Alec Wilder: Sonata #3 John Barrows and Tait Barrows

[@greenemonger]

My college orchestra was invited to play at the MENC convention in Seattle in 1969. I had some free time and I wandered into the exhibit hall where there were lots of horns on display. There must have been other events going on or maybe it was lunchtime because there were only three people in there: myself, a trumpet player trying an instrument at the other end of the hall, and this rather tall older gentleman. The trumpeter was playing the Brandenburg and Mr. Tall picked up a descant horn and started playing along with him! I was flabbergasted! When he was done, I asked who he was. That’s how I met John Barrows. We talked for a short while but now, at 75, I don’t remember much of the conversation other than him telling me that when he got his euphonium as a kid, it didn’t come with a mouthpiece so he (or his dad) whittled one for it. Unfortunately, I never saw him again.

[@ronaldminnema3601]

My father studied horn with Mr. Barrows when we lived in New York in the early 50's. He really was a nice man. My father used to take me along sometimes when he had a lesson. I was fascinated with the piston valve on his C. F. Schmidt and he used to let me push it a couple times.

[@Infidelio]

Thanks for posting this. He had such a lovely vibrato and it gave his playing so much lyricism.

[@mattchabot7218]

8:10 jazz movement

[@danapayne8186]

John r was my first cousin once removed. i remember him as a very tall man with a gentle voice. He came with his ensemble to buenos aires where we were living at the time, and played at our school. John R explained to us how the instruments worked together.

[@joaocarlosalves.]

👏👏👏