[Dixielandjazz] slick slides???

[Cebuisle2 at aol.com]

Well now that the long thread about trombones and Yamaha wonderhorns has  
sort of died down, I'll add a few horn related lines--
 
My son recently found a two record (LP) set in an obscure Maine antique  shop 
and presented it to me for my birthday The records are attractively  packaged 
in a heavy cardboard case with a 24 page description of the recording  
methods, etc. They are titled The Civil War, an obvious misnomer as everyone  here 
knows it was the War Between the States-but I digress-
 
Mercury Records recorded the four sides in 1961 to commemorate the  
centennial of the War. In addition to recording the actual sounds of the weapons  used, 
they recorded the music played. Two original band books were used, the 26  
North Carolina and the 3rd New Hampshire, representing the songs played by both  
sides . Eastman School of Music conductor John Fennell conducted the two  
ensembles which faithfully played all the parts in the original band  books-
 
But what amazed me was the use of the original band instruments from the  
War, totally rebuilt for the occasion. I was impressed for two reasons-the  
excellent intonation and technique possible on ancient, conical bore horns  played 
over the shoulder pointing backwards. These instruments had string  operated 
lever valves, and were without water keys. As the instruments filled  with 
water (spit, for you non players) the intonation went south, and the  musician had 
to stop playing and drain the water. Of course, the mouthpieces  were those 
with the razor sharp rims-no cushion rims here!
 
The other amazing feature was the difficult arrangements in the band  
books-far beyond anything playable by even a good high school band today. The Eb  
soprano cornet parts spit out notes as rapidly as the early Gatling guns, and  
even the lower brass had intricate parts.
 
The opening tune for the 26 North Carolina was ":Dixie" (it was politically  
correct to play it 
then) and it was so spirited I felt like enlisting!
 
My point? There were some amazing musicians in the mid nineteenth century  
and also some amazing horns, even though they would be regarded politely as  
"crude" by today's Yamaha standards and modern players. I had no idea that Civil  
War musical units could sound this good-
 
Too bad they didn't play any OKOM-
 
                                                                              
      Ted