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Software Development: Mozart and Beethoven

Recently I watched an interview with  Edsger Djikstra conducted a few years before his death. Music was on his mind during part of the interview; specifically, the compositional styles of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig Beethoven.  As Djikstra was talking, “Twinkle, Twinkle” was playing in the background – I’m pretty sure where his admiration was directed. Dijkstra romanticized the mythically complete style of Mozart while seeming dismissive of Beethoven’s more iterative enhancement; somewhat ironic, considering Beethoven’s music was significant in the transformation of the “Classical” era into the “Romantic” era of Western Classical music.  I told some friends while discussing this interview that I shuddered to hear his opinion of composer Gioachino Rossini, who was generally regarded in his time as lazy due to his procrastination.

Although Mozart’s manner of writing down complete works of music only after completing the process in his head is alluring (and not necessarily accurate), the manner with which Beethoven (and evidently the real Mozart as not depicted in the movie “Amadeus”) constructed his music with sketches, revisions, restarts, redo’s and various iterations before the final performance copy is not unlike what today’s software development is like and how it relates to composing or arranging a piece of music.  Consider the software development lifecycle:

  • Planning – An idea is needed, like the famous first four notes in Beethoven’s “Fifth Symphony”. Are you making a 100% original piece or an arrangement? Do you have a deadline before a performance? Is this a passion project, commission, or something else?
  • Requirements & Design – What musical form(s) will you use? What style(s)? Length? What instrument(s)? (Include trombones if you can!)
  • Development – Play something on the keyboard. Sketch out some ideas to develop the theme. Add some harmony (or not).  Have an idea for another theme? Do you include it in this piece or keep it for the future?
  • Testing – Make sure your musicians can play what you’ve written.
  • Deployment – Time for the concert / show / recording session!
  • Maintenance – If you ever play the “book” for a Broadway musical, you will be familiar with edits, additions, and entire songs cut because they didn’t work! ( And hopefully the rehearsal isn’t thrown into chaos because someone is missing an entire page that has been missing from the book since version 1)

Djikstra’s preference of composers aside, I think that most developers tend to develop with a style more attributed to Beethoven (and historical Mozart).

Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 in G minor:

Symphony No. 20 in G minor

Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5:

Symphony No. 5

Part of Rossini’s most famous overture:

Willam Tell Overture Finale

https://www.expressionsofchange.org/dijkstras-mozart/

https://www.invisionapp.com/inside-design/mozart-creative-success/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romantic_music

https://aadl.org/node/144535

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Music and Computer Science

As someone with training and experience in music and programming, it is interesting to consider the correlation between both pursuits. Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing my thoughts.

When starting any new activity, a mix of passion and patience is beneficial for lasting success. For most people, starting a new activity is exciting! Experienced musicians often perform with what seems to be effortless enjoyment. Experienced musicians also know what actual effort and time is involved in appearing so “effortless”. As a music teacher, I hope to take the initial excitement that arrives with a new music student and imbue that energy with patience, determination, and hope.  As they realize the “scale” of learning their scales (pardon my pun), they are also encouraged to understand the joy of discovery and appreciation for what they have accomplished.

Like music, programming can seem overtly daunting if the focus is the magnitude of syntax and breadth of concepts that encompass efficient software design. Most everyone in modern society is familiar enough with the end products of both music and programming: favorite songs, favorite games, favorite songs from a favorite game, phone apps, web browsers, text entry programs, tax programs, etc…. Society at large enjoys these products even if they are mystified by their inner workings.

When a new brass student starts, we begin with how to “buzz” and make a sound through whatever shape metal tubing they have chosen as their instrument.  Computer Science often starts with a simple “Hello world!\n” in the chosen programming language. The same emotion is elicited from both: “Wow! I didn’t know I could do this!” 

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What is the Best Brand for my Brass Instrument?

What brand instrument should you play?

All of them.

Actually, this is not as simple of a question as it sounds.

Beginning brass players need not fret though.  Most brands that are easily accessible these days are fine for most students. If you are simply here for some suggestions, feel free to skip to the section labeled “BEGINNERS”.

For more advanced players, this question is more subjective. And trying more models will lead you to discovering your preferences.

EVERYBODY IS DIFFERENT

Being a bit of a gear-head (instruments, mouthpieces, computers, speakers, tools….), I am easily lulled into a conversation on instrument preferences. I remember talking with a friend who said his college professor’s recommendations changed whenever his endorsements changed. In high school I was told I needed a Bach Strad trombone.  In college everyone aspired to an Edwards trombone, and a few years later a Shires. Oh!  Also be on the look for a vintage Conn 88H (certain years excluded) and perhaps a King 3B.

All of the above are great brands / models and there are many others. I’ve played them all and owned a few of the brands I mentioned.  Each is a bit different. I’ve always tried to tell my students to play what works for them, feels comfortable and sounds good. (And in some cases, you just have to play what is available.)

We have chosen (fallen into?) an instrument family where everyone’s different physiology means one setup won’t work for everybody. A lot of coordination of different systems of muscles / organs goes into playing a brass instrument. The longer you play, the more you realize how these systems work together.

The same is true of our instruments themselves. Sometimes seemingly minor changes can make an instrument change how it plays. Get a dent in your trumpet lead pipe or trombone slide and see how fun that is. (It’s not. Don’t do it). Other times, a seemingly big change doesn’t have the major impact we thought it would. (I’ve played a trombone where the bell was crushed from bad shipping and ….. it responded surprisingly well. The slide was another story.) The internal shape of the instrument, bore size, mouthpiece selection, lead pipe construction, etc… can all affect changes in response to the player and sound to the listener.

When choosing an instrument, seek the counsel of an experienced teacher / player of your instrument. You will likely find many recommendations. Be wary of any suggestion that you MUST get X brand. Again, everyone is unique!

BEGINNERS

Young / beginning players have a lot of choices for brands that will respond well. The main concern is stable construction to enable a stable tone. Some “student models” might have sturdier materials and construction to enable the instrument to take a little more abuse. A quality used instrument is sometimes a great choice for beginning band students. If the student is absolutely serious from the start, a better quality might be an option, but a qualified private instructor is an even better investment.

The list of reputable brands that make student brass instruments is quite extensive (no particular order and not exhaustive):

  • Bach
  • King
  • Conn
  • Yamaha
  • Jupiter
  • Holton (step-up & professional French Horns)
  • Besson
  • Eastman
  • Giardinelli (Music & Arts brand, made by Eastman, designed by Shires)
  • Blessing
  • Getzen

There are even more defunct brands that made great instruments still available used.  Sometimes a professional model can even be found used for the price of a new student instrument. (This list is not exhaustive)

  • Olds (Ambassador student model and Special intermediate model)
  • Holton (Collegiate trumpets and trombones) — technically not defunct. Conn-Selmer only makes French Horns, Baritones, Euphoniums, and Tubas under this label now.
  • Reynolds
  • Besson — again, not defunct. But there are some discontinued models that have a great reputation. Some student models made by Kanstul.
  • Kanstul — may be harder to find on the East Coast
  • Selmer — another Conn-Selmer brand now specializing in woodwinds
  • Benge — trumpets and trombones
  • Martin — trumpets and trombones
  • York
  • King’s Cleveland brand

Most of all take care of the instrument you get / have and PRACTICE!

INTERMEDIATE & ADVANCED PLAYERS

Intermediate and advancing players will begin to recognize how different instruments respond for them and are expected to be able to have more input into the instrument selection.  Many brands offer so many customizable options that your optimal “feel” and sound ideal has never been more attainable!   I’ve had instruments that I love to play not work at all for some of my advanced students! And vice versa. Sometimes an advanced student might get more improvement in sound and response out of finding a mouthpiece that works better for them!

I’m not making a list for this section, yet.  There are even more custom brands that specialize in specific instruments of the brass family

Look for future posts with various recommendations for beginning and advanced players as well as instrument maintenance and mouthpiece selection.

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Sliding to home!

Welcome to LettingItSlide.com! Finally publishing my first entry.

I’m still getting accustomed to the formatting and editing tools. Now I’ve got a starting web page graphic and a first posting. Next….content! Some substantial, some fun, some silly.

As I get on my schedule with updates, you will see more frequent updates with new resources, links, listening suggestions, photos, opinions, random thoughts, guest contributors, tips, tricks and general brass instrument shenanigans.

Please enjoy. There’s more to come!