Tuesday, October 23, 2018

I have told this story before...

...but here I go again. In 1931 or so my father was a member of a high school band that was one of a number of bands that got together for a massed band event at a stadium where the assembled multitude was conducted by none other than John Philip Sousa, the March King. That is both kind of a big deal and a small thing at the same time - he was conducted by Sousa, but he was one of a thousand players on the field that day. We had a similar thing when I was in band, but I can't even remember who conducted us - it damn sure wasn't Sousa, but there you go.

Anyway, later on, his band was in a contest, a battle of the bands as it were, and while they didn't win the big prize, they were recognized for playing Sousa's Liberty Bell March. Their tubular bell player was sick that day and there was no one able to fill in for him so the prize they won was the "No-Bell Prize", but they never spoke of it after that day.

I am still reading Mark Twain's complete works, and currently he is in Endor, which as Bible scholars know, is the site of Saul's big mistake and Samuel's appearance after he was deceased. Twain doesn't hold back when discussing the sites and towns and places in the middle east - they are all pretty much shitholes in his opinion, and Endor is rougher than most. Ugly mean people living in holes in the dirt, all dirt poor, so poor in fact they didn't even have Endor plumbing.



When I was young we used to go watch the Marine Band rehearse - of course that was so long ago that there weren't any chicks in the band. It sounds less manly now, somehow.


Edit - here is one I learned yesterday - Pasteurize in ASL:

10 comments:

edutcher said...

Innocents Abroad?

The Dude said...

You are correct. He went there in 1867 which in and of itself is a remarkable achievement. His journey through Europe on his way to the Holy Land is amazing enough, but by the time he makes it to Palestine he is not holding back.

"On Jerusalem
It seems to me that all the races and colors and tongues of the earth must be represented among the fourteen thousand souls that dwell in Jerusalem. Rags, wretchedness, poverty and dirt, those signs and symbols that indicate the presence of Moslem rule more surely than the crescent-flag itself, abound."

ricpic said...

And It Came To Pass

"Shitholes," said one best and brightest to the other best and brightest, "they're everywhere but here."
"Yes," said the other best and brightest, "we must import them," and they set to work with demonic cheer.

Dad Bones said...

Those Marines know how to play a march.

My brother was in the Army 1st Cav band in Nam way up in I Corps. When some troops fought their hearts out to secure a little landing zone or hilltop the band members (all men) would grab their instruments with one hand, their M-16 in the other and jump into a chopper and fly to the ceremonial gig where they likely played one or two of Mr Sousa's marches. The rest of the time they filled sand bags.

ndspinelli said...

I love watching kids respond to marching bands @ parades. U of WI is famous for their tuba solos. The Tuba section marches solo through the stands playing songs.

The Dude said...

That is quite a story, Dad Bones, I had heard that kind of story before, but it is good to hear it from people who were there.

It was a treat to hear the Marine Band when I was a young aspiring musician. They were crisp, on point, and they were, as it is said, tight. They always nailed the "stinger" at the end. We tried our best to emulate them, always fell short, being children and all.

The Dude said...

Nick - ask the kids "What's a tuba for?"

chickelit said...

@nspinelli: The UW marching band director, Michael Leckrone, just retired after a 50 year career

Arguably the second best composer of marches after Sousa is John Williams.

ndspinelli said...

chick, I used to walk the Lake Mendota path past the band practice field. Those kids worked their asses off. Leckrone has a tower like Bear Bryant built for practices.

The Dude said...

John Williams "actually played the well-recognized opening riff to Mancini's Peter Gunn theme", he was just that good. Kind of like the original Leon Russell.