The Bis Key Chronicles

Posted yesterday…

It was on today’s date in 1937 that George Gershwin died at 10:35 in the morning in a Hollywood hospital after an operation for a brain tumor. He was only 38 years old. Gershwin was the idol of Broadway and Tin Pan Alley, revered by song composer Jerome Kern and
crooner Rudy Vallee, AND admired by the "serious" composers of his day, such as Maurice Ravel and Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Even Arnold Schoenberg, the fearsome leader of the 12-tone school, — and Gershwin’s regular tennis partner in Los Angeles — said, in tribute, "there is no doubt that he was a great
composer."

Jesse Ayers, composer

This from the Virginia Tech Multimedia Music Dictionary (thanks for the pointer Gary who sez):

I always love reading about the history of songs we’ve played.

Thinking of “His Honor” I came across this brief bio of Henry Fillmore.

I always knew trombones were evil…

"James Henry Fillmore Jr. was eldest of 5 children and his father was a partner in the Fillmore Religious music publishing house. Fillmore was said to have had an outstanding singing voice and was often rewarded by his father with fifty-cents to sing in the church choir. He played a little piano and was a natural with the flute, violin, and guitar. It was the slide trombone that most fascinated Fillmore. His father considered the trombone too evil for any righteous person to play, in fact, the instrument was often associated with street corner musicians whom were known to drink alcohol.

But Fillmore’s mother believed that practicing trombone might help keep Henry out of mischief, and she secretly saved enough money to buy a second-hand instrument for her son. He was educated in Cincinnati public schools and graduated from a junior college in 1901 with a "Bachelor of Arts" degree. His b composing began when he was 18. His first known publication is the march Higham, named after a line of brass instruments. He also attended the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music for a short time studying trombone with Charles Kohlman and composition with John Broekhoven.

He worked in his father’s publishing business for a while, but left in 1905. They had an argument concerning the "evils” of band music and his displeasure with Henry’s personal life. The disagreement centered on Fillmore’s lovev for Mabel May Jones, an exotic show dancer. He proposed to her by mail and they were subsequently married in St. Louis. They both were hired by the Lemon Brothers Circus, starting his career as musician and bandmaster."

Read more…

Um… how come exotic show dancers aren’t hanging out with concert band folks these days?

"This song is Copyrighted in U.S., under Seal of Copyright #154085, for a period of 28 years, and anybody caught singin it without our permission, will be mighty good friends of ourn,
cause we don’t give a dern. Publish it. Write it. Sing it. Swing to it. Yodel it. We wrote it, that’s all we wanted to do." – Woody Guthrie, American Folksinger

I advocate registering all works and arrangements and editions under a sane fair-use agreement such as the CreativeCommons.org "Share and Share Alike" license. It grants license to freely use any work or any part of my work such as sampling, mash-ups and other fun games kids play with technology, providing, and this is important, the work they create is released under the same share-friendly rules.

I’d like to say it was my idea, but no, I’m just building up upon the prior art of others.

The Woodinville Jazz Ensemble performed at the Ballard Locks again this year and I’ve received some photos from Shawn Murphy, a world-class photographer who was there. First you see some of our trumpeters extraordinaire, Bruce, Gary, and Doug.

Next some saxes including me, Matt, and Molly. Matt and Molly are the heart and soul of the sax section, with impeccable timing and flair.

We also have a killer rhythm sections with Mark on sticks, Gene on guitar, and Justin on the bass.

All in all, it was a very nice venue, with a great audience, and the Seattle weather cooperating. Happy 4th of July everyone.