dandarragh

I play in community band and had to buy a harmon mute recently for a concert. This $40 purchase was used for exactly one note and in my past 10 years in this band we've never needed a harmon mute before.
Someone gave me a copy of an old piece called "Sugar Blues." I'm wondering if there is any other music which contains anything extensive for a harmon mute.
Also, how does the stem function -- when do you take it out? When do you play with it in; how about halfway?

Solar Bell

Big band music uses the Harmon mute a lot.

Sugar Blues was a tune made famous by Clyde McCoy, do a search and I'm sure you can find an MP3 of it. Clyde kept the stem in and did a wah-wah over the stem.

In big band charts the stem is usually removed.

-cw-

__________________
Chuck Willard
The Willard of Oz


"Don't be afraid to see what you see."
Ronald Reagan

The average response time of a 911 call is over 4 minutes.
The average speed of my 9mm is 1250 fps

When seconds count....the police are only minutes away.

tedh1951

"Dan" I play in a couple of community bands ranging through concert band, stage band, and show band genres and the Harmon is out of the case quite often. We even have one piece where lead trumpet plays Harmon, second seat plays cup, and the third plays straight mute all together in the same twelve bar section. Your $40 won't be wasted - over time.

__________________
.
Ted

Al Innella

Most big band charts use the Harmon without the stem, if the arranger wants the stem in he or she will write on the sheet.

Solar Bell

Here is what Sugar Blues sounds like...




-cw-

__________________
Chuck Willard
The Willard of Oz


"Don't be afraid to see what you see."
Ronald Reagan

The average response time of a 911 call is over 4 minutes.
The average speed of my 9mm is 1250 fps

When seconds count....the police are only minutes away.