MUSIC and HIGH SCHOOL
I have decide to write segments about my high school experience so I begin with my 9th year of school.
MUSIC
Sometime at the beginning of the school year Edgar Williams (bandmaster) called me aside to talk about my position in the band. The conversation went something like, "Bob, you are never going to be first chair on clarinet. Shirley R*** has that position until you both graduate. But, I could use an oboe player if you are interested". Well, that started a love affair with an instrument for me. I agreed to try to learn and became obsessed with the instrument. I practiced every day at least an hour, sometimes 2 or 3.
I was a spoiled brat. How he did it I don't know, but Mr Williams arranged for a purchase of one of the finest oboes on the market and furnished all the reeds I needed. I loved playing and performing and did so at every opportunity. He (Mr Williams) arranged private lessons at Rollins College by the 2nd chair oboist from the New York Philharmonic. I'm sorry I don't recall her name now but she was amazingly talented. Side note: first chair was a fellow by the name of Bruno Labatte who was quite well know at that time. He also arranged for me to sit in with the Florida Symphony. (I may have played 2 or 3 notes). I don't believe too many people knew it but Edgar Williams was a very talented trumpet player. The piece I remember was a composition written by Mussorgsky, arranged for orchestra by Maurice Ravel, called Pictures At An Exhibition. If not familiar it has a long trumpet section and a haunting section using double reed instruments like the oboe. If curious ask for it on Amazon or whatever music service you might have. My favorite was the NBC orchestra with Igor Stravinsky conducting. Talk about spoiled. The only sad note was my family. My mother once asked me, "can't you play that thing somewhere else.) That was my last practice at home and I don't think any of my family ever saw me perform.
Every year the band travelled to State competition where we placed as an orchestra and a marching band. I believe we placed superior every year, at least that is my story!. I entered individual competition in my Sophomore and Junior years. My senior year I took first place and was offered 2 scholarships, one to Florida State University and one to Stetson University. Thus began the first of my many mistakes, but more on that at another time.
It is almost impossible to play the oboe while marching so I had to make an arrangement. I had 2 good friends in the percussion department, Malcom Glass and Howard Van Hyning. So, I took up the bass drum! As a side note Howard went to Julliard School of music (sense the jealousy?) and played with one of the New York Orchestras. Sadly he passed away a few years ago. Malcolm lives in Tennessee, is a retired professor, writer, poet, photographer and has to be a show off (LOL). He is published and his writings are available on Amazon. Quite a few of my classmates and I grew up together (see crossing guards) but few were better friends than Malcom and Howard. We actually had a dance band and played at quite a few functions. I did not play the oboe at these, I played the tenor sax which I borrowed from another friend, Celestino Constantino (that's a mouthful). We had great times.
We also played as a marching band in the Gasparrila parade every year. Of course I played the bass drum. I managed a ride my senior year with Celestino because he had a great car, a Kaiser Henry J (a forerunner to small cars). The parade is 4.5 miles long and I'm carrying a big bass drum. Remember I weigh less that 100 pounds at that time. Under any circumstances I loved it, Celestino and I purchased huge Cuban cigars (they were legal then). He smoked his but I was never that brave so mine stayed in the wrapper. To say I loved my time with music is an understatement. I still enjoy playing an instrument and listening to most music and it makes me very nostalgic to think back on those times.
I am on the left, Celestino in the middle and I am sad to say I don't remember the boy's name on the right. Maybe a classmate knows If you look closely you can see only one cigar is lit.
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