stchasking

One of the high schools in my area is performing "42nd St." in April.
One of the dancers in the show asked if I could volunteer to play in the pit band. It turns out the high school band is at a contest so the pit band will be volunteers.

Have any of you that have played this gig think it is a "short notice" walk in the park? I'll do it if it isn't a West Side Story degree of difficulty.

Throw me some encouragement.

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"I was performing professionally at age 17 and have never had a real job." Allen Vizzutti

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kadleck

I don't think it's too easy, but it's no West Side Story.

Hopefully Dylan Schwab will check in on this - he's done it on the road for quite a while.

Tony

bigaggietrumpet

I was just going to say the same thing, ask Dylan.

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Michael Smith
Hullabaloo: The official band of Texas A&M Basketball
Kanstul 1537/ Schilke 14
LA Olds Studio

masterfulmusic29

I don't know what you ability level is but if I had a week to just work on the music and one or two rehearsals I actually did West Side Story that way. Again I don't know what you ability level is but at least look at the music and then answer them. Good luck and good playing.
James

Schwab

Hi everybody, I played the revival, it was a pretty tough show. Not as many high notes as WSS (a bunch of Es one F#), but there was a lot of horn on face, more a test of efficiency. Especially the end, bows 1, bows 2, exit 1, exit 2 one right after the other, but you probably won't do all that with the high school show.

You may play the original 1980 (?) score, which I think was easier and actually had fewer songs in it

The show is a lot of fun to play, I'd do it again.

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Dylan Schwab
Stage 1 New York

stchasking

You guys nailed it. The conductor gave me the lead part. It has more sycopation than I have seen in a long time. The range is out or reach of most high school players. I managed pretty well tonight at the first read. It has enough high c's to be a crowd pleaser and more than a few d's and a gratuitous high e. I could play it ok but my technique will get a work out. There are a lot of 4,5,6 sharp key signatures. I have a month to shed.
I think the director is going to let me lay into it. The singers will be miked.
The high school drummer is pretty good. In fact, I would say he is going to be real good to work with. My biggest problem was the bifocals. I will be getting a special pair of glasses for reading off the music stand.

I think we're doing the 1980 show.

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"I was performing professionally at age 17 and have never had a real job." Allen Vizzutti

http://cdbaby.com/cd/mcking

S-Money

speaking of 42nd street, my old highschool is doing it, and they're in the pre-dress rehearsal phase with full pit and cast. Being a college student near home, i go back and visit from time to time, and the 2nd part player from HS was away at regional band today, and will be tomorrow. So, i talked to the director, and he said i can sit in on his part today and tomorrow (so they can hear it with full pit orchestra). Today was fun, and im looking forward to tomorrow. I love playing in pit orchestras of musicals... some of my favorite playing... well, how often do you get to sight read musicals with full cast/orchestra?! Let me tell you, as if you dont know... its fun!

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Blow your life through your horn

stchasking

How did your lead player perform?
I decided I will have to switch to the second part. Third is taken.
The first part is brutal. I won't make it through the range and endurance requirements of the second half.

This is a tap dancing marathon.

I have a feeling the first part will be played on a synthesizer.

I just found out I get to play the second part. This is much better for me.

__________________
"I was performing professionally at age 17 and have never had a real job." Allen Vizzutti

http://cdbaby.com/cd/mcking

S-Money

he was good, especially for not warming up... he brought his whisper mute and played when something like numbers 3-5 were tacet... sounded a lot better when he came back in on 6...

yeah, after seeing the 1st book, there are a few challanges in there, eh?
looks fun though!

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Blow your life through your horn

stchasking

The trumpet part calls for Solo-Tone mute.
What should we use as a substitute? Cup?

"The solo-tone mute is shaped like a long straight mute, and includes sound baffles inside the mute that accentuate treble frequencies. Because it sounds much like a tightly inserted cup mute, it is no longer written for, although it can be common in jazz ensemble music written between 1930 and 1950."

__________________
"I was performing professionally at age 17 and have never had a real job." Allen Vizzutti

http://cdbaby.com/cd/mcking