2nd Baritone Jokes. Bring out your best.

[anadmai]

-During rehearsal, Bandmaster says to me “2nd Baritone, treat it like a solo” to my reply “what’s a solo? We don’t see many of them down in these here parts..how many beats should I rest?”.

-Last night someone called the euphoniums “baritones” and I overheard them, corrected them and said “2nd Baritones are the watchdog of the section. We have so much free time we take up a second job as surveillance.”

-What’s the difference between a baritone player and a euphonium player? The baritone player doesn’t complain about being called a euphonium.

Back in the early 90s I started to write “102 things to do while playing 2nd Baritone”. Somewhere in storage are my notes. In the meantime. Let’s hear your 2nd Baritone jokes.

I’m a big girl. I can take it.

[davewerden]

I don't have any related jokes, to offer, but...

Interestingly, I think that more than any other post I can think of, this one really points out a difference in culture. Most of us who grew up in the concert band culture seldom saw any non-unified parts! It's actually a personal pet peeve of mine that concert band composers seem afraid to offer either 1st and 2nd parts or divisi parts more often.

But I can offer some semi-related humor from the Salvation Army's Chicago Staff Band: "Solo Secondo" (about the 2nd tenor horn parts):

Solo Secondo (MP3 file)

You will probably need to boost volume to hear the talking that starts it out. It's from a live concert and was not ideally mic'd.

[anadmai]

I love SOLO SECONDO!!! Haven't been in a group playing it in over 30 years. Good memories.

My ex and I were discussing our Army past and after passing certain recordings back and forth admitted we grew up very spoiled when it came to music. Our "church" had music most others couldn't touch by a mile. As much as I despise The Salvation Army today, the music is still an important part of my life. Now that I'm back in the brass band world, I've learned to separate the love from the loathing.

But for 2nd Baritone... gracious. Told my friend last night after rehearsal, "I hope you dont' think all my jokes about 2nd Baritone mean I don't like the chair...oh, it's quite the opposite. I take all the jokes with a sense of Pride. Someone has to make them".

The recording is amazing. The memories. I can't stop laughing. Bill Himes is such a funny human being.

[anadmai]

Back in 1989, Harold Burgmayer wrote a piece called "Odds and Endings".. It just featured the low brass. Baritones/Euphs/Tubas.. It was so much fun.. Need to find a recording of it somewhere.

[davewerden]

Oh and It's the Chicago Staff Band on the recording.

Just a slip of the brain as I was typing - I made the reference more clear in my post above. Thanks!

Bill Himes was indeed a fine person. I met him in 1978 after he performed a solo; then many years later we had reason to correspond quite a bit and he was very helpful and patient. Of course, he was a wonderful euphonium player, too!

There a few recordings of his solo work on my YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOQ8...kG8Fe2iNdVlFoF

[highpitch]

Best I can offer (a bit off topic) is when I say I play the euphonium, then they ask what is that?

I reply it is a baritone you spend a lot of money on.

DG

[anadmai]

ain't that the truth.

[anadmai]

I need to find a composer with a sense of humor who'd do one for second baritone. One part would to show the audience my proficiency at counting rests. Off beats would be the next technical flourish followed by a Euphonium Solo where I watch with fangirl amazement, only to forget when I come in next. Working title.. "Wanted Hearts".

Just a slip of the brain as I was typing - I made the reference more clear in my post above. Thanks!

Bill Himes was indeed a fine person. I met him in 1978 after he performed a solo; then many years later we had reason to correspond quite a bit and he was very helpful and patient. Of course, he was a wonderful euphonium player, too!

There a few recordings of his solo work on my YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOQ8...kG8Fe2iNdVlFoF

[RickF]

I don't have any related jokes, to offer, but...
<snip>
But I can offer some semi-related humor from the Salvation Army's Chicago Staff Band: "Solo Secondo" (about the 2nd tenor horn parts):

Solo Secondo (MP3 file)

You will probably need to boost volume to hear the talking that starts it out. It's from a live concert and was not ideally mic'd.

Too funny!

I went looking for a video of Salvation Army's Chicago Staff Band but no luck. Did find a decent one by the Natural State Brass Band in Arkansas linked below. The dialog is more audible. I loved it when the soloist took out a huge towel to dry his chops and brow. After all, those mid range F sharps (concert E) can be tough.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=levuF973w8s

[anadmai]

I saw that too. They used some of the dialogue from the CSB. I’ve been laughing at this all day.

[dsurkin]

[snip]-What’s the difference between a baritone player and a euphonium player? The baritone player doesn’t complain about being called a euphonium.[snip]

I took the liberty of posting this to my Facebook page (with full attribution to Des and to this forum). I pointed it out to Walter Barrett, who is first chair euphonium in the Westchester Band (that's Westchester County, NY for Des and all others who live near West Chester, PA). The conductor has frequently credited Wally's solos by saying "and Walter Barrett on baritone." Wally once made a sign that he used to hold up after such announcements: "It's a euphonium, not a baritone."

Wally actually bought a baritone a few years ago (I think it is a Jin Bao model) that he used for his solo in Lincolnshire Posy.

[anadmai]

The 2nd Baritone should be the one who hands the euphonium player the sign.

[dsurkin]

The 2nd Baritone should be the one who hands the euphonium player the sign.

Good point, but we play in a symphonic wind band, so we're all euphoniums. And since it's an amateur group (section leaders are all pros), there are no two euphoniums of the same make or model.

[anadmai]

Oh that's right.

Good point, but we play in a symphonic wind band, so we're all euphoniums. And since it's an amateur group (section leaders are all pros), there are no two euphoniums of the same make or model.

[Snorlax]

Prof

Here's a variation on the theme: I actually VOLUNTEERED to play 2nd baritone.
In 1988-89 I was in Grantham, Lincolnshire as an exchange professor of finance.
I had been solo euph in the Indianapolis Brass Choir for a few years.
When I got settled in Grantham, I discovered that there was a 4th-section band in town,
and brought my euph along to have a blow with them.
I discovered that the band rehearsed in an upstairs room in the Tudor Rose Pub in Grantham,
and that the owner kept the band's pint glasses full during rehearsals--totally gratis.
So when the MD asked if I'd like to dep (sub) with the band, I said "only if I can play 2nd baritone
so I can take maximal advantage of the proprietor's generosity."
The band finished near the bottom of the 4th section at the 1989 regionals, finishing below
arch-rival Skegness, and eventually ceased to exist at some point, but my fond memories of
that time persist. ;-)