Venturion

Greetings Tony,

I'm out here in the boonies (well, not that far . . . Princeton NJ ) and I've got a couple of shows coming up in Feb/March, with which neither of them am I familiar. Won't be getting the parts until much later, perhaps at the first rehearsal, and I was wondering what to expect.

The first one is "Anyone Can Whistle", the orchestra will be complete, I'll be on 2nd, except for one show I'll be on 1st.

After that is "Millie" where I'll be the only trumpet, the rest is rhythm section. That's it! (Space constraints in the theater so I'm told.)

Any info on these? What to look forward to, i.e., page after page of ledger lines, or rests, picc parts, neat solos, that sort of thing.

Many thanks for any insight, Tony, anybody?

--Venturion

kadleck

V -

I don't know much at all about "Anyone Can Whistle". (any takers out there?)

"Millie" is set around the 1920's (I think) and I don't believe that it goes too high (an "E" maybe). The thing with that show is to cop the style ("ricky-tick", I've heard it called). It was 3 tpts. on broadway & Craig Johnson played lead. If you PM me I can give you his email address.

Best -
Tony

Khora

"Anyone Can Whistle" is Sondheim. 1964, I think. (One of the most popular songs from it is, ironically - "There Won't Be Trumpets". )

The score is not all that high, as I remember. I don't remember it going above a C anywhere and I was playing lead, but it has been a long time since I played it (well, more than 15 years, anyways....). A few tricky rhythms, but not anything really awkward. I had a good time with it.

Hope that helps-

Best,

Sandy

bnbtrpt

Whoa! That sounds tough. Good luck with that.

Venturion

I've been in that situation before; sometimes it's only 1 trp, 1 reed, or 1 tpt, 1 reed, 1 bone. Needless to say, it's usually economics driving that approach. But it can be fun . . . and easier to take liberties with the part (stylistically appropriate, of course!)

But in this case, I've played the theater before, and they always have had a full pit. But for this show, however, they needed to extend the stage over the pit (lots of dancers in this production), and so the space disappeared. The "orchestra" is now relegated to the scanty wings, or down front on the side, something like that.

Thanks, guys, for your quick replies. Helps give me an idea. "Whistle" sounds interesting, as Sondheim usually is.

wilcox96

There's also plenty - o - mute work on Millie. Ricky-ticky is right on. Cute though... you will enjoy. Man... never heard of that other show. Here's some info on it though...

http://www.broadwaymusicalhome.com/s...canwhistle.htm

wiseone2

Some of Sondheim's most beautiful tunes are in "Anyone Can Whistle." The show lasted on Broadway for little more than a week. Don Walker did the orchestrations.
At a rehearsal for one of Sondheim's later shows, I asked Jonathan Tunick about adding a piccolo trumpet double on the first trumpet chair. With a twinkle in his eye, Jonathan reminded me about the "No More Trumpets" tune that Stephen had written............ I was quiet for the rest of the day
Wilmer

Venturion

Now, that is funny!

Thanks for that story, Wilmer. With your permission, I'll use it!

-- V.

wiseone2

Always ask for a double or over-scale.......heck, go for both
Wilmer

wilcox96

How many times have I asked to play flugel on those half notes in a ballad.....hahaha

Wilmer..a question: If Don Walker did the orchestration for that show, what was Jonathan Tunick's role? Jonathan sure has done some beautiful work. One that immediately comes to mind is his work on Sunset Blvd. Gorgeous.