[Trombone-l] Of new trombone quintets

[ROBERT SLAVEN]

From: Alisha Ard <alishamarie at mail.ru>

> With regard to the Mormon church's handbook position on trombones, 
> just so you know I lived in Utah for nearly 8 years, and for the 
> last  
> half of that played in the Orchestra at Temple Square - a recently 
> formed group that accompanies the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Salt  
> Lake City.  

You lucky girl!  I'd love that ... I know Robb Cundick in the Choir, and I'd love to sing in it ... just not sure I'd want to move to Utah!  ;)  (I'm a convert, and see Utah as an interesting anthropological experiment, but not a place to move to.)
>
> The reason still is ignorance because people don't want to believe 
> that good quality brass can be 1000 times more edifying than some  
> awful middle school flute student or a hobbyist string player  
> scratching away out of tune.

Sigh.  Yes, I've heard a few of those.
> 
> I'd recommend, if you're in this situation, simply appealing to 
> the  
> local bishopric or stake presidency if you'd really like to play, 
> and  
> make your case.  I have played in sacrament meetings several times 
> with other BYU students, and didn't offend anyone.  They were all  
> pleasantly surprised.  Also, Newell Dayley, who composed several 
> of  
> the LDS hymns, is himself a trumpet player, and he has played in  
> stake conference even.  It's not expressly forbidden, people just  
> don't know.

Ahhh, ammunition.  Thank you very many.  I'll see what I can do.  My stake president and bishop both seem to like me, no matter how messed up I may be.
> 
> My problem now, however, is in order for me to put together a nice 
> trombone quartet for church I'd have to get three other players 
> who  
> aren't Mormon, and get them to agree to do it for free!

You and me both, sister!

Robert