[Dixielandjazz] Bending over backwards

[Allan Brown]

Wow, that was incredible!!!

My wife couldn't watch it as she's got a dodgy knee that occasionally pops out of alignment and that was like her worst nightmare come true.

But it got me thinking about circus music and I wonder if anyone on this list has ever played in a circus band? I guess they don't use live musicians much anymore, but the few times I've been to the circus in recent years, to see the Moscow State Circus and the Chinese State Circus they both had a proper band, albeit quite rock orientated.

On the other hand, do any Dixieland Bands employ contortionists to entertain and enthral?

A quick internet search revealed a few interesting nuggets, like:

"Circus music developed from fast polkas, galops, and can-cans, and its foundation is a solid section of low brass instruments." 

and...

"Circus bands never play John Philip Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever as a part of their regular program. It is reserved for emergency use. If an animal gets loose, a high wind threatens the tent, or a fire breaks out, the band plays the march as warning signal to every worker on the circus lot that something is wrong. This peculiar circus quirk has evolved over the years, as have various other superstitions and expressions. Circus bands play other Sousa marches regularly."

http://brebru.com/musicroom/circus/circus.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circus_music

All the best,

Allan Brown




On 24 Jan 2011, at 15:13, BILL SHARP wrote:

> I sent this to a friend - -   You're going to watch it and perhaps ask the same question he did:   " But why?"
> 
> It is unbelievable that a human body could do this!  
> 
> ·           www.jokeroo.com/bin/player.swf?5f9f_f369
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> 
> And now I shall justify my posting this video on DJML -- - - -I immediately saw that this video does relate to what we in the musical world do:  The performers spent countless hours perfecting this single performance of just a few minutes in order to amaze audiences around the globe - - so they're exactly like musicians in that regard.  There is not a bit of difference. And we all know how we've all bent over backwards to do a good job.  Additionally, after hearing some of the performances of modern jazz, I also ask myself that same question:  "But why?"  This video, thus being a perfect example of what we do therefore does belong on this mailing list, don't you think?  (I wonder if the contortionists  ever think outside the box?).
> 
> 
> May your house be safe from tigers, your computer from spam,
> 
> Bill #
> ___;;;___/
>   (_III_)   \
> retired educator,
> avocation: musician
> email tag:  secrets are safe with my friends because they can't remember them either.
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