St Paul's Cathedral 1973(ish)

Hornblower · St Paul's Cathedral 1973(ish)

This dit will probably resonate with horn players more than others, but as we outnumber you on this forum that 'aint gonna be a problem...

We were at St Paul's for the annual Seafarers service, to which all the top brass of the country were invited, including of course, the Queen.

Capt Peter Sumner was the boss and he was a very imposing and stern figure, especially to one as impressionable as the very young me.

I was on 1st and I think Wally was 2nd and Yogi on 3rd - we didn't have the luxury of 4 horns at this time.

Peter Sumner made it abundantly clear that the brass (and horns) were to be very careful with their mutes because if we dropped it during a quite passage it would reverberate throughout the cathedral - how right he turned out to be!!!

We were playing the 'air' from Handel's Water Music, which has a very tricky horn part. After about 3 hours of counting, the 1st has to come in on a top G. No probs if it's marked with a dozen f's - but this one isn't and the hooter's cold - and - and - and....

So there I was, counting away quietly to myself and of course, lost it. I looked to Wally and mouthed, "How many's that?"

"Shrug"

Further down to Yogi, "How many?"

"Shrug" They didn't have to come in, it was only me...

BUGGER!

Panic - I know that I have to hit this top G and haven't got a scooby when!

Now - I depart for a second to explain something that many of you horn players will probably not know. The mutes we were issued...

...were made of brass and roughly resembled a ball-cock. If dropped, they didn't break, or even dent! They did however, make a lot of noise on marble floors - just what Peter Sumner didn't want.

So, back to the storydit...

For some reason that I've never been able to fathom (well, it was the seafarers) I decided to put my mute in. There was absolutely no reason to do this, but at that moment of pure blind panic it just seemed the right thing to do.

So, there I am, sat with my horn up to my mouth, watching Peter Sumner for some sort of clue as to where I was with my un-needed mute in.

From somewhere I got devine inspiration (I was in the right place I suppose) a blinding white light and I knew where I was!!

I also knew I didn't need my mute and further - only had 1 beat in which to get rid of it.

I grabbed it and lobbed it over my shoulder. I would have loved to have seen it floating in slow motion through the air.

I had my top G out of the horn before the mute hit the floor with the most deafening sound(s) probably ever heard in the cathedral during such a quiet piece. It seemed to go on forever.

But the angelic skin and essence horn player with the blue eyes and top G held firmly in his grasp couldn't possibly have been the culprit.

Those of you who knew Wally will know his reaction. If anything was going to loosen my grasp on the elusive G - it was going to be his uncontrollable giggling.

I love that top G...

townsergeant

Extremely detailed dit Stu, (you got there in the end!)

I can remember crapping myself (not literally Rab!) about the same top G, many moons ago in Plymouth Guildhall.

It's a bit like the Painted Hall at Greenwich. Right notes sound superb, but play a wrong one and it would ping off every wall and with the echo, it came back to you a few minutes later!

Co-admin

Slow motion mute in the Matrix style... wahhhhhhhhhhhhh Wonderful mental image of Wally throwing himself off his chair and floating through the air after the mute!

Of course, sunset starts with a top G so missing them is nothing new to bulgers

Hornblower

eastneyslapper

bootybandy

Yeah...did you strike the intended note from below or above Stu?

General Melchett

You can only split a note from above Taff, ask any Horn player or Bugler! Pee - Arr!

Nice story Stu, we've all been there!

Hornblower

I play my G above the stave open, which is (just about) fine.

Trouble is, I also play my F on the top line open, which actually is fine.

The real trouble is, I also play my A above the stave open, which really is not so fine - gulp. (I absolutely hate my A with 1&2 fingers deployed)

What a great instument the horn is - I love it.

I love living on the edge and whenever I pick my horn up to play that's exactly where I am.

Incidently, we played the music from the first 'Pirates' film yesterday. Now THAT's a bloody good blow.

General Melchett

Live life on the edge Stu and just use the F side - or are you chicken?

Hornblower

Cluck cluck cluckety cluck cluck!!

Does that answer your question Melchy?

There are two notes I use the F side for and it's the other 2 G's. (3 if you count the pedal)

F is far too risky for mainstream blowing, but I do play the Beethoven Sonata using it...

...when there's nobody around to listen!!!!

bootybandy

Hornblower

Yup!

You got a problem with that Botty - wanna fight? (Or a light for that fag?!)

By the way - the above dit is true - I was there and saw it all happen. (I MAY have made up the blinding white flash of light, however)

Just so you all know.

If I've breached anyone's human rights, I'm sorry.

(I've certainly breached something in my time - human rights is probably up there with all the other stuff...)

A

bootybandy

Hornblower

How's that? (To be said with a Welsh accent)

It must have been 1972 then?

I don't know - you're the one with the memory. Tell me what year it was oh knowledgeable amazing memory feat man.

Hornblower

Ahhhaa - waitacottonpickin'minute!!!

You must be thinking that if Yogi was there it musta bin later? You may well be right...

bootybandy

Got there before me...buggr. I left the wing Dec 73 and Yogi was a little after that.