I can only speak for myself in this. You have taken a shot at them. They aren't in a position to respond. It's a one sided thing. We just have your version
-----Original Message----- From: horn-bounces+bgross=airmail....@music.memphis.edu [mailto:horn-bounces+bgross=airmail....@music.memphis.edu] On Behalf Of Bear Woodson Sent: Saturday, February 07, 2009 12:22 PM To: Horn List Subject: [Hornlist] White House Marine Band > message: 5 > date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 14:36:04 -0600 > from: William Gross <william.s.gr...@gmail.com> > subject: Re: [Hornlist] In-Dog-uration > > Yes, but how much is there in the repitoire of Bartok, > Starvinski et. al for Military Band? > > If that catalog were extensive you might stand on > firmer ground. Before I had direct dealings with the White House Marine Band, I thought they were limited to only having Brass Band and Percussion Instruments for outdoor performances. That stopped being true long ago, I think since the early 20th Century. They have a Pool of about 120 security-checked string, wind, percussion, harp, and keyboard players, so that they can accommodate any classical symphonic work. (I was told that they play a number of works for Baroque Orchestra, using Chamber String Players and Harpsichord.) For works requiring a much larger orchestra, they have an Extended Pool of security-checked musicians. In the Summer of 2007, some members of the White House Marine Band were considering premiering my Oboe Concerto. I had sent them the completed First Movement in Orchestral C Score and Piano Reduction, but their conductor balked when he saw a Bartók-styled canonic phrase in the First and Second Violins and Viole, in a passage for the Tutti without the Solo Oboe. (That their conductor would chicken-out at that particular Canon surprised me, as that passage was EASY compared to the Canons and Fugues that show up later in the First Move- ment. They never even saw the slow Second Movement which is a Huge Triple Fugue, that turns the Three Fugue Subjects in Inversion, and later in Retrograde, and also later in Retrograde- Inversion, and ALL are in lovely Chromatic Modal Harmony! I think that I, and my music, been Banned from the White House permanently, even though I passed all of their security requirements.) The last time I checked Bartók died over 60 years ago, there- fore in my opinion ALL of Bartók's Performance Techniques SHOULD be Common Knowledge to ALL "Professional" Musicians by now. However as a Music Theorist, I am PAINFULLY aware that Most 20th Century American Popular Music (popular songs, musicals, etc.) are limited to: a) one Key Signature, b) Pre-1860-Tonal Harmony, c) 4/4 Meter, and d) too often only 5 chords OR LESS! I have been on many Musical Instrument Discussion Lists in the last decade, but too often, I am either the only one, or one of a very few, who finds these Limited Performance Levels, common to many 'professional' Musical Orchestra Players, to be Embarrassingly UNprofessional and downright Childish, in some cases. I grew up in a family where my grandfathers and father were all Officers in the US Navy for over 20 years, each. I have always had great respect for Marines, and have close friends who were Marines in Viet Nam. But those same Marines were insulted and ashamed that these poorly-trained White House weenies should Dare call themselves "Marines", who quit before even trying! I share the disappointment by Real Marines, to whom I say, "Semper Fi"! I think we all stand a better chance, of hearing the future Presidential Puppy playing Horn with a good Embouchure, than we do of ever hearing Yo-Yo Ma play the Cello Version of the Bartók Viola Concerto accompanied by the White House Marine Orchestra. Bear Woodson Home: 520 - 881 - 2558 "Bear Woodson" <bearwood...@cox.net> _______________________________________________ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/bgross%40airmail.net _______________________________________________ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
