Klarinet Archive - Posting 000277.txt from 1998/03

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: Musical
Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 14:42:20 -0500

At 12:08 AM 3/4/98 -0500, Victor (clarinettist@-----.com) wrote:
> Our school drama department's major production this year is the
>musical, "Anything Goes." Has anyone played in the pit orchestra for
>this particular musical? If so, what is your opinion of the music? The
>only information I have about the musical so far is that the setting is
>the 1920's, also known as the Jazz Age. Beyond that, I am clueless. Any
>information and opinion would be appreciated, for I am trying to decide
>whether to participate or not. The rehearsals are going to be REALLY
>long. If the music is poor, I am not going to waste my valuable study
>time!
> Thanks!!!

Yes, I have played in the pit for this show. Whether you find the music
good or bad depends upon your own taste. I loved it myself, but I enjoy
the music of the 20's through 40's. Cole Porter is one of the most
important composers of musicals prior to the Rodgers and Hammerstein era,
ranking with the Gershwins and Irving Berlin. Many, many of his songs have
become popular standards, including the title song of that show. If you
don't "get" jazz, though, you are going to have a hard time.

(By the way, I played the tenor sax, bari sax and oboe book. I transposed
the oboe parts for soprano sax. For the first week of performances, we had
no trumpet, so for the most part, I played the trumpet parts on soprano sax
also. It got interesting the night the alto sax and trombone players were
unable to make it. Since by then we had a trumpet, I played soprano (for
oboe), alto, tenor, and bari (amazing how seldom they overlapped), covering
a few selected critical trombone lines on whatever instrument I happened to
be holding at that time! Only twice during the show did I grab the wrong
horn! It was busy, but fun.

Bill Hausmann bhausman@-----.com
451 Old Orchard Drive http://www.concentric.net/~bhausman
Essexville, MI 48732 http://members.wbs.net/homepages/z/o/o/zoot14.html
ICQ UIN 4862265

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is too loud.