Hi Chuck, Chris, et al,
I think Chris's point (with which I emphatically agree) is that it's a
little perplexing as to why Gary felt the need to include so many
exotic saxophones -- sopranino; both curved and straight soprano
(neither is "exotic," obviously, but the difference in tone between
them is negligible); both mezzo-soprano and C-melody; bass, contrabass,
*and* subcontrabass saxophones -- in favor of more commonly-used
instruments.
We all agree that bass clarinet is an absolute necessity, and so I'm
VERY VERY grateful that Chuck was able to pull some strings to make
that happen. But I can think of several instruments that would make
more sense for this library than, say, subcontrabass saxophone. None
of them are absolutely glaring omissions like the bass clarinet was,
but I'd certainly be willing to forgo all of the rare saxophones (even
sopranino, a personal favorite of mine) in exchange for any of the
following:
• a "mallet kit" (it currently has only sticks and brushes)
• modern electric guitar with chorus and volume pedal
• acoustic guitar
• Hammond organ
• solo voice (oohs and aahs)
• French horn
• tuba
• solo violin (jazz player)
• accordion
• oboe/English horn
Obviously, many of these aren't a problem for me personally since I
already own the orchestra GPO (as do Chuck and Chris), and so I can mix
and match freely. It's just a little -- well, *weird* -- that Gary
thought it was worth the time and expense to track down and sample all
those rare saxophones instead of including instruments that are much
more useful to working jazz arrangers and composers. (Not to mention
much more likely to be available in a real-life playing situation!)
I know there's a certain geekish satisfaction in shipping such a
thorough saxophone library, but it's almost like Gary believed "If I
just include mezzo-soprano saxophone, no one will notice the lack of
bass clarinet."
But again, I'm very happy Chuck was able to set him straight on that --
and I'm definitely looking forward to the library. It will certainly
be fun to mess around with a sax quartet consisting of sopranino,
mezzo-soprano, C-melody and subcontrabass saxophones. Not very
productive, but definitely fun.
- Darcy
-----
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Brooklyn, NY
On 22 Jun 2005, at 8:31 PM, Chuck Israels wrote:
On Jun 22, 2005, at 5:08 PM, Christopher Smith wrote:
I have written countless times for banjo, accordian, French horn,
tuba, and jazz violin in jazz contexts (none of which are present in
the GPO jazz collection)
Of course, so have I (some, anyway - French Horn, the most often), but
as you seem to reasonably understand things (and as I do), none of
these are standard doubles in a normal jazz band, so I wouldn't think
they'd need inclusion. If those instruments are needed, then I
understand the organization of the GPO marketing that would put them
in the orchestra library and not include them in the jazz sounds.
Anyway, that's how it makes sense to me.
Chuck
Chuck Israels
230 North Garden Terrace
Bellingham, WA 98225-5836
phone (360) 671-3402
fax (360) 676-6055
www.chuckisraels.com
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