Posted by Leland on June 23, 1999 at 15:57:46:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Re: Contra with two valves posted by Jeff on June 23, 1999 at 14:16:43:
If that were true, they'd be allowing trombones and cimbassos! :-)
Besides, they really don't play any louder -- maybe not as loud, individually -- than, say, the CSO brass section. If you listen to Pokorny's excerpt CD, you'll hear a "blattiness" in the loud bits that is, quite honestly, used very rarely in a corps. Most corps don't even allow that kind of sound from the contra line.
They just seem like they peel paint because the good ones get to that CSO-type volume level by way of ensemble clarity and individual responsibility; you'll see 2nd euphoniums who really care about their contribution. The school bands who have kids that are there just to stay out of gym class or to please their parents can't get there. The bands where everyone cares & works hard do achieve great things.
Any group, no matter who it is, can get to that level if everyone truly gives a darn about what they do.
Leland