I hadn't played for years before attending my first Navy Musicians Association reunion. I worried incessantly about my ability to play and eventually posted articles about my pre-reunion practice regimen.
John Derby has taken such public self-flagellation to a new level. He's created an entire blog about his musical preparations for his first NMA reunion in June. To relive the agony and insecurity that make preparation for your first reunion a period of nerve-wracking self-debasement, visit Who moved my chops?
Like me, John stopped playing sometime in the '90s, but it's clear he'll be ready for our get-together in San Antonio. He's already figured out the three most important things to bring to a reunion of the Navy Musicians Association: your suitcase, your axe and your excuses.
Frank Mullen's very unofficial source of poop, skinny and bitching for present and former U.S. Navy Musicians.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Friday, May 14, 2010
A Dramatic Fermata
I'm watching "Victory at Sea" on DVD. Robert Russell Bennett's orchestrations of Richard Rodgers's themes, so familiar to Navy musicians, are even more masterful in the context for which they were written.
I just finished watching Episode 23, "Target Suribachi." It begins with preparations for the invasion of Iwo Jima, the convergence of American ships offshore that crucial island, the range-finding, all scored with Bennett's typical expertise.
Finally, the bombardment starts. And when it does, the music, for the first time, stops.
For 22 1/2 episodes, music has underscored every action, every victorious parade, every humiliating defeat. But now, the only sounds are the roar of the big guns, the scream of airplane engines, the thunder of the explosions that tear apart the island in preparation for the landing.
No doubt, Rodgers and Bennett could have come up with musical accompiment for this. But they had the sense not to. Letting the sound of battle tell the story makes this scene the starkest of the series.
I just finished watching Episode 23, "Target Suribachi." It begins with preparations for the invasion of Iwo Jima, the convergence of American ships offshore that crucial island, the range-finding, all scored with Bennett's typical expertise.
Finally, the bombardment starts. And when it does, the music, for the first time, stops.
For 22 1/2 episodes, music has underscored every action, every victorious parade, every humiliating defeat. But now, the only sounds are the roar of the big guns, the scream of airplane engines, the thunder of the explosions that tear apart the island in preparation for the landing.
No doubt, Rodgers and Bennett could have come up with musical accompiment for this. But they had the sense not to. Letting the sound of battle tell the story makes this scene the starkest of the series.
Monday, May 10, 2010
MUCM Larry Brown, USN (Ret.)
I heard of the death of Larry Brown, the assistant bandleader when I was stationed at the Newport band in the '70s.
Having grown up and served in the old-school, "cumshaw" Navy, Larry could get his fingers on things that eluded normal supply channels. Legendary was the battleship-sized desk in his office, the spoils of some nefarious deal he cooked up. It was the most majestic and imposing desk on the entire base, coveted by all senior and flag officers at NETC Newport.
After Larry's retirement, his desk remained onboard, a special perk for the MUs who followed him as Assistant Bandleader, Navy Band Newport.
Larry is gone, but, for all I know, his desk is still on active duty.
Funeral details for MUCM Larry Brown, USN (Ret.) will be posted at the Navy Musicians Association website when they become available.
Having grown up and served in the old-school, "cumshaw" Navy, Larry could get his fingers on things that eluded normal supply channels. Legendary was the battleship-sized desk in his office, the spoils of some nefarious deal he cooked up. It was the most majestic and imposing desk on the entire base, coveted by all senior and flag officers at NETC Newport.
After Larry's retirement, his desk remained onboard, a special perk for the MUs who followed him as Assistant Bandleader, Navy Band Newport.
Larry is gone, but, for all I know, his desk is still on active duty.
Funeral details for MUCM Larry Brown, USN (Ret.) will be posted at the Navy Musicians Association website when they become available.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
2010 Navy Musicians Association Reunion Schedule
Regular attendees are used to the routine, which changes only slightly from year to year. Newcomers, however, wonder how it all works.
Here's the schedule as it appears in the NMA's newsletter, Leger Lines. A few things to note:
-- The Registration desk may be closed when you arrive. No biggie; join in the fun and sign in when you can.
-- "Combo" means free-wheeling jazz/Dixieland/bebop in the lounge. Rhythm section gear--drums, keyboard, amps--will be permanantly set up. Times given are estimates; whenever the mood strikes and the instrumentation allows, the jamming will happen.
-- Check the gig board for changes. Scheduling changes, updates and snafus can, and will, occur.
-- The Registration desk is open through Friday, to accomodate those who cannot attend the entire reunion. A loose Tuesday schedule is given for those early birds, like me, who like to get a head start on the fun.
Here's the schedule as it appears in the NMA's newsletter, Leger Lines. A few things to note:
-- The Registration desk may be closed when you arrive. No biggie; join in the fun and sign in when you can.
-- "Combo" means free-wheeling jazz/Dixieland/bebop in the lounge. Rhythm section gear--drums, keyboard, amps--will be permanantly set up. Times given are estimates; whenever the mood strikes and the instrumentation allows, the jamming will happen.
-- Check the gig board for changes. Scheduling changes, updates and snafus can, and will, occur.
-- The Registration desk is open through Friday, to accomodate those who cannot attend the entire reunion. A loose Tuesday schedule is given for those early birds, like me, who like to get a head start on the fun.
NAVY MUSICIANS ASSOCIATION REUNION
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS JUNE 23-26, 2010
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS JUNE 23-26, 2010
Early-bird Tuesday, 22JUN10
1300-1600 Early arrival, check in
1900-? Combo in lounge (instrumentation
permitting)
Wednesday, 23JUN10
0900-1630 Registration desk open
0900-1130 Dance Band rehearsal
1300-1600 Concert Band rehearsal
1800-? Dance Band rehearsal
(Combo in lounge after 1300)
Thursday,24JUN10
0900-1630 Registration desk open
0900-1130 Dance Band rehearsal
1300-1600 Concert Band rehearsal
1800-? Dance Band rehearsal
(Combo in lounge after 1300)
Friday, 25JUN10
0900-1630 Registration desk open
0900-1130 Concert Band rehearsal
0900-1500 "Best of San Antonio Tour"
1300-? Rock Band rehearsal
1400 Set up ballroom for Friday Beer Bash
1830 NMA Bands performance in ballroom
(Combo in lounge after 1300)
Saturday, 26JUN10
0830-1000 Breakfast in ballroom
1000-1200 NMA General Membership Meeting
1200 Set up bands for Banquet
1300 Rock Band rehearsal
1800 Cocktails
1930-2330 NMA Banquet
(Combo in lounge after Banquet)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)