[Trombone-l] Conch shell on Reveultas

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Steve Turre has been playing the Conch shell for a long time. I wonder if he could give you some hints?

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: Raymond Horton <rayhorton at insightbb.com> 

> 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 
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