Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2014 June 19

Welcome to the Wikipedia Entertainment Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

June 19

Principal Frye sketches total

How many sketches did SNL did with Jay Pharaoh as Principal Frye? Is there a website that shows the total amount of that sketch including the current season, number 39? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.29.33.200 (talk) 03:43, 19 June 2014 (UTC)

A: 1 = Six

A: 2 = Yes (Wikipedia: here, which also lists sources)    71.20.250.51 (talk) 00:58, 20 June 2014 (UTC)

1 = Six?! That can't be right. —Tamfang (talk) 07:44, 21 June 2014 (UTC)

Funny you should catch that.  After I posted, I realized there should have been a full stop [period] after the ordinal, but figured nobody would notice.   —71.20.250.51 (talk) 22:57, 21 June 2014 (UTC)

You apparently don't realise with whom you're dealing here at the Wikipedia Reference Desk. Pope St John XXIII encouraged people to "See everything; overlook a great deal; correct a little". Well, we just apply that maxim in reverse. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 09:20, 23 June 2014 (UTC)

Muzzling the trumpet

Just had a query I was itching to ask. At just past 2:25 here, theres a scene of a muzzled trumpet. Is that popular? and if so is there word for it? (and the sound it engenders).

(also nice song, btw, for those interested theres a translationLihaas (talk) 16:54, 19 June 2014 (UTC)

See Mute (music)#Brass. Alansplodge (talk) 17:14, 19 June 2014 (UTC)

Yes, there are several mutes, each with its own changes to sound. There are mutes for trombones, and even sousaphones! Here's a good example Youtube [1] of several very different sounds you can get just out of a harmon mute. Benny Goodman's sextet used a lot of mutes, see ~2:00 On the sunny side of the street here [2]. A lot of big band music uses mutes, as did Louie Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie. In more classical music, mutes are sometimes used, but usually more to muffle, and not so much for those crazy buzzy 'wah-wah' sounds. SemanticMantis (talk) 18:47, 19 June 2014 (UTC)

As a side-note:  a plunger ("plumber's helper") was commonly used as a mute for that famous "wah-wah" sound from early jazz/blues.

• See also:  Dunscomb, J. Richard; Jr, Willie L. Hill (2002). Jazz pedagogy : the jazz educator's handbook and resource guide. Van Nuys, CA: Alfred Publishing Co. p. 253. ISBN 0757991254.

~E:71.20.250.51 (talk) 23:47, 19 June 2014 (UTC)

Thanks guys/gals

As a coincedence im just listening to Louis. Any idea which songs of his were muzzled?Lihaas (talk) 07:19, 20 June 2014 (UTC)

He used it quite a lot from what I remember. You may find this site worth a trawl. --TammyMoet (talk) 12:32, 20 June 2014 (UTC)

And yes, I know it's five years ago but, just to try to answer the OP – Lihaas – a little more (even though they've been blocked for months now - oops):

• Yes, it is very popular. The sound of an open (=unmuted) brass instrument is very nice, but with mutes you can add a whole load of textures and effects not available on the open (AmE) horn. Classical composers exploit it a bit, more so from the 19th century on; non-classical composers and performers really really love it. As SemanticMantis said above, Dizzy used mutes a lot; Miles Davis maybe even more.
• Yes there is a word for it. And if you remember to call it a mute, not a muzzle, you may be able to stay friends with some musicians! ... The particular one you are asking about in the video clip is called a cup mute - please see Mute (music)#Cup for more. Compared with the standard/default straight mute it has an extra flange – the "cup" – which comes out from the core of the mute to meet the bell. The sound compared to a straight mute is softer, warmer, less nasal, less direct. You use it to get warmth and intimacy where you might deploy a straight mute for hardness and clarity, an edge. As the Wikipedia article says, it is the second mute we all buy once we have a straight mute. Please have a listen to a long version of Close to Me (The Cure song), one that runs maybe 3:39. There's a very nice trumpet solo earlier on, which is open (no mute) but when it comes back at about 3:00 it is using a cup mute and it's a great effect. If you listen carefully you can hear how it is so much less in your face than the open horn.
• Maybe have a look at this famous manufacturer's site too - lots of pics and info.

I hope this helps, or is of some service to posterity, or something. I know it's prolly not, but hey. Sue me. Best to all DBaK (talk) 22:39, 2 July 2019 (UTC)

It is a mute, not a muzzle

It just is. I know it's mentioned above, five years ago, but I wanted to be absolutely clear about the fact that "muzzle" is wrong. It's not some kind of a preference/alternative type thing; it's more of a wrong wrong wrongitty wrong type thing. Thank you. DBaK (talk) 19:05, 2 July 2019 (UTC)