German Band
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I ran across this old picture from the 1980s of a German band I played in from time to time. We were playing for members of the Von Braun rocket team, their families, and friends at a picnic on top of a mountain in Huntsville, Alabama. I still have the flugelhorn, an Olds L-12, and the suspenders...lol
1977 Bach Strad ML 43 trumpet
1960 Conn 6B Victor trumpet
1982 Bach Strad ML 239 C trumpet
1970 Olds Ambassador Eb/D trumpet
1993 Bach Strad L 184G cornet
1962 Conn 9A Victor cornet
1890 Besson A/Bb/C cornet
1870? Henry Lehnert SARV cornet -
@Dale-Proctor That's a cool pic!!
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Looks like a lot of fun.
I wonder at what point Americans will acknowledge that there is a difference between Prussian music, Bohemian Music and Bavarian Music. Bavarian Music is not German Music. FWIW,Benge 3X
Martin Committee
Getzen Capri Cornet
Adams F-1 Flugelhorn"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn."
Charlie Parker"Even if I could play like Wynton Marsalis, I wouldn't play like Wynton Marsalis."
Chet Baker -
You do get around, Dale.
1960s King Super 20 Silversonic, 1940 Olds Recording, 1942 Buescher True Tone 400 ,1999 Conn Vintage One Bb trumpet, A 1952 Selmer Paris, A 2020 Getzen 400 and a Manchester Brass ACB custom pro Bb trumpet, a 1962 Conn Victor 5A Cornet.
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@Kehaulani said in German Band:
Looks like a lot of fun.
I wonder at what point Americans will acknowledge that there is a difference between Prussian music, Bohemian Music and Bavarian Music. Bavarian Music is not German Music. FWIW,Well, it was a Bavarian band, then...
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@GeorgeB said in German Band:
You do get around, Dale.
George, Iāve been fortunate to have played in all sorts of different groups over the years - various big bands, a British-style brass band, a few concert bands, a Civil War brass band, a parlor/society band (early 20th century style), large church orchestra, brass quintet, the Bavarian band, a mariachi band (short lived), numerous weddings, a couple symphony orchestras, a Salvation Army band, and numerous pit orchestras for musicals. I donāt have the improv skills to play jazz, and have never played in a rock band or anything similar.
The trick is to be well rounded in playing many different styles of music. That initially comes from listening to and studying a particular style youāre interested in playing, and then getting your feet wet in a group of that style. For example, with the mariachi band, I listened to a LOT of mariachi music on YouTube and practiced emulating that unique style of playing. The band didnāt survive long (the leader had a protracted illness shortly after our first gig, and the band fell apart), but I was beginning to get into it pretty well...lol
1977 Bach Strad ML 43 trumpet
1960 Conn 6B Victor trumpet
1982 Bach Strad ML 239 C trumpet
1970 Olds Ambassador Eb/D trumpet
1993 Bach Strad L 184G cornet
1962 Conn 9A Victor cornet
1890 Besson A/Bb/C cornet
1870? Henry Lehnert SARV cornet -
Do the suspenders still fit ?
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@Dale-Proctor
Wow, that is some resume`.I would have to say that you must be an exceptional sight reader in order to accomplish all you have. All the things you have done more than make up for not having the improv skills to play jazz. I would be quite content if I had your talent, my friend.
There are a couple of players I know and have played with who happen to be great sight readers and yet, like you, are not skilled in improv. But, man, put the notes on paper and they can play anything. I'm sure you could, too !
1960s King Super 20 Silversonic, 1940 Olds Recording, 1942 Buescher True Tone 400 ,1999 Conn Vintage One Bb trumpet, A 1952 Selmer Paris, A 2020 Getzen 400 and a Manchester Brass ACB custom pro Bb trumpet, a 1962 Conn Victor 5A Cornet.
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This is off-topic, but for those who might benefit - the trick to sight-reading is to be reading ahead of what you're playing. It also helps to be able to know a compendium of most-used rhythmic patterns. You then see the rhythms ahead of time and match pitches to them when the time comes.
Know your scales. If you're in the key of Eb and see a run from D to D with an Eb, Ab and a Bb in it, don't think of it as D to D run concentrating on playing the chromatics, but just see it as one unit, that of a run from D to D in the key of Eb. Know your scales and how to read them.
Benge 3X
Martin Committee
Getzen Capri Cornet
Adams F-1 Flugelhorn"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn."
Charlie Parker"Even if I could play like Wynton Marsalis, I wouldn't play like Wynton Marsalis."
Chet Baker -
@Kehaulani
Some excellent advice there. -
@Pinstriper said in German Band:
Do the suspenders still fit ?
No answer yet. Keeping us in suspense for sure.
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@Pinstriper said in German Band:
Do the suspenders still fit ?
Iād guess they do. I weigh about 20 lbs. less now than I did in that picture...
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Thanks, George. Yep, Iām a pretty good sight reader, and you nailed it - if itās printed out, I can make a good stab at playing it, but music with nothing but chord changes written are beyond my ability. When a solo like that crops up, all I can do is some basic ornamentation of the main theme of the song. Playing by ear is a definite no-go, too. I suppose it has to do with all my past ālegitā musical experience and never really being involved much with any kind of improv (and I donāt think my brain is wired correctly to do it, anyway). Iām just happy to do what I can and hopefully contribute to music making wherever Iām playing. Itās been an interesting ride so far...
1977 Bach Strad ML 43 trumpet
1960 Conn 6B Victor trumpet
1982 Bach Strad ML 239 C trumpet
1970 Olds Ambassador Eb/D trumpet
1993 Bach Strad L 184G cornet
1962 Conn 9A Victor cornet
1890 Besson A/Bb/C cornet
1870? Henry Lehnert SARV cornet -
@Dale-Proctor
" Basic ornamentation " of the melody has worked for me the 12 years I played in the 50s and 60s and anything I been doing since I started up again in 2016. In fact I don't care to listen to those jazz players who record a 7 or 8 minute rendition of Stella By Starlight where you may hear 40 or 50 seconds of the melody. I was always a huge fan of Bobby Hackett because you always knew the title of the song he was playing. -
So. I guess you don't enjoy the development section of a Beethoven String Quartet, LOL.
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I just found another photo of the Bavarian band that I havenāt seen in about 35 years. Iāll post it here for posterity. I see that I was also playing trumpet on some of the songs. I think that trumpet is the 1955 Mt. Vernon ML43 Strad that I sold about 20 years ago.
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That's very neat, thanks for sharing!
