Klarinet Archive - Posting 000260.txt from 1995/01

From: Syd Polk <jazzman@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Quick changes
Date: Mon, 16 Jan 1995 13:09:05 -0500

As Claudia said, in musicals, horn changes are frequent and are usually
fast. In Nine, the big production number in the Grand Canal sequence.
During this fifteen minute extravaganza, I had to play Bb, Eb, and
bass clarinets, alto sax, flute and piccolo. The Eb was stone cold and
had to play a unison line with a piccolo and a piccolo trumpet with about
3 seconds to change from Bb. There were at least two nasty alto sax
to bass clarinet changes, etc.

Actually, most of the published parts are not too bad. It's when the
director starts making cuts. ("Oh, we play too here. Cut from bar 15
to bar 363" "Uh, which part do you want, bari sax at the beginning,
or Eb clarinet at bar 363?" "Oh, is that a bad horn change?" "AARGH!")
Also, home grown parts are notorious.

I have learned a few important techiniques for this.

- Always use mouthpiece covers, and at least wet the reeds on all horns
between numbers.
- Learn to play bass clarinet on a strap; you cannot find a stand that
will allow you to put the instrument on the stand with the peg extended
fast enough.
- Learn to play bari sax (and maybe others) while it is still on the
stand for short passages.
- Learn to play high notes on flute and picc at the expense of low notes.
You never have to come in after a fast horn change on low notes, and if you
do, nobody will hear you anyway.
- Figure out when the last time you play any instrument is, and try to put
it away before the exit music.

- Buy a minivan to carry everything in.

Oh, well. Off to enjoy my new flute and my new-to-me oboe!

Syd

   
     Copyright © Woodwind.Org, Inc. All Rights Reserved    Privacy Policy    Contact charette@woodwind.org