It’s been a long two weeks. I was busy with NOVUS and a week-long residency at Dickinson College, a concert for the opening of a new hall at Messiah College, Alarm Will Sound and two intense days at the Eastman School of Music, another day in Rochester to do a masterclass for students at the Eastman School, back to Messiah College for a recording session with their brass ensemble, two more days of teaching and another recording session at Messiah. I hope to write about most of these things but I’m going to start with the one that’s easiest to compile my materials on: 1969.
1969 is Alarm Will Sound’s multimedia concert event that focuses on that year. Particularly, it centers on a meeting that could have happened (but did not) between John Lennon (“left field pop music writer”) and Karlheinz Stockhausen (“left field avant garde composer”). We’ve performed the show more than a handful of times now including at Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall but returning to it is still exciting. The powerful images and music from that one year give me goosebumps every time. I took some pictures from this production:
Miles BrownMike Harley playing the bassoon.The top of the show. Alan Pierson playing “A Day in the Life.”Conversation between Lennon, Berio and StockhausenRobert Stanton rehearsing as StockhausenJohn Patrick Walker as John Lennon and David Chandler as Luciano BerioStockhausen discussing Sri AuribindoLennon in front of image from civil rights riotsPerforming Stockhausen’s StimmungCourtney Orlando accompanied by Erin Lesser in Luciano Berio’s “Michelle II,” his setting of The Beatles’s song.More MichelleImages from “O King”Jason Price as Father David BarriganChrista Robinson as Jackie OMike Harley rehearses his role as Leonard BernsteinConducting Courtney Orlando’s arrangement of the third movement of Berio’s SinfoniaRecreating Yoko Ono’s attempt to remove prejudice by wearing a bagThe ladies swooning over LennonRobert Stanton as Stockhausen
I got a new trombone this week. It was probably the easiest trombone purchase I’ve ever made. New horns are typically huge, important investments: every horn I’ve ever bought (besides my first Bundy) has come with days/weeks/months of testing, debating and fretting. This instrument, however, didn’t come with a huge price tag (just $150 from Hickey’s Music Online) and so wasn’t such a big deal. In fact, I bought it sight unseen, having never heard or held one.
Why? I direct the pep band at Dickinson College and don’t trust myself to bring anything I can dent into the stands. So when I saw the plastic Jiggs Whigham pBone, in red (Dickinson’s colors are red and white) and for only $150, I thought it was a risk I could take.
After spending some time with the horn here are my thoughts:
tl;dr: The pBone is an extremely playable, durable instrument bound to find its way into elementary schools and ska bands around the world.
Design:
The pBone is made of plastic with a carbon fiber inner slide (with metal stockings and a plastic outer slide) and a metal counterweight. The instrument is extremely light.
The slide lock is giant and actually has a visual aid on the horn to let you know when it’s locked and when it’s not.
The spit valve (does anyone call it a water key?) is awkwardly placed on the outside of the slide. It’s one piece with no cork, a design that I wonder if others will be implementing.
It comes with a matching plastic mouthpiece that reminds me of the Giardinelli I played on for a year during high school. The mouthpiece is functional but I find it plays better with my Giddings & Webster. Any small shank mouthpiece will fit in the instrument.
The slide and bell section are held together by friction (not screwed together) like some older trombones and is very secure. The giant grip feels oversized in my hands but is probably rather ergonomic.
Playability:
A player can get a decent sound on the pBone. The low register (B flat at the bottom of the bass clef staff and lower) sounds slightly more “plasticy,” for lack of a better word, than the upper register. The overtones are pretty well in tune. Overall the sound can be warm and pleasing and holds up through extreme dynamic ranges.
The slide action is my biggest issue with the instrument. I’m not sure if it’s the particular horn I purchased or all the pBones but the slide sticks quite a bit and makes a scraping noise even after oiled. Slide-o-Mix has been ineffective, I’ll try some Trombontine when I get a chance to order it to see if that helps. The slide issue is pretty significant, it makes small tuning adjustments impossible (you hope the slide gets to the right place the first time, otherwise you’re out of luck) making subtle playing a real pain.
update: I’ve learned via Kessler Music (via redditor sillybear25) that the slide “scratchiness” is normal and will go away as the metal inner stockings wear away the plastic of the inner slide. Excellent news, though with my once a week usage of the horn I expect it may take a few months before mine becomes truly playable.
The Bottom Line:
The pBone is a competent instrument. I’ll happily spend my Saturdays playing “Sledge Hammer” on it. The playability, durability and cost are right. I foresee band programs having sets of these in their school colors for their youngest players to use, though I fear legions of trombonists learning on instruments with poor slide action. If the slide issues can be worked out the pBone will be a phenomenal first instrument. Until then it’s an alternative but those who can afford and be trusted with a more expensive and “dentable” metal instrument should seriously consider it.
Rehearsing music of David Lang at the beautiful Dimenna Center.
Miles Brown plays the Dremel on a can in Evan Haus's arrangement of "Omgyjya Switch 7."Fire alarms at the Dimenna Center drove us outside for some stoop sittin'.Killing time in Frankfurt with "Roadhouse."So many great things about Krakow but possibly the greatest was shopping at the alkohole.Monks strolling down the Planty.Setting up for Sacrum+Profanum at the Muzeum Inżynierii Miejskiej w Krakowie (Tron was also present).Sleep was achieved whenever possible.See what I mean?Driving through the Alps.The green room in Bolzano, Italy.We managed to find a place that would stay open late (maybe not so legally) for us.Preparing to record music of John Adams.Trombone with E attachment (the easiest way to play Adams on a tenor trombone).
For more photos from this and other trips check out Google+.