[Trombone-l] Conch shells on Revueltas

[Jackie Harris-Stone]

  We do this periodically- technically it IS a percussion part, but it usually gets handed to me- we use whatever conch shells we can scrounge up from orchestra members.  (The part is a blast- or more accurately, several hundred blasts!)  We don't worry about pitching it (my part doesn't even have the pitch indicated- although it's possible that our part was just copied off of a score because the original was lost.)  In fact, once we had two players play the part- on one each side of the stage, standing up in profile to show us off, using two randomly pitched conches about an out of tune 5th apart- and that was fantastic.  Since the part where you play is SO percussion heavy, the pitch really isn't a big deal- you're more a part of a composite rhythmic background than any kind of harmony.  I actually think that the fact you're a little out of tune/harmony w/ the orchestra adds authenticness and character.
   
    Just a couple of tips- it is really easy to play, but because the "mouthpiece" can be irregular at best, the endurance can be a bear- not usually once through, but if you need to repeat it.  
   
    To prevent that, find the angle that the shell plays the easiest, and memorize it.  Then find a second one and keep that in reserve in case your lips blow- that slight shift can make all the difference.   This saved my butt the day we did it twice in the dress rehearsal the day of the show.
   
    I found a strong spitting "tah" attach to be helpful in getting a strong sound w/ easy endurance, and the director liked that.
   
    (And, just for your info, traditional dress for playing a conch is a loincloth!)

    Have fun!  


Jackie Harris-Stone
Bass Trombone, Orquesta Sinfonica de Monterrey 
Professor of Trombone, Escuela Superior de Musica y Danza, 
Professor of Low Brass, UANL
       
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