 The Doublers BBoard
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Author: krs
Date: 2010-05-17 20:03
Does anyone know how to find out the specifics of a reed book in a musical? I'm talking about the relative importance of each instrument listed for the book.
For example, it would be nice to know that, say, the Reed 2 book is the one with all the hard clarinet stuff, and Reed 3 has the big jazzy tenor solo.
More than once I've been hired for a book that included "flute" in the list (something I don't play, but cover on my C clarinet), only to find out that the book was 80% flute and really better suited for a real flute.
For staffing in community theater (where we doublers don't play all the instruments equally well - if at all!) this kind of detail would be really helpful.
Since I'm unable to find such a resource, here's my specific question: does anyone know the reed V book in "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum"? It calls for "clarinet, flute, piccolo," and we need to decide whether it's best to put a clarinet player or a flute player on it. (We're short of real doublers!)
Thanks!
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Author: Terry Stibal
Date: 2010-05-17 22:40
In Forum, the lead flute part (in the book you describe) is vital to the story, as the flute is a principal instrument in several of the "woman" numbers in the show. I can't imagine "Lovely" played on a clarinet, or even a clarinet and a flute - it's straight up flute stuff.
I don't think the killer clarinet solo in "Free" is in the Reed 1 book - it's most likely in Reed II. Also, you don't mention the sax doubles, which used to run Reed I and II - alto, Reed III - tenor, and the Reed IV book with baritone. While sax isn't critical to 90% of the show, leaving these out in the "Overture" and in "In The House Of Marcus Lycus" would make for some very thin music indeed.
I once did a production of Forum where the Reed II player brought an alto saxophone to all of the performances, but who never put it in her mouth. She still got paid the doubling spif (10%), so the fix must have been in. "Marcus Lycus" sounded very thin indeed during that production...
leader of Houston's Sounds Of The South Dance Orchestra
info@sotsdo.com
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Author: rcnelson
Date: 2010-05-18 19:11
The only resources that I know about for the detail you wish are those of us who have played specfic shows (and hopefully we remember the details if it has been years since we played it/them). I think such a resource would be great. Bret Pimental's site (www.bretpimental.com) is a wonderful source of info in that it lists the instrumentation of the reed books of hundreds of shows but does not provide the detail such as which book is the lead for each of the doubles.
Ron
Selmer Mark VI tenor (1957), Selmer Mark VII alto (1975)
Buescher True Tone soprano (1924), Selmer CL210 Bb Clarinet, Gemeinhardt 3SHB Flute, Pearl PFP105 Piccolo
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