Re: Ask the Tuba Player


[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ TubeNet BBS ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by Chuck(G) on February 25, 2001 at 13:55:34:

In Reply to: Ask the Tuba Player posted by Bill Y. on February 25, 2001 at 00:08:38:

I remember talking with a military band director once about this and he related an anecdote of his own. Seems there was a collector of antique artillery nearby, so the band thought it would be neat to have him do the effects for 1812 with one of his own pieces.

He agreed and brought a medium-sized field piece to the concert (no rehearsal). When given a copy of the cannon part, his response was that the band didn't seem to understand that one of these old black-powder babies can be fired at most about every 8 minutes. It takes that long to get it ready to fire. Well, there was a contingency plan (shotguns and drums), so they had him fire off just one charge at the climax.

Well, the sound was deafening enough, but the entire outdoor stage and front rows of the audiences were engulfed in a huge cloud of thick choking smoke, making almost impossible to continue.

Wonder if one could devise a giant-sized version of one of those propane-powered "bangers" that farmers use to scare away crows?


Follow Ups: