Posts made by Dale Proctor

1890 Besson cornet glamour shot.

I’ve whittled down my cornet collection to 4 keepers:

#1 - a circa 1870 Henry Lehnert SARV made of German silver, with Allen oval port valves.
#2 - an 1890 Besson (London) Nuevo Etoile, A/Bb/C, silver plated.
#3 - a 1962 Conn 9A Victor, with Coprion bell and leadpipe.
#4 - a 1993 large bore Bach Stradivarius 184G, with gold brass bell and “Stradivarius Deluxe” engraving.

@GeorgeB said in Trumpet Board Remote Performance:

@Dale-Proctor
Quite a feat, Dale. You have my deep, deep respect.

Thank you, George, for the kind remarks. It really wasn’t that difficult a thing to do, though. The music, while interesting, wasn’t that difficult to play once we were familiar with it. As I said before, the piece we played at the specified breakneck speed, with a relentless click track, was somewhat of a challenge and as I told a few others, you have to get tunnel vision on the chart and pay attention to nothing but the click track. There were no retards, holds, or anything else in that piece to watch the conductor for, so it was pedal to the metal.

I finished the last socially distanced recording session (that I mentioned earlier) tonight. Things were pretty tight on the last run-throughs and we got to go home a little early. It was about a 50 piece orchestra, and I’m surprised everything went as well as it did, especially on one piece that booked at 180 bpm - concentrate on the click track in the headphones and the chart, and don’t pay attention to anything else that’s going on. I’m anxious to hear the finished product.

@GeorgeB

Understood. I suppose your desire to play with a group is stronger than mine.

The first person that tells me my trumpet needs a mask will be looking for another trumpet player. At rehearsals, we already have to sanitize our hands and have our temps taken before entering the rehearsal room, in addition to wearing a face mask when not playing.

I saw this cool jazz trio on a walk through the neighborhood this morning. Can you dig it?

I’m currently involved in recording a virtual orchestral performance of Christmas music (some of it quite complicated) that will be broadcast locally in December. Playing along with a click track/backing track in headphones is a bit tricky, especially when there are holds and ritards in the piece. You have to listen to it and play along numerous times to be able to anticipate what’s happening. We’re doing multiple takes of the pieces, so the recording folks can hopefully piece together an acceptable product.

It’s also a useful technique to use when you have to come in on a pp note, especially after a significant number of rest measures.

I have a Gard leather cornet bag. It’s just the thing when all you need is a cornet, a couple mouthpieces, a bottle of valve oil, glasses, etc. Not much room for anything larger in the side pocket, though, and it only fits a short cornet, but it’s very protective with an internal suspension/padding system. Stylish, too...

Yes, prayers for a successful surgery and a full recovery.

@tptguy said in 40's Holton info:

What I have to work with, note, there where 2 gaskets, they are leather, don't know if they are originally suplied on this..one disingrated in the initial bath. Also I assume I reinstall one nut in the wrong place, but it was to keep the screw tight.

That reminds me a little of the old Conn stop rod setup. One bumper to cushion the throw and another to cushion the return.

Here’s a picture of one on a 1960s model Holton cornet.

As OSE said, you can make a functioning one from a long stainless steel screw from the hardware store. I did that for an old Reynolds cornet that was missing one.

@Mike-Ansberry said in Vintage Horn Eye Candy:

@Dale-Proctor You are the famous Bob Pixley! Wow, I am impressed.

No, I just used his name instead of my own on this site for a while.

@Mike-Ansberry

I would for the right price. It also has a D slide, and actually plays better in D than in Eb.

I suppose I should own up to previously being known as Bob Pixley on this site...

1968 Olds L-12 flugelhorn, restored by Southeastern Musical Services.

@GeorgeB

Thanks, George. Yep, I’m a pretty good sight reader, and you nailed it - if it’s 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 “legit” musical experience and never really being involved much with any kind of improv (and I don’t think my brain is wired correctly to do it, anyway). I’m just happy to do what I can and hopefully contribute to music making wherever I’m playing. It’s been an interesting ride so far...

@Pinstriper said in German Band:

Do the suspenders still fit ?

I’d guess they do. I weigh about 20 lbs. less now than I did in that picture...

@GeorgeB said in German Band:

You do get around, Dale.

George, I’ve 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 don’t 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 you’re 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 didn’t 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