[Dixielandjazz] Re: Keys, - flatted fifths

[TCASHWIGG at aol.com]

In a message dated 10/24/03 2:25:01 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
rakmccallum at hotmail.com writes:

> Hello all,
> 
> Okay, why are so many people simply against flatted fifths?????  Is it that
> they have come to represent something different, or do people just hate the
> way the interval sounds?  Are there any traditionalists that regularly
> utilize flatted fifths or are they simply considered wrong notes to be
> avoided at all costs??
> 
> Inquiring minds want to know!
> 
> All the best,
> Rob McCallum
> 
> 

Well, Rob:

Being a drummer and therefore not a real musician I am not qualified to 
answer that astute question, however I would assume it has something to do with 
crushing a container that contained a fifth of Jack Daniels or Single Malt or 
perhaps even Gin.  I believe this custom was actually invented by jazz horn 
players 70 or 80 years ago, shortly after the invention of Jazz.  Rumor has it that 
without a few crushed fifths lying around the club there probably was not 
very much good jazz being played there.


It is much easier to day to flatten the fifths since they are now available 
in plastic bottles in some states for bar room safety purposes, they don't 
injure musicians when thrown at them, at least if they are empty, and who in his 
right mind would throw a full one?
Cheers,

Tom Wiggins