BS: meet Senator Tester, trumpeter, 7 fingers

Subject: BS: meet Senator Testor trumpeter, 7 fingers
From: Alice
Date: 12 Nov 06 - 11:56 PM

I thought Mudcatters might like to meet a musician and farmer who is going to the Senate to represent Montana. The New York Times has an interesting article about him. I knew he taught music as well as farming his family's homestead place, but didn't know he lost three fingers in a meat grinder when he was a child. Still plays the trumpet.
Article here:

Fresh Off the Farm in Montana, a Senator-to-Be
Nov 13, 2006
www.nytimes.com

Subject: RE: BS: meet Senator Testor trumpeter, 7 fingers
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 06:45 AM

Now here we go - looks like this might been a real music thread...

Subject: RE: BS: meet Senator Testor trumpeter, 7 fingers
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 08:04 AM

Well it could have been - moving on to how this wouldn't be too bad for a trumpet player, but would really bugger you for playing the penny whistle. And then someone brings up the three hole pipe you play one-handed to leave the other hand free to play a drum (the pipe and tabor). And then Django Reinhardt comes upon the scene, and all the other musicians who've managed to overcome losing a few bits and pieces...

But sticking it down here in the BS means it'll turn into a partisan Punch and Judy match about US senators, and what unutterable bastards the other lot are.

Subject: RE: BS: meet Senator Testor trumpeter, 7 fingers
From: Rapparee
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 08:25 AM

He has to become a Great Man, totally free from corruption and undue political influence, for he is after all a trumpeter. Everyone knows that trumpeters are unquestionably the most perfect of all human beings (and possibly angels).

As for his fingers, look what Jerry Garcia did. How soon will there be an ice cream named after Senator Testor do you suppose?

Subject: RE: BS: meet Senator Testor trumpeter, 7 fingers
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 08:34 AM

WTF is up with the clones & their quick trigger fingers to move musical related threads to the bottom of the slag heap?

Yet another Mudcat case of absolute power corrupting absolutely.

They never even give these threads a chance, then Joe comes in and bullies anyone who questions his or the clones judgment.

Bullshit, indeed.

Subject: RE: BS: meet Senator Testor trumpeter, 7 fingers
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 08:52 AM

Playing the Saxophone, on the other hand, didn't keep Clinton out of trouble.

Then there's Tony Blair, who used to play with the a group called The Ugly Rumours, and later appears to have adopted the name as a mission statement.

Yes, politicians with a music-making streak - that has the potential for quite an interesting thread.

Subject: RE: BS: meet Senator Testor trumpeter, 7 fingers
From: kendall
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 08:53 AM

Take a deep breath Mate.

Subject: RE: BS: meet Senator Testor trumpeter, 7 fingers
From: Alice
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 10:10 AM

Guest, don't blame clones. I started the thread with the BS prefix because the article I pointed to is more about politics than Testor the music man. I knew he had taught music at the school near his farm, and had heard him on the radio playing the kazoo with a classroom of kids during his campaign, but this was the first I knew of the lost fingers. They show him in tv campaign ads bucking bales of hay, getting his flattop haircut, walking wth the governor, smiling his friendly and truly joyful looking smile. I'd like to hear him play!

Subject: RE: BS: meet Senator Testor trumpeter, 7 fingers
From: Big Mick
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 10:17 AM

Yeah, but the Minnesota Symphonic horse's arse just has to use any excuse to attack. Helps her get through the day.

He does have a joyful smile, doesn't he? I think he is going to be in the Senate for a very long time.

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: meet Senator Testor trumpeter, 7 fingers
From: Alice
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 10:30 AM

Big changes in his life in store for Testor going to Washington. He is now transferring his organic farm to the next generation of his family. In the article it says he made only $20,000 a year on farming, not surprising, as it is rather bleak in the Montana agriculture economy, especially through the drought years in his part of the state. Mike Mansfield would be proud.

Subject: RE: BS: meet Senator Testor trumpeter, 7 fingers
From: Rapparee
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 11:07 AM

And he'll be an EXCELLENT Senator! Probably one of the best ever to have served.

Subject: RE: BS: meet Senator Testor trumpeter, 7 fingers
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 11:46 AM

How many fingers does it take to play the trumpet? There are only four valves, right? I can see where a clarinet wout be far more difficult to play with missing fingers, but I'd think a person should be able to play a trumpet with hardly any limitation from missing fingers.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: meet Senator Tester, trumpeter, 7 fingers
From: Rapparee
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 12:22 PM

Three valves, Joe. Almost all trumpets have three valves (not counting the spit valves).

Holding the instrument, as can be seen, requires both hands (although you CAN play it single-handed, it's not very well thought of except for turning music sheets or for other very short periods). It would depend upon which fingers were missing on which hand. (In the picture the right thumb is hidden by the valves and the position of the left hand.)

Subject: RE: BS: meet Senator Tester, trumpeter, 7 fingers
From: pdq
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 12:27 PM

Jerry Garcia lost about half of his middle finger and part of his ring finger to an axe when he was about four. It was his right hand. The injury caused no big problem since he held a pick with the thumb and index finger.

On the other hand (as it were), Django Reinhardt suffered damage to his left (fretting) hand in a fire while an adult. It forced him to change his playing style. His "single string" work eventually replaced the "cord" and "cord-and-lead-note" styles popular at the time. Most modern Rock and Country lead guitar work have been influenced by Django. Even Doc Watson and Clerence White claim(ed) him as a major influence.

Subject: RE: BS: meet Senator Tester, trumpeter, 7 fingers
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 12:41 PM

Three-valve trumpets are more common, but four-valvers aren't that unusual.

Here's a page about James F.Burke, a one-handed trumpet player who appears to have managed pretty well.

Subject: RE: BS: meet Senator Tester, trumpeter, 7 fingers
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 01:49 PM

Here is that page about James Burke.

Subject: RE: BS: meet Senator Tester, trumpeter, 7 fingers
From: Rapparee
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 03:03 PM

Oh, I didn't say that four-valvers didn't exist -- heck, I've played one. And Burke has my HUGE respect, especially playing left-handed. But then, I'm right handed and doing anything "leftie" seems odd to me.

Subject: RE: BS: meet Senator Tester, trumpeter, 7 fingers
From: Rapparee
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 04:27 PM

Dang, he made the International Herald Tribune.

Subject: RE: BS: meet Senator Tester, trumpeter, 7 fingers
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 04:33 PM

"knows how to butcher a cow or grease a combine"

Both skills that might come in very handy in Washington, I'd imagine. As also would the ability to bow one's own trumpet.

Subject: RE: BS: meet Senator Tester, trumpeter, 7 fingers
From: Big Mick
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 04:48 PM

No damn wonder I can't play the damn trumpet. I thought you were supposed to blow in the damn things!!!! Where did I put that bass bow??????????? One more damn piece of kit to buy....mumble, sputter, piss, moan.......

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: meet Senator Tester, trumpeter, 7 fingers
From: Rapparee
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 05:27 PM

Yeah, Mick, there ain't nothin' like an old-fashioned string trumpet to pep up a session.

Subject: RE: BS: meet Senator Tester, trumpeter, 7 fingers
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 08:38 PM

... or the Wind Cello, to clear a room....

Subject: RE: BS: meet Senator Tester, trumpeter, 7 fingers
From: greg stephens
Date: 14 Nov 06 - 12:17 PM

Wingy Manone was a famous one-handed jazz trumpeter.
Now, is this Tester bloke any relation to the more famous Scan?