Recently I was asked by colleagues to play my cello at a work function. My initial gut reaction is no WAY! I haven't played cello in public since I was a freshman in college! Recently my repertoire includes such fan favorites as "Hot Cross Buns" and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"! As I stood there, desperately searching my brain for a possible excuse the band teacher walked by. Before I know it, the colleague doing the asking stops the band teacher and asks him what his main instrument is. Unaware of the conversation taking place, the band teacher informs her that he plays the saxophone, and she in turn suggests that we play a duet....
I'm sorry...I think I just had a stroke. Did you just suggest that I play a duet- nay, an hours worth of duets- with a saxophonist? A cello/saxophone duet?
I managed to hide the incredulity (you should be impressed!) and commented (nicely) that there isn't a lot of literature written for saxophone and cello duets. Lord......have........ mercy.
I know- I sound like a snob. Anyone reading this that didn't grow up with me or raise me is probably thinking- what's the big deal? But you have to understand- I was RAISED to be this way! I played for Candace Wiebener- she said the word "band" like she was saying "dirty toilet". And the suggestion of a cello/saxophone duet? In the words of Tony Soprano- fughetaboutit. I have respect for woodwinds/brass/percussion, but come ON! The cello and the saxophone are NOT friends. No way, no how. I briefly dated a saxophone player when I was a sophomore in highschool, so I should know.
When I told my mom this story she said- "That's what happens when a state doesn't have music education in schools!" Ohhhh SNAP!
How do you REALLY feel about California mom? :)
**Before some know-it-all starts commenting on this post about how cello and saxophone duets DO exist, I have to admit that after I published this post I tried googling "cello saxophone duets" and found that there are a couple of reputable ones out there- but still, probably not enough to fill an hours worth of background music. And it's worth noting that this blog entry shows up fifth on that google search. So there.
