[Trombone-l] Conch shell on Reveultas

[Raymond Horton]

OK, here's a new one on me.  I've just been advised that our Music 
Director wants me to play the conch shell part on the Revueltas  "La 
Noche de los Mayas."  Seems he always has the Bass Trombonist play the 
conch shell because there's no bass trombone part on the work. 


I just got the part.  It's unpitched, but the score says that a "tenor 
tuba playing a high E" (I think it means an E above middle C) could 
substitute.  The conch shell that came with all of the percussion 
instruments especially rented for the work plays an F# above middle C.  
The same shell was just used  in another performance by Carlos Miguel 
Prieto's orchestra.  I got to glance at the score, just for the first 
entrance, and the F# looked pretty good for the first entrance (it was 
fairly pandiatonic in E, with an F# in the bass) but I didn't get to 
look at any more of it.


The aperture on the thing is small, about trumpet size or a bit larger, 
but I don't have too much trouble playing it.  I don't get a whole lot 
of volume, though.  In the score it seems to be written as part of a 
large battery of percussion (again, at first glance). 


Does any one on the list have any experience with this work and/or this 
"instrument"?  Has anyone played either or heard/seen either played?


Are these conch shells available anywhere?  I wonder if I could find one 
that: (1) is pitched in E; or (2) has a larger aperture;, or both.


Thanks,
Raymond Horton
Bass Trombonist, Euphoniumist, Conch Sheller (?)
Louisville Orchestra