[Trombone-l] Another oooops

[Edwin Stoddard]

Similar to the brass ensemble story:

I was asked to simulate a town band playing on the village green for an 
outdoor party and book signing.  I hired a tuba, clarinet, trumpet, I played 
bone.  We had various march books, including some the tuba player's father 
had brought from Europe many years before.  I decided that we would start in 
that book, probably just to hear something different.  The first tune 
sounded unbelievably bad, really dreadful.  Some early arrivals looked our 
way with puzzled expression; one man even came over and stood near the band. 
  I was very nervous, and took us quickly into the next piece.  It sounded 
worse, if possible.  I was now completely panicked as I had not a clue why 
this group sounded so horrible - all the players seemed to be playing well, 
and these were people I played (jazz) with frequently.  I was still sitting 
there, stunned, when the tuba player leaned over and said "what key were you 
in for the second piece"?  "Bb", I replied ..... "aaaah", he said.  "That's 
what's going on ......... European (or at least Belgian) military bands all 
play Eb tubas because they're easier to carry ----- so the parts are written 
for it".  He was playing a Bb .....  We changed books, and had no more 
trouble for the rest of the 3 hours we played.  Of course, a few years had 
already been taken off my life.

Ed Stoddard
Venice, Florida