 The Doublers BBoard
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Author: smed52
Date: 2009-08-31 11:00
My high school is doing the Sound of Music, and I have to cover all of the woodwind parts. Could anyone make up a list that has the song and the best instrument to play on it? I could even do multiple in a song if it's needed.
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Author: Terry Stibal
Date: 2009-09-06 03:43
Even for a "simple" musical, that's a pretty tall order.
Sound Of Music is a musical from the "classic" era of the 1940's, and as such uses the then-standard two flutes, an oboe, two clarinets and a bassoon.
You might, with some careful switching around, cover all of the high parts, as the "featured" instrument on a particular tune is usually out there on its own. As for a road map as to where what goes when, a look at the score should sort that out.
Having said that, I recall from my forays with this chestnut that the clarinets and the flutes spent a lot of time playing in thirds. The best clarinet work came in a bit of incidental music (a Austrian dance) during the big party sequence. In that one bit of fluff, the two clarinets (playing in the inevitable thirds) get to carry the water for about a minute or so. Also, the "Goodbye" number towards the end has a pretty essential clarinet lick in every phrase.
But, covering the bassoon part with all of the rest is going to be rough. My son played it years and years ago, and recalls that it was pretty boring throughout, with a lot of the work being in parallel with the 'cellos. Not quite the same thing as the melodic stuff covered by the upper woodwinds.
Are things that rough at your facility that they cannot tolerate a single flute and oboe in addition to your efforts? It would make for a much better production, even without the second chair folks for each horn.
leader of Houston's Sounds Of The South Dance Orchestra
info@sotsdo.com
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Author: davyd
Date: 2009-09-07 00:20
SoM premeired in 1959, but is arguably in 40s style.
Why can there be only 1 woodwind? Lack of space, or concern about balance?
This show is good Pit Orchestra 101 material, exactly what HS students who might continue with music beyond HS should be playing. I hope more players can get involved.
Post Edited (2009-09-07 00:22)
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Author: smed52
Date: 2009-09-08 00:56
Our school is very small, and I am the only doubler that actually goes to the school. They've hired some professionals and such from around the area, but we recently did a very large musical that cost a lot of money, and one the things that the cut back on to save money was hiring professionals.
I guess I could maybe talk to some people, but would anyone have a estimate of the least number of people needed? I might be able to get a flute player, and maybe an oboe player (with no connection to get an english horn) and maybe a clarinet player. Bassoon isn't really important, is it?
Thank you for all of your help, guys!!
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Author: mikeW
Date: 2009-09-08 07:05
I think you need to re-read Terry's post. "Sound of Music" is orchestrated in a classical manner: there is no doubling (except for picc in 2nd flute book and english horn in the oboe book). If you have a flute player, a clarinet player and an oboe player, you can probably cover most of the high reed lines.
It's been over 10 years since I played it last so I don't remember how important the bassoon part is. Get a recording and listen to it. We did it with 1st flute, oboe/english horn, 1st clarinet and me doing bits from 2nd clarinet and 2nd flute. The only thing I remember being of any consequence in either of the 2nd books is the picc part in "16 going on 17".
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Author: smed52
Date: 2009-09-08 23:35
Yeah, I know it is not a doubling musical. I meant to say that I am the only high school student who plays more than one instrument. I also forgot to say that most of the students in the band are not very dedicated and wouldn't want to spend their time doing pit orchestra. I guess I sort of worded it wrong.
When I said I might be able to get those people, I meant I am trying to convince them to do the pit, as they wouldn't have volunteered themselves.
I've done another Rogers and Hammerstein, and we had two clarinets and a flute. It just didn't sound very full, but I'll see what I can do this time.
Again, thanks for everyone's help!!
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