Klarinet Archive - Posting 000773.txt from 1996/02

From: Mitch Bassman <mbassman@-----.COM>
Subj: Wine on stage [was Re: Recent messages from Clark Fobes & David
Date: Sun, 25 Feb 1996 22:02:42 -0500

On Fri, 23 Feb 1996 niethamer@-----.BITNET wrote:
> [snip] We do have a draft in winter that nicely
> chills the clarinet not in use to about the temperature suitable for a
> fine cabernet - blows right across the back ww row. Alas, cabernet is
> forbidden on stage during concerts :-(

Ah, David, is that also written into the musicians' contract with the
Richmond Symphony? ;)

I have to tell you this story about a musical show I played in this past
fall. (For those of you who have been following the doubling thread on
the flute list, my part in this show called only for clarinet.) For some
reason, more of the musicians than usual seemed to want to party every
night. Beginning with the first show, the cellist organized a wine and
cheese party for the nine-piece orchestra to be held *during intermission*
at every show. Of course, the four wind players (clarinet, bassoon,
trumpet, horn) had to be careful to finish the "intermission party" with
a big swig of wine to rinse the crumbs out of our mouths. (Hmm, remember
last year's thread about the ants?)

Anyway, we all got in the habit of taking our last cup of wine (burgundy,
not cabernet) back to the "pit" with us. In this theater, we weren't
actually in a pit; we were seated on stage -- stage right in full view of
the audience. No one seemed to mind.

Most of felt that the second act always sounded better than the first.

--Mitch Bassman