Johnstown High School - Spectator Yearbook (Johnstown, PA)

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THE SPECTA TOR 19 Last and least important of the three groups above named are the precussion instruments. The most import- ant of these are the timpani, two kettle-drums, tuned in fifths, and played by felt-covered hammers. The snare- drums come under this head, but are not used much in sym- phony orchestras. These instruments are too well known to need an explanation. In the best regulated orchestras the players of string instruments are always seated together, as are also the wood-wind, brass, and tympani players. Thus they can bring out their respective parts better than if each played individually. A symphony orchestra consists of about six- ty-five players, and we may expect to find at least a full half of these playing string instruments; one-third of the remain- der playing brass and percussion instruments, and the other two-thirds playing wood-wind instruments. In concluding, let me advise you when at a concert to study those three groups and see in what passages they are employed, artd also the different qualities of tone they bring out. BERNARD WOLFHOPE ’o8. A Midnight Escapade 7TWO boys sat in a room in the smaller of the two dor- mitories belonging to the Fulton Academy. They were engaged in conversation; one trying to persuade the other of some doubtful point. “You know I’m always in for any reasonable fun, but this means expulsion if we are caught,’’ said one. “Yes, but just think of it! We’ll be the first Freshman class in the history of the school to get a flag up,’’ replied the other. “Well, all right, I’ll go in with you; but we’ll have to be careful,’’ was the reply. Frank Wilson, the first speaker, was, in most respects an ordinary boy of fifteen; but a pleasant face, a peculiar but altogether pleasing charm of manner and a disposition to match, made him one of the most popular boys in the school.

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18 THE SPECTATOR adapted to solo work. The bass, contra bass, and double bass are so .nearly identical in appearance that it is hardly necessary to distinguish them. As their name implies, they are in the orchestra what the bass singer is in the quartet. Huge, clumsy and heavy, they are very undesirable instru- ments to play, altho they are indispensable to the harmony. Thus, from the highest note of the violin to the lowest note of the double bass, we have a chromatic range of almost seven octaves, which is greater by about an octave than that of the wind instruments, which I will next describe. This branch of orchestral instruments is subdivided into two more divisions, called, respectively, the brass and wood-wind instruments. The trumpet, trombone, and French horn belong to the brass; while the flute, clarinet, oboe, piccolo, and bassoon uphold the wood-wind. The trumpet is an instrument somewhat resembling the modern cornet, and is adapted to bugle calls, fanfares, and hunting songs. The trombone is lower in range, and is known as the majestic instrument from its powerful tone. But what a contrast is found in the soft, mellow tone of the French horn, an instrument almost similar to the two preceding. I am sure that nobody hearing the horn solo in “Der Fries- chutz” played by a good performer, will ever forget it. The piccolo is the smallest instrument in the wood wind family, yet the most clamorous. Its tone is shrill and only adapted to the loudest passages in music. The flute is nothing more than a large piccolo, as it is played in the same manner. Its tone, hewever, is excellent. The oboe is the smallest of reed instruments. Its tone is sweet, yet peculiar. The clarinet, the instrument most closely re- lated to the oboe, has the greatest range of the wood-wind instruments. It is the most commonplace instrument of the wood wind. The last, and the lowest ranged, instrument of the wood-wind is the bassoon, which is about four feet long. I can hardly describe its tone, which, altho deep and well-rounded, is so droll as to remind one of a circus clown. Coleridge, in “The Ancient Mariner” refers to this instru- ment. The main use of the wood-wind is to play rapid and brilliant passages, and to enliven loud passages. As their name implies, all these instruments are hollow tubes of hard wood, played either by a reed or by the lips.

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20 THE SPECTATOR Bruce Harding, the second boy, was one of the leaders of the Freshmen, both in the classroom and in any mischief that was afoot. His face showed high intelligence, a love of fun and a certain obstinacy of purpose. Altho larger, he was younger than Wilson. When all .arrangements for the attempt had been made seven boys, beside Wilson and Harding, were in the plot. Accordingly, one night in March, about seven o’clock they stole from their dormitories and made their way to the old chapel. This had at one time been a village church but was now used as an auditorium. The old spire had been torn down and in its place a three-story square tower erected. The first and second floors of the tower had but one window each, facing the front; while the third floor had four, one facing each direction. The floors were connected by stairways, each stairway having a door at both ends. The door that opened into the stairway leading to the third floor was firmly secured against such an attack as this. Two iron bars, hinged at one side, passed across the door and were secured by two brass padlocks at the other side. Above the third floor the roof formed a blunt pyramid topped by a short flagpole. The halyard ropes were brought down and tied to the front third floor window. By forcing a window in the basement the boys made their way thru the chapel to the second floor. Here they could easily have cut the iron bars that crossed the door ; but in that case they could not lock the door again. By filing the padlocks they could put on new ones when they had hoisted the flag. In this way they could prevent the Sophomores from tearing the flag down in the morning. After an hour’s hard work they succeeded in forcing the door open and mounting to the third floor. Raising the window, they fastened their flag, a huge blue and gold pen- nant, to the halyard and began to raise it. When the flag was almost up the pulley at the top of the pole screeched , loudly. Horrified, the boys looked around to see if anyone was within hearing distance. Fate, or whatever spirit rules over schoolboys, willed that just then two Sophs should be crossing the campus. They were probably returning from some midnight prowl and were just about to steal into their dormitory when the