Sex and Instruments.

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: Cruiser
Date: 22 Dec 03 - 10:55 PM

wendyg,

I am listnening to your rendition of 'Turning Toward the Morning' as I write this. It is beautiful song, as is your voice.

I listened to all your MP3 files. I enjoyed each one and you give credence to the fact that a woman can be an accomplished banjoist.

Your skills as a musician, both singer & instrumentalist, are admirable. You are in the same league as Ms. Harris and folk music would have missed your contributions if you had (just) "been a country singer".

All your site information was a good read.

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: open mike
Date: 22 Dec 03 - 11:08 PM

http://www.alisonbrown.net/
http://www.marymccaslin.com/

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: Mark Clark
Date: 22 Dec 03 - 11:55 PM

The first recorder (a tenor) I remember hearing was played by Pete Seeger. I caused my to go out an buy one a couple of eons ago. I learned to play Greensleeves and then quickly lost interest.

I was glad to see someone (Big Jim from Jackson) talk about the women who played banjo on Hee Haw. Ronnie Stoneman was a better banjo player than Roy Clark but all they ever let her do was stand at an ironing board in a house coat and curlers.

And what about Little Neo, AKA Banjo Bonnie? She turned out to be a fine banjo player.

And why is everyone so interested in great big guys with teeny little instruments?

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 12:11 AM

See what you've done now, jOhn? These people are not going to rest until they've listed every woman who has ever lived who can be shown to have played a banjo at some time in her life.

A couple of examples would probably have been perfectly sufficient by way of illustration, but that isn't how things work in threads like this, of course. We can expect a great many more names to come, I have no doubt; but I can promise all female banjo players of my acquaintance (including those now deceased) that I will not betray their trust. They will not be named here by me.

Since I, too, am a little bored and looking for excuses to postpone something more important that I ought to be doing instead, I'll just add the following, absolutely fascinating nugget of information.

My grandmother, although she had ready access to a banjo for some 30 years, never once gave in to any temptation she may have felt to play it. Not only that; she deliberately hid it from her husband, and concealed its existence from her sons (except for my uncle John, who is deaf and therefore immune from banjo-related problems). As soon as she felt I was old enough to understand, she gave it to me (on the grounds that I was the only member of the family who could play it without causing undue distress or injury) but swore me to secrecy; which I faithfully maintained until all danger was past.

I still have it. If I had a daughter, I would want to be sure that she was able to play the banjo, should she ever wish to do such a thing; I would also want to be sure that she was able to kill an assailant with her bare hands. I wouldn't actually want her ever to do either of those things unless compelled by absolutely unavoidable circumstance. On the whole, you get sent to prison for longer when you have killed in self defence than you do for committing unprovoked banjo crimes upon innocent members of the public; somehow that seems terribly unfair.

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: Beardy
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 06:13 AM

jOhn does indeed live a sheltered life here in Hull, we'll have to take him out more. To begin with I cannot believe he has never seen film/TV footage of Tessie O'Shea of "Two Ton Tessie" fame. Although that may have been a banjolele she played but close enough for folk music.

As for brass instrumentation does anyone remember the Barely Works (1988-1993) who had a female tuba player. Also there is Anna Ryder who does an amazing Bessie Smith song on accordian & trumpet simultaneously.


Stewart

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: fiddler
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 06:14 AM

I feel like sex when I've played well - but perhaps I shouln't confess that!

I Lurve this thread!

Sorry I can't add more erudite thoughts other than the above!

A

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 07:57 AM

From what I gather, there's a lot of time when John9 isn't capable of seeing very much, and as lot of UK folk happens on licensed premises I would expect these to be some of them :-)

Anyway this recent thread seems to be related !

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: PoppaGator
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 10:29 AM

To Joybell, regarding the difference between the Cajun ladies' frottoir and the armor bras featured in Wagnerian opera:

I don't believe those opera costumes feature the requisite corrugation.

Actually, I believe the playing surface (ridged area) is confined to the below-the-boobs zone, at least on the *standard* model. If a player really wanted to tickle herself, of course, there's nothing to prevent her from tapping any area of the breastplate with her thimbled fingertips.

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: GUEST,Santa
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 10:39 AM

I think that I can expose to you the truth that Edain plays the trombone. But not in folk clubs.

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: GUEST,Kaleb
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 10:47 AM

http://www.racheleddy.com

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 11:14 AM

With his boom-ta-ra-ra, boom-ta-ra-ra, boom-ta-ra-ra-ray
The man who played the big trombone he stole my wife away.
He pushed his long thing in and out - he made her feel so gay,
He really ticked her fancy with his boom-ta-ra-ra-ray.

. . . I suppose a gay woman with the right equipment could manage that.

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: breezy
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 11:49 AM

then there's Mary Humphries, or has she been mentioned already?

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: GUEST,Claire
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 12:52 PM

I asked my bandmate about those big guys with tiny mandolins. I figured he was the authority because he is one, with one. He said it is hand strength. It takes a lot of strength to play a mandolin because it has double strings and you have to press both down evenly and firmly to get the right sound. I stuck out my arm and said - oh yeah. After about a second of squeezing, I was convinced. He could have broken my arm, he was so strong and he claimed to be holding back.

About the sex and playing music, there are lots of differences, for one thing sex doesn't last as long, you can't do it with as many people, and you generally don't have an audience.

Claire

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: PageOfCups
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 02:12 PM

I can't speak for stringed instruments, but I know in my high school band instruments were pretty much segregated by sex. Guys as a rule did NOT play woodwinds - saxes were the exception. The one male clarinet player could (and would) kick the *ss of anybody who questioned his manhood. He ended up being the drum major his senior year. Gals as a rule did NOT play brass. We had one girl trombone player (who had a Reputation as a result), one girl trumpet player (who was so low in the section's hierarchy that she was just ignored), and one girl sousaphone player (who weighed exactly twice what her instrument did - she almost sailed away during a particularly windy parade).

From what I've seen, brass=boys, woodwinds=girls is very much the norm in high schools. My question is, where do all the male flutists come from? Were they hiding out in the sax section until after college?

PoC
(former flute player, who is intimidated by banjos and hasn't touched a recorder since college)

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 02:22 PM

Okay, let's admit it... how many people still rosin their bow???

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: Joybell
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 04:48 PM

Well my Beau is still pretty good.

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: Peace
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 05:08 PM

Claire, you're wrong on three counts. Remember Linda Lovelace.

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: *daylia*
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 05:42 PM

Well, this article is sure to convince any dried-up doubting crusty old cynics out there that, at least to those of us in the know guitars are sexy!

It's a physical instrument, touch-sensitive, and responds equally well to gently caressing soft minor diminisheds in the moonlight, or being hacked against the frame of an amplifier hanging by a sway bar (see also whammy bar, wang bar, or tailpiece vibrato)...

And then there is touch. I can tell you that hardly anything feels more silky than the neck of a '57 Stratocaster, its varnish worn away by countless barre chords, the slight hollow where the palm cups the higher notes. It positively glows with the warm fibers of its wood, its striations and grains breathing ...

Truly, these are instruments meant to be held, if only in the imaginary music they make as they wait in readiness, the promise of melody and rhythm awaiting their performer ...


*whew*, eh?

daylia

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: GUEST,Guest Again
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 06:28 PM

Good brucie, REAL good! (with a tinge of sarcasm, in case you missed that before, and admittedly, a snicker) :)

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: Blowzabella
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 07:03 PM

Sharon Lindo plays trombone (and baroque violin!)

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: Mooh
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 07:24 PM

Had the pleasure of carrying Sarah Grey's banjo around a festival a couple of years ago, she was very sweet.

Hilary James sings, plays guitar, double bass, and mandobass by Simon Mayor's side. She's a brave soul, even using my bass (which needs a setup) more than once. Her cds are among my most favourite from any female artist.

I don't care what they play so long as they help haul the gear to and from the gig!

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: Jen M
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 08:30 PM

My daughter notes that although most brass is predominately male (although Penn State has a female tuba professor), her instrument-French Horn-is predominately female. Perhaps that's because the French Horn can't make up it's mind whether it's brass or woodwind (plays in both types of quintets and if the brass sits out a concerto odds are the horns will still play) I guess that makes them switch hitters.

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: PoppaGator
Date: 24 Dec 03 - 01:08 PM

Here in New Orleans we have a highly visible (and very good) female trombone player named Sally, stage name Mustang Sally. She always shows up to play jazz funerals in her standard brass-band uniform (white shirt, black trousers, B&W cap). Since she's not only female but also white, she *has* to be a solid musicians to play in that company.

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 25 Dec 03 - 02:13 AM

Hey PoppaGator,

I was in New Orleans a few years ago. Saw a band called The Jazz Vipers. They had a female Trombone player from Quebec. Could this have been Sally?

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: Margret RoadKnight
Date: 25 Dec 03 - 02:52 AM

Ade Monsbrough (the "father of Australian Jazz") recorded an LP titled "Recorded in Ragtime".
Traditionally only men played the Kora, but West African masters now teach women (studied in The Gambia myself, with Malamini Jobarteh, in '95/'96)

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: GUEST,squeezy
Date: 25 Dec 03 - 06:13 PM

I've always wanted to be in a band with the bra section!

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: Mary Humphreys
Date: 25 Dec 03 - 06:35 PM

I am amazed that no-one has mentioned Shirley Collins and her beautifully understated banjo playing that complemented her singing of English traditional songs so perfectly.
And shame on you , Malcolm Douglas for not allowing a daughter of yours - however hypothetical - to emulate such a worthy exemplar of revival singing. Please note that this has been posted after a liberal helping of Grahams LBV!
Happy Boxing Day to all.

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Dec 03 - 06:41 PM

No doubt, with a name like squeezy!

Uh, you kinda left the two double ss's offin' brass, huh?
Best ya didn't sign up for band athinkin' there was that section ready to be "filled" or played with.

Glad I could forewarn you afore ya got yer hopes up and signed up.

"Please don't squeeze my Charmin'
Don't hold her so tight
You best heed my warnin'
It's the last one tonight"

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: Sttaw Legend
Date: 26 Dec 03 - 05:02 AM

I like both.

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: PoppaGator
Date: 26 Dec 03 - 10:32 AM

In response to Steve's question, "Mustang" Sally (whom I had mentioned earlier as a girl tropmbone player) may or may not have appeared with the N.O. Jazz Vipers when he saw them. I'm slightly familiar with the band and have seen them a couple of times, each time with a few different personnel. Sally wasn't with them on either of those occasions (nor was any other female trombonist), but like any other journeyman (journeyperson?) local brass player, she may well join the group on occasion.

I just realized that we have at least one all-girl brass band in New Orleans, the Pinettes, named after their affiliation with the adult male Pinstripe Brass Band. Their membership includes at least one trombone if not two, a saxophone, couple of trumpets, snare drum, plus two instruments almost always played by men: the big bass drum and the sousaphone (that is, is the familiar marching-band tuba that coils around the player's upper body.)

There are probably even fewer sousaphone players among females than either banjo-pickers or trombone players, doncha think?

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 26 Dec 03 - 12:07 PM

Thanks PoppaGator,

Man, I'm envious of you living there. I spent a week there and heard some of the best music I've ever heard, and I know that I only got the tip of the iceberg. Heck, even if you just hang around Jackson Sqare and Royal Street you can hear some great stuff without even going inside a club.

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: PoppaGator
Date: 26 Dec 03 - 01:20 PM

Hey Steve,

The best thing about living in New Orleans is *never* having to hear mainstream American pop music.

Of course, we do have the same corporate playlist-driven radio as the rest of the country, for those who like that kind of thing. But there's so much live music to hear, plus we have the world's greatest radio station, all-volunteer 24/7 community station WWOZ 90.7 FM.

You can listen from anywhere in the world, if your internet connection is good enough, at www.wwoz.org
. If you don't like what you're hearing at the moment, just wait a while, or check the program schedule posted on the website.

Pops

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: Ebbie
Date: 16 Jul 10 - 04:16 PM

"Date: 20 Dec 03 - 11:19 PM

I'm trying to think of some instrument- any instrument that is gender specific. Ah. I've thought of one."

Way back there I evidently knew of a gender-specific instrument. Today I have no idea of what I was talking about. I hope I knew then.

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: Tootler
Date: 16 Jul 10 - 06:06 PM

Going back to the OP, I play recorder and have done so on and off for about 50 years and regularly for the past 25 years.

I belong to the Society of Recorder Players (UK) and while men are in the minority, they are a significant minority. At major recorder events between 1/4 and 1/3 are men.

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: Jack Campin
Date: 16 Jul 10 - 07:32 PM

I was trying to think what instruments were associated with deviant sexuality, and then it hit me.

Playing the bodhran turns you gay.

If the bodhran players you know haven't already heard this, please tell them immediately.

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: Smokey.
Date: 16 Jul 10 - 07:52 PM

Some say that french hornists don't like to kiss without fisting at the same time.

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: Gurney
Date: 16 Jul 10 - 07:59 PM

jOhn has a point, despite there being exceptions and changing times. Most Cello players seem to be girls. Less Double Bass players are, which may be because of the muscle needed to haul it about. Harps also attract the female instrumentalist. In Russia, the Guitar used to be almost exclusively a ladies instrument, I've read.

Female emancipation must be to blame, I reckon:-)

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: Acorn4
Date: 17 Jul 10 - 04:36 AM

The harmonica seems to be mainly a male preserve. Most melodeon players seem to be male.

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: treewind
Date: 17 Jul 10 - 04:45 AM

"Most Cello players seem to be girls"

Apart from being an individual exception myself, I don't believe
that is generally true. I'd say the cello is a fairly gender neutral instrument, based on recollected observation of orchestral cello sections (but I haven't been to many orchestral concerts recently)

Probably true of the other instruments mentioned above, except that in the folk world the first three double bass players I can think of are Vicki Swan, Laurel Swift and Miranda Sykes...

Anahata

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: Mr Red
Date: 17 Jul 10 - 04:48 AM

ignoring the absolutes.

Sir/Rev has hit on a statistical demographic.

If you were phrasing a marketing campaign - this would be relevant.

And maybe ladies have too much respect (statistically) to be seen carrying a banjo. (that, at least, is Man's work).




ducks and runs for cover............

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: Acorn4
Date: 17 Jul 10 - 05:58 AM

There are quite a few female banjo players, but they do seem to go for the frailing rather than the Scruggs style.

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: GUEST,mauvepink
Date: 17 Jul 10 - 07:23 AM

Barbara Mandrell also used a banjo I believe on her shows? I also seem to recall seeing Dolly Parton with one, but maybe I have that wrong?

Having lifted a banjo up one evening, to pass to the owner who is a friend, I realised why he had the big thick strap he has on it. It was weighty to say the least and I have picked up lighter brass instrunments. I know not all banjo are heavy but his would break your foot easy if it fell on you. Even he only tends to do a couple of songs a time and then puts it down.

mp

Subject: RE: Sex and Instruments.
From: Midchuck
Date: 17 Jul 10 - 08:22 AM

Here's a photo of a female celebrity playing what appears to be a Collings dreadnought, although the brand name on the headstock is blurred. (You have to scroll down a little.)

Be careful to concentrate on the guitar.

Peter