highbrass

I played 3rd in a production of WSS, and what a blow it was, even for 3rd. The 3rd part goes up to a C along with the lead and 2nd parts in Dance Hall Sequence, and one also has to play down to a low G# muted and loud in the Taunting Scene (though it's mp in the music, it's the melodic line and muted). I did use two or three mouthpieces for the show because of the different register demands. I recall having a case of "stiff chops" during the first week of the run...lots of blowing but such a fun show.

Liz

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"I'd like to think they were singing about something so beautiful, it can't be expressed in words, and makes your heart ache because of it."

~from "The Shawshank Redemption"

wiseone2

Now there's an interesting subject. Mouthpiece changing.
Wilmer

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Be sure Brain is engaged before putting Mouthpiece in gear.
S.Suark 1951

PatN

I had a tape of that West Side Story recording that Bernstein conducted with operatic voices (Kiri te Kanawa as Maria) and Wilmer on lead trumpet. There is some great, great trumpet playing on it. There was also a video on PBS of the recording sessions. Two things I remember from the video:

1) Bernstein telling the strings he wanted more sound from them in the Dance at the Gym music (played with the trumpets), and that he wouldn't have written the string part the way he did if he hadn't wanted a bigger string sound;

and

2) Bernstein referring to the lead trumpeter as that "Genius of a Trumpet Player."

I hope all on this board realize how great a player Wilmer is. He was paid the ulimate compliment by no less than Leonard Bernstein.

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Pat

Yammie

WSS is an amazing book to play. After pages and pages of beautfiul and very challenging material, you'll need to play A just above the staff (forget if it's piano or pianissimo?) to end the show. Three times in a row, if memory serves, plenty of places to throw in a spleeah if you're not careful.

Getting to the very end without the Clam Catapult launching you into the audience is something to be proud of :)

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'05 8310Z
'60 Couesnon flugel

John Mohan

As I look back on my career, I feel that playing 1st trumpet on "West Side Story" at the Musical Theater in Basel, Switzerland was the best playing experience I ever had. I was blessed and privileged to get to do that show.

Everything that Wilmer said about the show is SO true.

Sincerely,

John Mohan