Hello DGN Band members. This is Mr. Teague writing again from Germany.On Wednesday morning I had the opportunity to attend a rehearsal of the Polizeimusikkorps Baden-Wurttemberg (the Police Band of the State of Baden-Wurttemberg). This is a professional band (each member is a professionally trained musician who has been selected to the band through an audition) that performs more than 70 concerts annually. The band also records many of the CDs that European music publishers send out all over the world to advertise their publications. The band was very good, and it was a real pleasure to observe them in rehearsal. It may be hard to tell from the vantage point of my video, but there are only 35 members in this ensemble. This number is dictated to the conductor by the state. For that reason most instrument sections are "one on a part." He uses two clarinets on each part, and only one oboe, one bassoon, and three French Horns. There are two alto saxes, and one tenor sax. The bari sax is only used on certain pieces, and a clarinet player moves over to bari for those works. The band only uses two full-time percussionists, so members of the trumpet section (there are five) rotate in to help as needed. Percussionists: you might notice that the timpani are set up in reverse order (high drums on the left). Germany and Austria are the only two countries in the world that have this tradition.
I was introduced to the band just before their break, and I then spent some time with the conductor. He offered to have the band perform a special clinic/concert for the District 99 Honors Band in June of 2008! I of course said "yes," and told him that I thought our students would really enjoy the chance to hear them perform. Interestingly, in looking at his musical scores, I noticed that he used the same score-marking system (specific colors and symbols) that I learned at Northwestern University. In speaking with him (Mr. Schiffer served as our translator) I learned that his conducting mentor once studies with my conducting mentor - Mr. Paynter. It was a very special "It's A Small World" moment.
I hope everyone is enjoying their Spring Break. See you soon,
BT
