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jhatpro
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 Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2017 9:21 am Post subject: The Stories Behind the Music |
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My trad band is playing programs for senior audiences this Holiday season and I've discovered that, besides the music, they like to know a little about the background of the tunes.
Things like the fact that "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" was rejected by many artists as too silly but Eddie Cantor liked it enough to sing it on his radio show in 1934 and, by Christmas, the publisher had sold 500,000 copies of the sheet music.
One of those copies is on eBay now signed by one of the composers, Haven Gillespie, and has a starting price of $3,500!
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Jim Hatfield
"The notes are there - find them.” Mingus
2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle |
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RandyTX
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| Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2017 11:54 am Post subject: Re: The Stories Behind the Music |
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| jhatpro wrote: | | My trad band is playing programs for senior audiences this Holiday season and I've discovered that, besides the music, they like to know a little about the background of the tunes. |
I agree, though I've seen that information talk being overdone, to the point the audience is about ready to fall asleep from boredom and the musicians are feeling like they need to warm up again afterward. 
I like some sort of short information, if you don't actually provide programs that do that for you, but not a 5+ minute talk about the piece which seems to happen fairly often with a fairly talkative bandleader for one group I'm a member of.
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"Music is like candy, you throw the (w)rappers away." |
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jhatpro
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Joined: 17 Mar 2002
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| Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2017 1:00 pm Post subject: |
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Agree totally!
_________________
Jim Hatfield
"The notes are there - find them.” Mingus
2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle |
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dr_trumpet
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Joined: 22 Nov 2001
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Location: Cope, IN
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| Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2017 2:00 pm Post subject: |
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It seems to go over better if it is a mix of facts and personal anecdotes. Mixed through a program, and with a few personal moments that reach the audience, it can provide a wonderful program for the season!
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Dr. Albert L. Lilly, III DM
Artist/Clinician for Vincent Bach Trumpets (Conn-Selmer)
Principal Trumpet, Hendricks Symphony (Avon, IN)
Arranger/Composer; Lilly Music |
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jhatpro
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Joined: 17 Mar 2002
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Location: The Land Beyond O'Hare
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| Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2017 2:50 pm Post subject: |
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I often recall for audiences a conversation I had with Bud Freeman in the 1970s in which he talked about playing the Green Mill in 1931 or 32 when the cops broke down the door with axes and hauled everyone to the nearest lockup.
He said it wasn't long before a guy from the musicians union showed up to bail the band out and soon they were back at the Mill playing for a fresh group of drinkers.
_________________
Jim Hatfield
"The notes are there - find them.” Mingus
2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle |
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