Jimi Michiel

Hey Wilmer,

I'm filling in for a few days on Les Mis and just got the book yesterday. 111 pages! It looks like Wagner's arrangement. No piccolo, thankfully, but lots of flugal (covering horn parts, I'm assuming). Have you played the show? Any thoughts or advice?

-Jimi

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wiseone2

The original Broadway version had piccolo on all three chairs. The first and second book had flugelhorn. There are several very hairy moments in the show. It's a long show, but an enjoyable one.
Wilmer

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

Brekelefuw

Les Mis is my favorite musical. I played 1st trumpet for it when we did it (all the songs except for the wedding one at the end!). Really fun to play, but it keeps you on your toes.

PSH

I played the significantly scaled down "highschool version" this past year. That book had picc on both parts as well. And as stated before... it definitely keeps you on your toes! My favorite piece is Valjean's solo on "Bring Him Home"...one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard.

~PSH

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"Taxes, that's your real inalienable right!" -Wynton Marsalis

Sunnyvale Sam

Nevermind the trumpet part. Did your high school have a tenor who could sing Jean Valjean? How scaled down was it?

Sam

PSH

Sunnyvale,

IMO, This kid is singing on the level of most professional singers. I think there were one or two songs that were just cut out. I never really had a chance to compare the highschool edition to the pro one...

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"Taxes, that's your real inalienable right!" -Wynton Marsalis

Jimi Michiel

I did the first couple of shows this week and, relatively speaking, everything went well. The endurance wasn't too much of a problem, but concentrating for 3 hours plus was tough. Fortunately the MD was really helpful, and the trombonist was solid as a rock (he even cued me a few times). It's a different kind of playing than I learned in school, but I'm really enjoying it. Beat's the heck out of getting a real job...

-jimi

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Joe DiMonte

I see all's well that ends well.
My friend,I know fully well how hard those 3 hours were for a young person like yourself.
As a frequent audience member,I've seen where today most of the young audience members lack the patience to sit still without fidgeting for 45+ minutes,and most never stick around for the final encore.

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"Clark Terry - C.T.,as his friends call him,is not only a master of the trumpet and flugelhorn,but a master musician and a leader to the manor born." - Dan Morgenstern.

wiseone2

The players in the Broadway production had it down to a science. The breaks were timed and noted in the part. The third book had a 45 minute gap in the second act. You could work on your doctorate on that chair
Wilmer

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

stchasking

I helped a high school with 42nd street. It was watered down in length and I was encouraged to play it down an octave whenever it fit. It didn't matter to me. I had more fun and satisfaction playing for those kids and their parents than any band concerts in the past. The kids were great tap dancers. I hope they ask me to help next year.

I, too, like the Val Jean solo. I wish it could be played in church. Maybe it could be used in a funeral? What do you guys think? Baritone and Fluegal horn arrangement of "Take Me Home." (I don't intend to high jack the thread but it seems we have expanded the topic from the original question and you guys would know the answer.)

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

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