gulley@stolaf.UUCP (William T. Gulley) (02/16/84)
For all of you that have been dying to know just what exactly
a "Mannheim Steamroller" is , here are two definitions;
(1) A period between the between the Baroque and the
Romantic Eras, when the orchestra of Mannheim, in
East Germany, began to develop a very unorthodox
manner of performing, that incorporated experimental
usages of dynamics and orchestration unheard before
by human ears. This style of playing caught on with
most of the orchestras of Europe at the time, and
because of this, some musicologists have termed this
period in musical history as the "Mannheim Steamroller".
(2) A small largely studio-group of three musicians and a
sound engineer, (Chip Davis- composer, recorders, dul-
cimers, and percussion/ Jackson Berkey- Keyboards
(electronic and acoustic) and other toys/ Eric Hansen-
Bass and occasional lute and classic guitar/ Don Sears-
Sound Engineer) who have, since 1975, been putting out
albums every two years named, "Fresh Aire", which con-
sist of a very listenable brand of classical/jazz/rock.
Nearly all of the members of this group have worked pre-
viously on a couple of C.W. McCall's albums, (vaguely
remember "Convoy"?) and record these audiophile quality
"Fresh Aire" albums on a little-known Omaha-based record
label. The good news is, the musicianship (and the music
itself) is quite good. The bad news is, the albums cost
cost a usual price of $18 each, and they're somewhat dif-
ficult to find in most areas of the country other than
the Midwest. Still, in spite of these minor hindrances,
this group has recently been gaining a rapidly growing
circle of pseudo-groupies and addicts (of which I am
pleased to say I am a member of the second group) that
DOES (grudgingly sometimes) wish to make the monetary
sacrifice.
For those who have, in this course of this admitted plug
for the Steamroller, developed a small interest in the prospect of hear-
ing more about this group, I will do the best I can in catering to it
by throwing in the mailing address for the record company that pro-
duces the "Fresh Aire" albums;
American Gramaphone Records
206 South 44th Street
Omaha, Nebraska 68131
____
UM YA YA . .
Ta ei norske pike til lunsj.
William Gulley - St. Olaf College - Northfield, MN 55057
. .!inhp4!stolaf!gulley