The Orchestra Appreciation Thread — Page 2

Can I just say that THE BEST orchestra I have ever seen was Cabaret's.

Someone hand me a hankie...

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Let's hear it for the pit people! Yay!

You don't realize how many people they can stick in a small area until you do pit orchestra. And about the overture, yeah, I've noticed that it's written, but it's always cut to shave time off of the total time of the musical. What a shame.

Playing in Sweeney would be AMAZING.

I play trumpet but have only been able to play in school concert and jazz band. I would love to play in an orchestra though. Playing an instrument is such an adrenaline rush.

I love the french horn solo in SITPWG.

There's nothing like the sound of a live orchestra!

Now, if we could just get them to stop being such spoiled-brats and their unions to stop being RIDICULOUS, they just might NOT put themselves out of work!

Is it just me or is the guitar almost becoming obsolete as a pit instrument for revivals of shows that originally had a guitar in the orchestration. I saw "The Apple Tree," "A Chorus Line," and "Les Miserables," and the guitar part was either synthesized, played onstage by an actor or omitted altogether. What's with that?

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Well, as a member of an orchestra currently running on Broadway it means a lot that you guys are so kind in your thoughtful posts. (Except of course the spoiled brats one) :)
It means a lot to us when you come down and say hello at the intermission and after the show and hang out for the exit music, too.
Thanks again!

And we orchestra players love you for noticing us and being so kind. Sometimes we kinda feel like the bastard stepchild down there.

I love the Pit Orchestra!

Did Les Mis and Into the Woods 3/4 years ago.

Definitely major props to all on Broadway and on Tour! *And where ever else in the world!

I always hang out for the exit music, because everyone just improvises!

What do you guys think of the pit members in rooms though?

I play percussion, and I know that a lot of perc. members on Broadway are in little rooms.

Never tried it... Might be fun?

There's nothing that can get your chops up better than playing in a pit. If you're a reed player, like myself, you often have to play 3+ instruments in a show (flute, clarinet family, sax family) which is incredibly difficult given the different embouchures for each instrument, but incredibly rewarding.

One of my wind symphony conductors played in the pit for sweet charity, thoroughly modern millie, fosse, and many others. The guy is a beast of a player, and is always telling great stories about his experiences. In Fosse, for example, part of the band was on stage and part was in the pit. So, they had to use a system where they could make sure that the sound would reach the audience at the same time. So each orchestra member had a click-track going in their ears, and there was a huge light fixture that worked as a metronome in the pit. He said it was one of the craziest experiences in his musical life.

"I've never seen anyone get fired for playing a wrong note. But I've seen plenty of people get axed for having poor time and poor intonation."

Major props to all orchestras!

I played clarinet in the orchestra for The Music Man and Raisin a few years ago so I know how little recognition they sometimes get.

I would LOVE to play in the orchestra for Sweeney Todd one day. It would certainly be challenging, but those original orchestrations, especially the woodwind parts, sound so cool. The end of The Ballad Of Sweeney Todd comes to mind.

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Does anyone know the reductions to the pits for "Les Miserables" Revival and "Light in the Piazza" Tour? I know their orchestrations, and "Light..." doesn't seem like it could get smaller:

Woodwind I (Oboe, English Horn, Bb Clarinet)
Woodwind II (Bassoon, Contrabassoon)
Percussion
Guitars/Cymbals
Piano
Harp
Six Violins
Two Violoncellos
Double Bass

I'm going to see the tour in a month. Hope the fullness isn't lost!

Edit: That's right. I forgot he said he finagled the Lincoln Center into giving him the lush sounds of eight string players (discounting the bass player) which would entail six violins instead of four. Sorry!

Updated On: 1/23/07 at 06:20 PM

I would love playing in a pit. I play cello, and nothing compares to the feeling of everyone playing together when you can tell everyone is really feeling the music.

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