[Dixielandjazz] Bending over backwards

[Harry Callaghan]

I never saw him but I understand that some circus troupe from the
Phillipines featured  a contortionist..........he was billed as the Manilla
Folder.

HC

On Tue, Jan 25, 2011 at 8:29 AM, Allan Brown <allanbrown at dsl.pipex.com>wrote:

> 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
> >
> >
> > 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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