band. A good friend of mine's dad was a retired Marine that played french horn in the The President's Own (USMC band) and...well, aside from the shadowbox in the hallway, you'd never know it. That is to say that he had no musical instruments that I ever saw nor did anything that would lead you to believe that he was a musician at all. As opposed to my wife's family that is very musical, 2nd chair large-ish city union musician to career tutors to amateur composers to recording studio owners and everything in between, and shows it... it's odd to see that contrast. I'm not saying he wasn't perhaps really, really good of course, but by no means did he live or breathe music to say the least.
posted by RolandOfEld at 8:21 AM on March 21, 2018
I've heard this too, but I think I've also heard that it's not pro-orchestra levels of hard, perhaps because I think they do rotations such that you can't, ya'know, join up just to spend an entire military career in the band. A good friend of mine's dad was a retired Marine that played french horn in the The President's Own (USMC band) and...well, aside from the shadowbox in the hallway, you'd never know it. That is to say that he had no musical instruments that I ever saw nor did anything that would lead you to believe that he was a musician at all. As opposed to my wife's family that is very musical, 2nd chair large-ish city union musician to career tutors to amateur composers to recording studio owners and everything in between, and shows it... it's odd to see that contrast. I'm not saying he wasn't perhaps really, really good of course, but by no means did he live or breathe music to say the least.
posted by RolandOfEld at 8:21 AM on March 21, 2018
Huh, looks like the USMC band has a bit of a different ruleset than the other branch bands, so that makes it clear as mud. Takeaways, USMC band members are the only ones that don't have to go through boot camp, they do still sign 4 year enlistment contracts, but it's still unclear if they can make it through a full military career without going elsewhere in the Corps. Neat facts anyway.
posted by RolandOfEld at 8:31 AM on March 21, 2018
posted by RolandOfEld at 8:31 AM on March 21, 2018
I wonder if they have to learn how to break down and reassemble their saxophones really fast
posted by thelonius at 8:36 AM on March 21, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by thelonius at 8:36 AM on March 21, 2018 [11 favorites]
If you're into sax music, check out this previous FPP on Moon Hooch. I imagine these military guys might cringe at the way the band plays their instruments, but the music is great!
posted by msbrauer at 9:11 AM on March 21, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by msbrauer at 9:11 AM on March 21, 2018 [2 favorites]
I wonder if they have to learn how to break down and reassemble their saxophones really fast
No matter how proficient one got at it, I sincerely doubt that "really fast" would ever describe the process.
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:45 AM on March 21, 2018 [2 favorites]
No matter how proficient one got at it, I sincerely doubt that "really fast" would ever describe the process.
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:45 AM on March 21, 2018 [2 favorites]
Huh, looks like the USMC band has a bit of a different ruleset than the other branch bands, so that makes it clear as mud. Takeaways, USMC band members are the only ones that don't have to go through boot camp, they do still sign 4 year enlistment contracts, but it's still unclear if they can make it through a full military career without going elsewhere in the Corps. Neat facts anyway.
Looks like it's only members of the President's Own Band who can opt out of boot camp.
posted by ZeusHumms at 9:47 AM on March 21, 2018
Looks like it's only members of the President's Own Band who can opt out of boot camp.
posted by ZeusHumms at 9:47 AM on March 21, 2018
I love how contrabass instruments took off in the past couple of decades.
posted by ZeusHumms at 9:55 AM on March 21, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 9:55 AM on March 21, 2018 [3 favorites]
Looks like it's only members of the President's Own Band who can opt out of boot camp.
Yes, that's what I meant to convey as well. The various fleet bands are the minor leagues to the big time in DC.
posted by RolandOfEld at 9:57 AM on March 21, 2018
Yes, that's what I meant to convey as well. The various fleet bands are the minor leagues to the big time in DC.
posted by RolandOfEld at 9:57 AM on March 21, 2018
I love how contrabass instruments took off in the past couple of decades.
Other examples:
Contrabass Bassoons
Subcontrabass Tuba
Subcontrabass Flute
Subcontrabass Trumpet
Subcontrabass Clarinet (kinda)
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 10:10 AM on March 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
Other examples:
Contrabass Bassoons
Subcontrabass Tuba
Subcontrabass Flute
Subcontrabass Trumpet
Subcontrabass Clarinet (kinda)
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 10:10 AM on March 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
Also, I couldn't find video of it being played, but Subcontrabass Bassoon
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 10:14 AM on March 21, 2018
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 10:14 AM on March 21, 2018
(Apparently that's because the picture is a mockup and the subcontra model is still theoretical. You heard me, theoretical bass)
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 10:15 AM on March 21, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 10:15 AM on March 21, 2018 [3 favorites]
I like how short the phrases have to be to make the contrabass and subcontrabass remotely playable. The slide saxophone reminds me of a band I was in where somebody did a solo on a trombone with a saxophone mouthpiece attached.
posted by fedward at 11:07 AM on March 21, 2018
posted by fedward at 11:07 AM on March 21, 2018
I love how contrabass instruments took off in the past couple of decades.
Have we reached a new low?
*rimshot but with bass drum instead of snare*
Previously:
Low Flutes
All The Bass...
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 11:52 AM on March 21, 2018 [3 favorites]
Have we reached a new low?
*rimshot but with bass drum instead of snare*
Previously:
Low Flutes
All The Bass...
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 11:52 AM on March 21, 2018 [3 favorites]
I've been watching contrabassoon videos all week, because I'm that kind of nerd. Here's a good one with Rossini. Here's another. Here's another good solo.
I'm trying to compose a contrabassoon solo. Suck it, contraforte.
posted by daisystomper at 12:20 PM on March 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
I'm trying to compose a contrabassoon solo. Suck it, contraforte.
posted by daisystomper at 12:20 PM on March 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
The Tubax was used to wonderful effect on Scott Walker's Bish Bosh: you can hear it, for example, at the beginning of Epizootics!
posted by Omission at 2:08 PM on March 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Omission at 2:08 PM on March 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
I just got an alto sax! I'm so excited to spend some time learning how to play it and bust out some Contortions-style stuff.
posted by gucci mane at 2:31 PM on March 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by gucci mane at 2:31 PM on March 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
I've heard this too, but I think I've also heard that it's not pro-orchestra levels of hard, perhaps because I think they do rotations such that you can't, ya'know, join up just to spend an entire military career in the band.
On the one hand, NOTHING is pro-orchestra level of hard, because those positions are so highly coveted. But those who are selected for the national/regional level military bands are professional musicians, and that's their specialty and typically entire career. Not sure what the situation was with your friend's dad; perhaps he made a transition at some point. Military bands come to my air force town (which is also the state capitol, so hosts the state high school band conferences in rotation as well), and when they introduce members of the band they have 5, 10, 20 years of service.
Members pass an audition, and then they have to meet whatever military standards apply. I've often thought it sucked, because it's one of the few areas where you have one or two degrees and don't get a commission (only the band's commanders are typically officers), but compared to other ways of being a performing musician it's steady income and medical benefits. I don't know about exemptions from various forms of basic training; that depends on the service.
Not sure if the program still exists (I think it got the axe in a budget cut), but Tops in Blue was more of an high-quality amateur level variety format where USAF service members who happened to play auditioned and got to perform for a year or two before going back to their regular job. It was a nice show, but nothing like the professional military bands.
posted by randomkeystrike at 2:54 PM on March 21, 2018 [2 favorites]
On the one hand, NOTHING is pro-orchestra level of hard, because those positions are so highly coveted. But those who are selected for the national/regional level military bands are professional musicians, and that's their specialty and typically entire career. Not sure what the situation was with your friend's dad; perhaps he made a transition at some point. Military bands come to my air force town (which is also the state capitol, so hosts the state high school band conferences in rotation as well), and when they introduce members of the band they have 5, 10, 20 years of service.
Members pass an audition, and then they have to meet whatever military standards apply. I've often thought it sucked, because it's one of the few areas where you have one or two degrees and don't get a commission (only the band's commanders are typically officers), but compared to other ways of being a performing musician it's steady income and medical benefits. I don't know about exemptions from various forms of basic training; that depends on the service.
Not sure if the program still exists (I think it got the axe in a budget cut), but Tops in Blue was more of an high-quality amateur level variety format where USAF service members who happened to play auditioned and got to perform for a year or two before going back to their regular job. It was a nice show, but nothing like the professional military bands.
posted by randomkeystrike at 2:54 PM on March 21, 2018 [2 favorites]
I read those links about the USMC band. I think they're describing the minimum enlistment terms. As with any specialty in the service, lots of people serve one hitch and get out (in the case of musicians, often to go on into teaching careers). But some will also serve for 20+ years.
posted by randomkeystrike at 3:01 PM on March 21, 2018
posted by randomkeystrike at 3:01 PM on March 21, 2018
The bari sax intro in the Jamie Cullum link reminded me of this tune by Mingus Big Band's 1993 Nostalgia in Times Square album, featuring the incomparable Ronnie Cuber on bari.
posted by Greg_Ace at 7:29 PM on March 21, 2018
posted by Greg_Ace at 7:29 PM on March 21, 2018
I can't read. I truly misread this as "All the kinds of sex you've probably never ever seen before," and well, I await that front-page post.
posted by limeonaire at 8:09 PM on March 21, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by limeonaire at 8:09 PM on March 21, 2018 [2 favorites]
All the kinds of sex you've probably never ever seen before*
*But you were afraid to ask about
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:55 PM on March 21, 2018 [2 favorites]
*But you were afraid to ask about
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:55 PM on March 21, 2018 [2 favorites]
On the one hand, NOTHING is pro-orchestra level of hard, because those positions are so highly coveted. But those who are selected for the national/regional level military bands are professional musicians, and that's their specialty and typically entire career. Not sure what the situation was with your friend's dad; perhaps he made a transition at some point.
Right, that makes sense, doubly so since this seems to be the competitive-ness, which I bet pales in the light of a pro-orchestra opening competition:
Though auditions are not as competitive as major symphony orchestras, desirable positions may have as many as 40-50 applicants for a single opening. The best candidates are solid and versatile players who read well and are comfortable with number of styles. Doubling on multiple instruments (i.e. a saxophonist who plays flute and clarinet) is also highly desirable.
That's from this and it's not far off. So yea, interesting information all around. Main takeaway for me is that you can go a full career with the (premier level anyway) military bands. I had understood that to be not the case. That's great that they get full military career benefits and such instead of choosing between getting out after 4-5 years and finding other employment or going to serve on a destroyer or something, which is what I wrongly assumed was their fate one way or the other.
posted by RolandOfEld at 7:11 AM on March 22, 2018
Right, that makes sense, doubly so since this seems to be the competitive-ness, which I bet pales in the light of a pro-orchestra opening competition:
Though auditions are not as competitive as major symphony orchestras, desirable positions may have as many as 40-50 applicants for a single opening. The best candidates are solid and versatile players who read well and are comfortable with number of styles. Doubling on multiple instruments (i.e. a saxophonist who plays flute and clarinet) is also highly desirable.
That's from this and it's not far off. So yea, interesting information all around. Main takeaway for me is that you can go a full career with the (premier level anyway) military bands. I had understood that to be not the case. That's great that they get full military career benefits and such instead of choosing between getting out after 4-5 years and finding other employment or going to serve on a destroyer or something, which is what I wrongly assumed was their fate one way or the other.
posted by RolandOfEld at 7:11 AM on March 22, 2018
And, speaking of military bands, you've got these guys. Can't be easy playing a tuba, dressed in armour, riding a horse. And possibly not a skill that is going to get you a lot of jobs when you leave...
posted by 43rdAnd9th at 9:13 AM on March 22, 2018
posted by 43rdAnd9th at 9:13 AM on March 22, 2018
I have too many brass instruments right now and not enough time.
My collection now has:
A Bach ML 37 which has been my regular player since high school.
A Yamaha Eb/D trumpet that I bought when it fell in love with me.
A Bach 196 4 valve piccolo trumpet.
A 1940's Olds Ambassador Cornet that I had modified to be a more professional horn.
A Couesnon flugelhorn that I got out of sheer luck (this is a "mystical" horn in that it is a low-quality student instrument that Couesnon somehow got right - it has a lovely, syrupy dark tone and is built like a tank so it doesn't get sympathetic vibrations like every other damn flugelhorn I've played. Their main factory caught fire in 1969 and the mandrels and records for this horn were lost).
A Wurlitzer C/Bb/Ab straight cornet that my MIL found in an antique shop. I need to get it fixed up. It's likely a Martin that Wurlitzer stenciled.
I used to have a Couesnon 3 valve piccolo trumpet that I gave away to my cousin's son, since I don't need two.
A French kinderhorn that my daughter played for a year (side note, I played French horn in my local community band so I would be more familiar with the instrument to help tutor my daughter and discovered that I had a high note super power, so I made a video for a friend of mine, a life long horn player, playing a note that's a 5th higher than the typical highest note orchestrated)
This is to say that I get this post. I subscribe to a facebook group that my wife refers to as trumpet porn. I see a lot of cool instruments that I'd like to play for maybe a half hour, but not to own. For example, I would love to play a Flumpet. I would love to play an Eb rotary valve cornet. Cimbasso? Bring it. Piccolo trombone? Yes please. Mellophone or mellophonium? Yup.
I've been getting a hankering for owning an althorn (alto horn/tenor horn), but nothing good could come from that.
posted by plinth at 6:32 AM on March 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
My collection now has:
A Bach ML 37 which has been my regular player since high school.
A Yamaha Eb/D trumpet that I bought when it fell in love with me.
A Bach 196 4 valve piccolo trumpet.
A 1940's Olds Ambassador Cornet that I had modified to be a more professional horn.
A Couesnon flugelhorn that I got out of sheer luck (this is a "mystical" horn in that it is a low-quality student instrument that Couesnon somehow got right - it has a lovely, syrupy dark tone and is built like a tank so it doesn't get sympathetic vibrations like every other damn flugelhorn I've played. Their main factory caught fire in 1969 and the mandrels and records for this horn were lost).
A Wurlitzer C/Bb/Ab straight cornet that my MIL found in an antique shop. I need to get it fixed up. It's likely a Martin that Wurlitzer stenciled.
I used to have a Couesnon 3 valve piccolo trumpet that I gave away to my cousin's son, since I don't need two.
A French kinderhorn that my daughter played for a year (side note, I played French horn in my local community band so I would be more familiar with the instrument to help tutor my daughter and discovered that I had a high note super power, so I made a video for a friend of mine, a life long horn player, playing a note that's a 5th higher than the typical highest note orchestrated)
This is to say that I get this post. I subscribe to a facebook group that my wife refers to as trumpet porn. I see a lot of cool instruments that I'd like to play for maybe a half hour, but not to own. For example, I would love to play a Flumpet. I would love to play an Eb rotary valve cornet. Cimbasso? Bring it. Piccolo trombone? Yes please. Mellophone or mellophonium? Yup.
I've been getting a hankering for owning an althorn (alto horn/tenor horn), but nothing good could come from that.
posted by plinth at 6:32 AM on March 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
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posted by ardgedee at 7:55 AM on March 21, 2018 [1 favorite]