Totally Random Birthday Marching Band Rambling!

My buddy Lisa and me,

pre- half-time show!

Nice pants, right?!

Okay so first of all, it's not really my birthday anymore, but close enough!
Birthdays facilitate things -- being thankful for your time on the planet, being thankful for your friends, family and "back-in-the-day" sentimentality.  This blog will center on that last one -- sentimentality. That means I'm gonna ramble a little bit.

I got a wild hair a few days ago and listened to a bunch of tunes on my ipod from when I was in college in the marching band. Long time ago. But I was a horn player in the "Mighty Sound of the South" -- the University of Memphis (back in the day, it was just Memphis State University) marching band -- 200+ players! Geek?  Yeah. But a way to gain a further appreciation of instrumental music in general? Hell. Yes.

While surfing the playlist, I was drawn to 1988, when the members of the MSofTS were given the sheet music for "Mambo" from West Side Story. So, in the spirit of sentimentality, here's a recording of that song, recorded by us college kids, in our sizable but acoustically unforgiving rehearsal space on campus.

Rambling Background: In high-school (Little Rock Central), after exciting but eventually boring rounds with the piano, drums and violin, I settled into the French Horn.  It's such a beautiful instrument -- in looks and its alto range.  We only had at the most, around 6 horn players in high school. Sophomore year it was just one (me).

When I started college, I wasn't planning on being in the band, but after seeing their half-time show, I got goosebumps and auditioned to get in. They had like 14 horns, and I was awestruck. Horn players played the french horn during concert season, but played the mellophone during marching season. The horn is a high-maintenance deal-- they need just the right touch to produce good sounds, and will go out of tune when you KNOW you just let out your spit valves and tuned that bitch. Besides that, its bell is pointed *behind* you -- not very practical for a marching band. The mellophone however, was fun and better suited to a marching band -- facing front and easier produce notes, though VERY front heavy… (Ouch! -- Hello, shoulder muscles...)  During concert season, I was in the varsity band. First or second chair, but still -- varsity band.  Marching band though?  I had the option of playing first part for the high notes or second part for the harmony and loved it. The time I put in with the marching band is mainly why college was the best six years of my life. Ha!  <-- Not kidding.

Anyway, this tune was a lot of fun to play, and it's got theatre roots. I thought our arranger was a genius at the time, but realize it's WAY slow. But again, it's my birthday weekend, and I wanted to post this, so whatev.  :)

So here's where you can hear the horns: We're all through here really -- just listen for that alto voice. But at 8 seconds, there's s gliss that I always loved.  At around 27 sec. we're a part of the melody with trumpets coming in at 30 sec. 37 sec. is another fun gliss. At 1min. 14 sec. in is a short little line that was fun to blast along with the trumpets. 1 min. and 26 sec. in is another riff I loved -- playing off of the trumpets. Harmony geeking at 1 min. 39 sec. in with that note that we hit against the trombones for a couple measures. And at 2 minutes, you can hear the little horn riffs again.  *sigh*  I miss marching band...

I can't tell you how much being in the band enriched my life, and gave me an overall appreciation of orchestral music.  Priceless.  Get that kid an instrument!!!

Thanks for indulging me!!

Marching Band Rambling!

Me (and many others).  Horn section, baby -- The Mighty Sound of the South, bitches.

1988.  Before my hair was completely gray.