Miscellaneous World record bid for 2000 saxophone players in Paisley

[Wonko]

A WORLD record attempt to have 2000 saxophone players performing the 1978 Gerry Rafferty hit Baker Street at the same time in Paisley is being planned.

World record bid for 2000 saxophone players to perform Gerry Rafferty hit

A WORLD record attempt to have 2000 saxophone players performing the Gerry Rafferty hit Baker Street at the same time in Paisley is being planned

www.thenational.scot

If that would be closer to home I would really like to take part.
In the summer of 2024 I took part in an event during the 'Gentse feesten' (a city festival with music, theater,...) with over 700 saxophone players performing 3 songs. It was fun to be part of such an event.

 

[Pete Effamy]

It figures that this is taking place in Scotland. They are used to Bagpipes after all.

 

[Tuppertn]

What's Baker Street? Never heard it.

 

[Wonko]

What's Baker Street? Never heard it.

For those who have never heard it:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo6aKnRnBxM


😎

 

[mizmar]

What puzzles me about these record breaking type events is ... Delay.
Surely with that many players all in an area the time for sound to travel between one side and the other is going to be a good chunk of a second.. isn't it going to just be a mess? Even given you can sync everyone.
I suppose these massive marching bands play slow marches and rehearse like crazy.
But 100s or 1000s of amateurs? And the sax Rafferty riff ... ?

 

[ESJohn]

Here are a reported 238 piccolo players performing the solo part of Stars and Stripes. I would guess the acoustics would have to be all but perfect for 2000 saxophones to play an entire tune, but I'd love to witness it!

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca1YyrBdU5Q

 

[thomsax]

We played it for 10 years ago. The guitarist and singer like it so we gave it a try. A song I learned by ear on tenor instead of alto. I used backing track ... It was just four guys in the band .... we were playing mostly old blues, R&B and Rock & Roll songs ... we added fatter drums and more grounded woodshed sound. I like the power of 2000 persons playing at the same time .... but I think less is more.

 

[rhysonsax]

Here's a previous effort on a smaller scale.

View: https://youtu.be/unR1mnlQ2aE?si=2vBSakmERgqaBdSs

Looks like fun.

Rhys

 

[Jeanette]

I wonder how many people took up sax after seeing that 🙂.
Great to see a wide age range

Jx

 

[PigSquealer]

Hope the event beats the record !
The whole of events like this can be lots of fun. I’ve spent a perfectly good weekend day doing less entertaining things. Never mind the sound, players who didn’t practice or can’t really play. At this event stage presents is all that matters. One of those times that “I was there and played” is all it takes for a lifetime memory. Too bad the event is so far away. I’d jump on board in a heartbeat.

 

[Wonko]

What puzzles me about these record breaking type events is ... Delay.
Surely with that many players all in an area the time for sound to travel between one side and the other is going to be a good chunk of a second.. isn't it going to just be a mess? Even given you can sync everyone.
I suppose these massive marching bands play slow marches and rehearse like crazy.
But 100s or 1000s of amateurs? And the sax Rafferty riff ... ?

The event that I took part in Ghent had a professional band on stage, with a conductor that was visible on a big screen for everyone there