 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Bigno16
Date: 2005-03-09 00:14
I've been skimming few a few of the older posts about musicals and have been looking for information on Bye Bye Birdie because my school has chosen it as the musical this year. (Which was disappointing after doing The Music Man last year, 42nd Street the year before, and Crazy For You before that.)
Anyway, I'm curious as to why everyone seems to dislike this musical so much? Is it the actual musical? Is it "played out"? Are the orchestra parts bad?
Are there good clarinet parts? Because of course that will have a huge influence on if I can enjoy this show or not.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bnatural
Date: 2005-03-09 01:04
I love the clarinet lines during "Put on a happy Face" in the one book, I forget which book it was it was a few years ago but yea.... I played out of two different books during the show and each one had some fun lines in it
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Julie
Date: 2005-03-09 01:21
I liked it when I was doing it...but I hated it all at the same time. I think it's an evil little musical- the lines get stuck in your head "we love you conrad, oh yes we do!" -wow, wonder how much that guy got paid?!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: pzaur
Date: 2005-03-09 02:16
I played a reed book in college. All I remember is that it is WAY too catchy, almost like "It's a small world..." (sorry, you've all got it stuck in your head now...). I had a good time playing it, thouch. But, I also did it with a bunch of my friends and in between shows there was some good drink to be had. The second show on the weekends was always much more exciting!
I don't think it's a bad show. It's just not a great show. Very cliche.
-pat
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: music_is_life
Date: 2005-03-09 02:27
"it's a small world, afterall!" damn it! yea- not a fan of bye bye birdie. I think musicals in general are kinda cheesy... (and this is asuming that les miz is an opera, as there is no talking...)- I guess it's the whole, walking about normally and then suddenly breaking out into song... I can deal with musicals, like "wonderful town" and "rent" and such, but I tend to avoid them. I prefer operas, plays, or symphonies. and bye bye birdie just tops the chart of annoying, in my opinion. the lyrics aren't all that well written and the plot is predictable. and god those irritating songs get stuck in your head!
-Lindsie
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ken
Date: 2005-03-09 02:29
Shame on me, I like the 1963 big screen re-make much more then Broadway. "I've Got a Lot of Livin' To Do" is a kickin' tune and Ann-Margret, grrrrrrrrrrrrr.... makes my pulse race, even today! v/r Ken
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Terry Stibal
Date: 2005-03-09 05:25
"Got A Lot Of Living" and "Talk To Me" have great clarinet lines in them, and "...Living" sounds even better with two bass clarinets in place of the two soprano and one bass that it's originally arranged for. Lots of little "sweet" clarinet lines scattered about in it too. And, the lead clarinet part (and others as well) in the "Shriner's Dance" are a hoot to play if you like the Turkish sound.
One rock number ("Sincere") is a bit hard on the bass clarinet player, as there is a three or four page long baritone sax riff that modulates through many keys and is at the lower end of the horn. Nothing like doing all that heavy lifting with the majority of it with your two little fingers...
One of the problems with the stage production is that there's some number with Albert's mother that was in the movie that many producers insist upon including in the stage show. As the music's not available for same, it ends up being a faked mess if you're not careful.
As long as they cut most of the ballet (and few shows these days include the ballet section, opera traditions be damn'd), it's not too bad. Look at the bright side: you could be doing (gag) Carousel twice in one season, like I had to do back in the 1980's. After a three week, double dose of Billie Bigalow, even Babes In Arms looked good, and Bye, Bye Birdie was a positive joy.
Oh, and the sequel (Bring Back Birdie!) sucks more than a bargain alto clarinet (no neck, some keys missing) on eBay...take it from one who's been there...
Now, why doesn't anyone ever stage "It's A Bird, It's A Plane, It's Superman!" these days. THERE'S a show to look forward to...
leader of Houston's Sounds Of The South Dance Orchestra
info@sotsdo.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: GBK
Date: 2005-03-09 05:44
Charles Strouse lives in our area, so the local schools often perform his musicals. In the 80's, one of the schools did "It's A Bird, It's A Plane, It's Superman!"
I was hired to play one of the reed books and remember that the music was clever and often quite catchy.
The plot was weak. Probably one of the reasons it flopped on Broadway.
However, if they ever bring back "Rags", I'll be the first in line to play it again. A GREAT clarinet part...GBK
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: allencole
Date: 2005-03-09 06:28
I enjoyed a couple of stints playing "Applause", which is the musical version of "All About Eve." While most of the songs aren't particularly memorable, the arrangements and incidental music are pretty good, and a lot of the lyrical content is pretty clever. Not unlike when they get into a musical mood on The Simpsons.
Allen Cole
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Erdinet
Date: 2005-03-09 12:02
SINCERE! That was the name of that number! I did everything I could to banish it from my memory. I played a combination of the Reed 1 & 4 books last year. The bari sax part in Sincerey is a bear in that number and there is really nothing to warm you up for it. Compound that with the fact that the bari sax part doubles the bass part and you have some real "fun" (especially if the bass player has a flexible idea of what time is about.
All in all though an enjoyable show to play, far from my worst pit experience (that was Tea For Two....yeeech). Is it "Guys & Dolls" or "My Fair Lady"? No, but a good show for a school production in my opinion. Fun for all....
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Terry Stibal
Date: 2005-03-09 14:44
"Tea For Two" would be a nightmare that you're recalling from No, No Nannette!. Not one of the high points in my career of playing musicals, either, but it did get me back into bassoon playing (and led to my acquisition of a bassoon, something that I'd not used seriously since the 1960's) so it wasn't a total loss.
NNN was plagued by several problems found in musicals from the 1920's. One is the endless recapitulation of virtually every musical number not in the novelty category. So, you not only get the charming duet that "Tea For Two" offers the first time through, you get three or four dance choruses with the couple, and then, after hauling about a million bodies on stage, four repetitions of a "leggy" chorus version of same that seem to go on forever. And, that's just in the first act; the tune crops up several more times in Act II and III.
This was common in old shows since they were first and foremost a means of plugging tunes in those days of rare radio broadcasting and films that only recently had gone talky. You really wanted to have people humming the future hit when they left the theater.
My grandfather, when he played shows in St. Louis in the 1920's and 1930's used to improvise on the dance choruses. He never got fired, so I guess it was all right.
The other is what I call the Looney Tunes problem, that of large numbers of soprano female voices and tenor male leads. While good for legit tunes, most of the music in musicals trended toward the pop, and pop calls for alto (or mezzo at the highest) and baritone voices.
You'll hear echos of old musicals in the early cartoons from Disney and the others. Whenever I hear that "flutey" effect in the female chorus in an old short, it takes me back to NNN and Babes In Arms...not a pleasant memory.
One thing about NNN is that the book with the baritone part only doubles bass clarinet and bassoon. This wasn't very common through the 1950's and 1960's, but seems to be coming back these days. I can hack the doubles, but I do miss the occasional turn on the soprano clarinet.
The Producers has a baritone/bass clarinet/bassoon/contra-alto clarinet (ugh!) part in same, or at least the traveling show did when it hit here, and Damn Yankees! had a bass clarinet/bassoon/some sax double as well. I like them bassoon doubles since few others can cover them...
leader of Houston's Sounds Of The South Dance Orchestra
info@sotsdo.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: woodwind650
Date: 2005-03-09 16:49
I would agree with just about everyone's comments so far. There are lots of annoying tunes in there, but there are some nice clarinet moments. You can get some great laughs from the Father character IF they're amazing. But other than that it doesn't really compare to some of the "greats" out there right now.
GBK: I've played "Rags" before, and i would agree; it's a great show with great WW parts.
For those interested, other great shows with killer clarinet parts include Ragtime, Titanic, and Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Not only are there great clarinet parts in the Disney show, but I would say it's one of THE HARDEST clarinet parts I've ever had to play for a show. Many of the solos are SUPER exposed and the whole production is like a chamber concert. There is no room for error and you WILL stick out if you're not in tune!!! I had a great time playing it when the tour came to SF.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarinets1
Date: 2005-03-09 21:43
I have played this show, and from what I can remember I really enjoyed playing the Shriner music on clarinet. so kitchy and klesmer-ish. also, I remember having to bring nearly every horn I own and one borrowed piccolo to the show.
a good time was had by all.
hilarity ensued.
~~JK
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jbutler ★2017
Date: 2005-03-09 21:59
I conducted "Birdie" last spring, and that was enough for me! It's a nice show with some good numbers, but "grinds" on you after a few rehearsals.
A lot depends on the stage director, dance choreographer, etc. Good luck on your production.
jbutler
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-03-10 00:50
I'll never play another musical as long as I live.
Only expection would be for Spamalot which I would probably find fun.
No joy for me in musicals at all. It's my thing - I don't like vocals much at all (of any kind).
Post Edited (2005-03-10 00:55)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2005-03-10 06:35
Is that musical got something to do with the jazz standard Bye Bye Blackbird? Is that from the musical?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Terry Stibal
Date: 2005-03-10 15:17
Nope. BBB is one of the last of the old style musicals (standard placement of numbers, standard plot (including the now very passe ballet dance in the second act), standard character development), and (perversely) one of the first of the new style ("new" music, not just clarinets playing in thirds, and a three pronged plot (Albert versus Rose, Albert versus his mother, and the two teen lovers). It had a successful Broadway run, and is constantly revived in community and high school and college theater due to the plethora of "young adult" parts to be found in it.
It featured tunes like Gotta Lotta Living To Do (group "eleven o'clock" number), Kids (novelty number), Put On A Happy Face (solo turn), and some watered down '50's rock (Birdie was going into the Army and leaving his career as a rock singer...plot sound familiar?) all mixed together. Like many other musicals of the pre-rock era, these tunes went on to become "pop" standards.
Very little rock was in the show; mostly jazzy 1950's style pop. No blues per se, and certainly not Bye Bye Blackbird.
Incidentally, for those of you who do pit orchestra work regularly, there's an excellent overall guide to the musicals that you might run into. Published primarily for the director and producer's use, it's titled Let's Put On A Musical. (Used copies are available on Amazon.com.)
Written by a professional theater type named Peter Filichia, it lists all of the shows available at time of print, and summarizes the plot, the casting needs, the property needs, the plusses and minuses of each show, the orchestration, and offers hints for putting on a successful production. I drag my copies out this time of year when the latest batch of high school and college shows are getting ready to go, just so I know where I can fit into the pit orchestra plans.
leader of Houston's Sounds Of The South Dance Orchestra
info@sotsdo.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: diz
Date: 2005-03-10 19:53
BBB is plain boring and tedious ... played it once, will never play it again, not one of Broadway's better exports.
Without music, the world would be grey, very grey.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: 3dogmom
Date: 2005-03-12 18:38
music_is_life said;
> I think musicals in general are kinda cheesy
Excuse me, musicals in general are kind of cheesy? Check out the thread of a few weeks ago pertaining to the thread about the show "Wicked" spotlighting the work of John Moses. Many excellent musicians perform wonderful work and provide us with some great music through their Broadway, film and television playing. That is a dreadful overgeneralization.
Sue
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: psychotic lil clarinet girl (don't as
Date: 2005-03-12 23:07
My school is also doing Bye Bye Birdie. I've only seen half of it, so all I know about the plot is it all revolves around this rock star. I made the orchestra for our musical, so I'm also wondering if the clarinet parts are hard or not. The audition music was interesting enough...
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: 3dogmom
Date: 2005-03-13 04:41
Hey, Mary, I'm glad to hear from you. It's been a long time and I've been wondering how you've been doing. Coincidentally, my family and I went tonight to see a performance of BBB that a high school friend of ours was in. It was performed pretty roughly, although kids are always great. They needed some help with their mikes, and somebody needed to tell them to face the audience, hello. They looked so happy, though, and they were having such a great time. The orchestra was comprised of adults, btw.
I think that doing that kind of playing for a high school student is a real challenge because you do so much starting and stopping quickly - you play in extremes of range a lot. Your instrument goes out of tune while you're not playing, and then surprise, you've got to play something that's really fast and really high and staccato. It's definitely an art which gets overlooked and a good orchestra makes or breaks a show. Good luck.
Sue
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: psychotic lil clarinet girl (don't as
Date: 2005-03-13 22:25
Thanks... I haven't posted in a while because I've been kinda grounded for bad grades... Sounds like the music is gonna be pretty hard. My band director said it varies. Sometimes it's "easy cheesy" and sometimes it can get pretty challenging. Haven't seen the music yet, except for the audition piece, but I will come Tuesday.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: psychotic lil clarinet girl (don't as
Date: 2005-03-17 00:57
The music has a different style than what I'm used to... Sometimes it goes from straightfoward to swing... I trade off with the tenor sax, so he gets to play part of it and I get to rest, but I still have more music to learn than he does... So many flats and sharps, ah! Oh, would there possibly be an easier fingering from high/upper register C# to A# and the down to F#? That is in the beginning of Put On A Happy Face...
Post Edited (2005-03-17 01:03)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bnatural
Date: 2005-03-17 02:30
That is fun... do you have a flute playing the other book??
You just learn the pattern eventually, I remember it taking a while but it is doable
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
