zbd1960

OK, this is about as non-rock'n'roll as you can get... I've been trying a new instrument of a type I have never played before. As you know, I play cello as my main instrument and I also play sax (mostly tenor and baritone). Well, I've never played a brass instrument... I started looking because of my challenge in trying to find groups where I could play sax. After a certain amount of looking around and assorted e-mail trails, I landed at Kirkby Stephen's beginners' group with their brass band... The culture of brass bands is interesting. They are very keen to recruit people of all ages from young children to much older people. They will lend you instruments. They have stocks of good quality - but older - instruments to lend. The provide free tuition. There is a strong focus on community. So, I end up with a 1970s Boosey & Hawkes Imperial silver euphonium. My recent Fridays has been a 6pm session with the beginners' group in a back rom whilst the 'training band' rehearses in the next room. On Friday, the main band gave its community Christmas concert. The training band plus beginner me played three items as part of the concert. I have the advantage of being able to read music and I've played in groups before. Just the slight matter of getting the right note out when you blow... Someone caught me not doing much... And yes, GAS attack, I've bought a second-hand Besson Sovereign (B&H were bought out). In case you're wondering - the range of a euphonium is similar to cello and baritone sax.

Last night was my first concert with Keswick Choral Society. Main Christmas concert. Full house. Went well, no obvious disasters! The biggest piece we did was by Cecilia McDowall: Christus Natus Est which is a working of various Medieval tunes including Personent Hodie, Entre le boeuf, Gaudete, etc. This is a contemporary work written in 2007.

Just had the final rehearsal for tomorrow's concert in Keswick.

Just to set expectations.... the beginner parts are simple and I'll be involved in three pieces on the gig. And it's much harder than learning the sax, which I started in my early 50s

It's a busy time at the moment - as usual at this time of year - with various concerts etc. Tuesday will be main choir concert in Keswick. Next Saturday I've got my first public outing with euphonium and brass band (I'm with the beginners and contributing a few notes to pieces performed by the training band and the main band). Following week the community choir is providing three sets to entertain the guests at a well-known hotel by Ullswater. I've had to decline various events due to either diary clashes, or in the case of the brass band I can't justify the distance for a short session in a café etc., especially given my novice status.

So, a secondhand Besson Sovereign euphonium

A large box was delivered today... and yes it contains a musical instrument. And yes, it is at the low end of the spectrum, but it's not a bass (I have plenty of those already). I started a new instrument in September (because I don't have enough already...). I already play tenor viol (and bass but I sold mine a while ago); cello; sax (mostly tenor and baritone, but I have sop and alto as well); electric bass; and organ. Until now, I have not attempted to play a brass instrument. So, I started on euphonium with a local brass band. Brass bands are really good and they generally have instruments you can borrow on a long term basis. The range of a euphonium is similar to cello and baritone sax. I've been playing on a Boosey & Hawkes Imperial, which dates to 1974 according to its serial number.

Hadn't realised there'd been such a long hiatus... We've arrived at that time of year when if you're in various types of music groups you end up running around like an idiot. Back when I sang with my first singing teacher's choir, I'd have about six gigs just with his choir, on top of whatever I was doing with other groups. When I played with the big wind band, they'd do about six as well. During that time, I sang with two other choirs, to which you coudl add about another four or five events, making about ten or eleven in total. It's not quite that bad now. The local community choir I sing in has three gigs lined up but I can only do two of them as I'm in London for the first one, which is this week. The choral society has one main concert plus a couple of charity events, the latter requiring some volunteers for carol singing. I'm only doing the main concert for that group, which is next week. The brass band has lots of little gigs - at least half a dozen - which vary in requirements from a handful of players to larger groups, plus a main concert. Due to the travel involved, I've limited myself to just the main concert. There is various news to report, so I will write some more posts shortly.

Since I live on my own and have always done so since leaving home forty-odd years ago, I have often bought myself something 'significant' for the solstitial festivities. Back in 1982 it was Linn Sondek, which is still here sitting in the lounge.

Unless Santa has a spare gold brick or two, I suspect the tree will be unadorned > C18th English cello and bow > A shiny Besson compensating 4 valve euphonium...

Most of the rep that needs 7 strings with the low A is the French solo repertoire. I mostly play tenor. I got rather frustrated at the lack of people to play with for consort playing. I'd only get o play on weekend workshops etc which gets very expensive.

I have enough of a challenge trying to play a standard 6 string bass viol without trying the 7 string French type bass

A=415 is the 'usual' baroque pitch which is a semi-tone down from A=440. There is some debate that one of the suites was written for a 5 string cello. What would probably work on a bass is the viola da gamba sonatas as viols are (mostly) tuned in 4ths. Viols have 6 strings, so you have the problem of a third in there. A bass viol is same size as a cello and the tuning from the bottom is D G C E A D with the bottom D being a tone up from a cello's bottom C. The violone is the db size viol and it comes in two tunings. Either a a 5th down (octave below tenor viol tuning) at GCFADG or an octave down at DGCEAD.

Evidently taken over by a Polish company.

Attempting to pervert the course of justice is a very serious offence