City of Angels

[RCNELSON]

I know the instrumentation of the reed books per Bret Pimental's website:

1: Piccolo, flute, clarinet, alto saxophone
2: Piccolo, flute, clarinet, alto saxophone
3: Clarinet, tenor saxophone
4: Clarinet, bass clarinet, baritone saxophone

I also understand that reed 2 is primarily clarinet. But does any one know the details of the other books? How much piccolo in reed 1 (and I'm assuming reed 1 is the 1st flute chair)? Is the reed 3 book worthwhile to play or would 1 or 2 be more exciting/challenging?

[RCNELSON]

Well, I guess this show is not too popular here in this forum based on the lack of replys. I got the gig. It's 3 weekends (Friday-Saturday nights, Sunday matinees) in March. Because of budget constraints we are going with a VERY SMALL group. I have the honor of being the only reed player. I'll get all 4 books but I'm guessing based on what I have heard on the CD, it's going to be mainly Reed 1 (I'm guessing that is where the alto solos/leads and the 1st flute is) with a possible mix of 2 and 3 ( may want a bit of tenor when it's a full brass/reed sound) Stay tuned. Will probably get the books in January.

[Gandalfe]

I find it disappointing when the theater cuts the music down till it's almost not recognizable. But it happens all the time.

[SOTSDO]

We've found that some schools (high schools and colleges) do this because they don't know that there are people out there willing to play in a pit for some pretty reasonable money.

These days I play for three Lutheran high school productions each year, netting about $1200 for three weekends of work (plus some rehearsals, of course). One school started using me and some of my sidemen, then the second found out, and finally a third has just caught on.

And, there are a number of shows that I'll play for free. It's A Bird, It's A Plane, It's Superman! is one, and the Threepenny Opera is another. Both are solid shows, with jazzy charts for the first and period 1920's tunes for the second, and both are a hoot to play.

But, dangle Once Upon A Mattress in front of me and I just might highball you on the price, just to make sure. Fifteen shows of that dog are enough for one lifetime, at least in my opinion.

[RCNELSON]

The books have arrived. And as I stated before, it looks like primarily reed 1 with pieces of 2 and 3 mixed in as needed. As musicals go, it doesn't look bad from a technical point of view, only a tricky flute passage or 2. The only hard part is that being the only reed, I can't hide.

Our MD said that rather than being back stage (it's a small community theater w/o a pit), we are going to be incorporated with the "city backdrop". Should be fun.

[Carl H.]

The books have arrived. And as I stated before, it looks like primarily reed 1 with pieces of 2 and 3 mixed in as needed. As musicals go, it doesn't look bad from a technical point of view, only a tricky flute passage or 2. The only hard part is that being the only reed, I can't hide.

Our MD said that rather than being back stage (it's a small community theater w/o a pit), we are going to be incorporated with the "city backdrop". Should be fun.


Watch out for the lights. The last time I was part of the stage dressing, half of my face was tanned/burned by the lighting, and my favorite clarinet cracked big time. Other than that it was fine.