Posts made by barliman2001

JUST FOUND THIS: https://www.facebook.com/1419043114/videos/554059923071376/?idorvanity=297930707852474

@tptguy That is correct. Internationals were made until the introduction of the Sovereign in the early 1980s.

@tptguy The Besson International cornet models were the first instruments Besson made after the change in the Brass Band world from High Pitch to Low Pitch (i.e. normal concert pitch). They followed the dual pitch Imperial models and were the direct predecessors of the Round Stamp Sovereigns. At the time, they were Besson's (or B&Hs) top of the line. Even today, Internationals are sought after instruments, and some first-class players in the brass band world still stick to them despite Sovereigns and Prestiges. And I know why... in 1990, I fished one out of a Scottish band's bin (put there after what they thought was irreparable damage - the connection between first and second valve had a big hole from being gripped there too often), had it restored by Hermann Ganter, and I've been playing it ever since. Tried to find a more modern one to have a back-up in case the International had a fatal accident, spent a fortune on Yammies, Stomvi, new Sovereign and such... and finally, after re-selling all of those, ended up with a second International (which is now in the market because I found a 1955 Courtois at an Ukrainian dealer). A friend of mine played in the same brass band all his life, for an incredible 71 years, 55 of them as Principal Cornet. Every ten years or so, the band bought a new set of instruments and handed him a new and shiny Sovereign, which he duly held when the appropriate pictures were taken. And at the next rehearsal or gig, he played the old International... his best friend and former band mate, Phil McCann, did the same...

Every one is a natural. Otherwise they would be robots.

Joking apart - everyone is a natural, with a certain talent for something. It is never the same thing, and will still need very hard work to attain the dizzy heights of professionalism (be it as a professional or as an amateur). But it is a fact that you need to be born with the proper talents and anatomy for a certain thing, or you can put in all the hard work you can and still achieve nothing.

A naturally colour-blind person will probably never become a painter notable for vibrant colouring.

@rowuk To that list, I can add my Courtois cornet - built 1908, and still original springs. Or my 1929 Besson Imperial cornet - same... The only instrument I ever changed springs on was my 1995 Stomvi Elite cornet - but that came with two sets of different springs, and I exchanged the factory-mounted springs for the slightly softer exchange pair.

@shifty Well, we are piloting ourselves through a maze of music, and fighting the trumpet in the process, so there.

@dr-go Well said!

Bavarian conductor and composer Max Reger was a very outspoken man... his dry comments were feared by everyone in his time and provide material for anecdotes ever since.
Once, he had been conducting C.M. von Weber's Concert for Oboe, Bassoon and Orchestra before a very illustrious audience. After the concert, he was approached by a Princess of Meiningen who asked him "Maestro, are these bassoon sounds all produced by mouth?" - "I'll hope so." was his reply.

Another time, a concert of his had been severely handled by a newspaper critic. He sent the guy a postcard with this message: "Dear Sir, I am sitting in the smallest room of my apartment and have your critique before me. In a few moments, it'll be behind me. Sincerely, Max Reger."
Since then, many European musicians don't go to the bathroom, but are using the Max Reger Salon instead.

@trumpetb Thanks anyway!!

I tried Thomann - only trombone size left, and only two jars of that, and they have no idea whether they will ever get the stuff again because they don't know who will be distributing them in the future; Musik Reisser in Ulm has two jars left, but only for sale in the shop (which is 550 miles away). Austin Custom Brass has them "Out of stock"... and no one knows what has been happening to the company. Somewhat like the Kanstul story...

I'm running very low on spitballs... four left in the jar, and about eight trombone size which I can cut down. But no music shop in Europe has any left, or can tell if or when they might be able to re-order... any info out there?

@kehaulani Are the white cotton gloves still in the case?

That was one memorable occasion... I had checked into a rehab clinic on a Monday, found the local band on Wednesday, rehearsed with them once, and afterwards was asked whether I would like to join them for their next gig. "When?" - "Tomorrow." Ended up skipping therapy, playing a Fathers' Day gig that started at 10 am and lasted until 11 pm...

...and about 30 years earlier, in my first band uniform ever... with a Weltklang cornet with Ab slides in it...

Me playing the Munich's Resident Alien Big Band

STILL WAITING FOR FEEDBACK

@dale-proctor Close enough, I think!

@administrator Looks very much like a Bach Strad 229 C

Our dear friend Gordon once sent me a gift package with several cornets in it: A Buescher Aristocrat that to this day is my main axe in jazz, an Elkhart by Buescher that's middle of the road but unusual for its pig's tail wrap, and a King Tempo that was absolutely airtight. I tried everything - washing through, snake, spitballs... nothing worked. Finally, in desperation, I gave it to Votruba's. And they put their endoscope inside and as a result unsoldered the bell. What did they find? An ancient wad of chewing gum that someone had rammed down the bell.