Why do musicians in long running shows continue to read their score?
Why do musicians in long running shows continue to read their score?
morosco
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/10/04
#0Why do musicians in long running shows continue to read their score?
Posted: 2/18/05 at 12:01pmPardon me if this is an ingnorant question. I'm not a musician. I don't know anything about the complexities of playing an instrument. But does there ever come a time when a musician in a long running show no longer needs to read a score during the performance?
#1re: Why do musicians in long running shows continue to read their score?
Posted: 2/18/05 at 12:33pm
I would assume so...
They have sheet music, sometimes for presentation.
Plus, they are to watch the conductor, who watches the monitor.
#2re: Why do musicians in long running shows continue to read their score?
Posted: 2/18/05 at 12:39pmPlus, it's not the same orchestra for the entire run. Over time people leave and new people come in.
#3re: Why do musicians in long running shows continue to read their score?
Posted: 2/18/05 at 2:08pmAs a musician, I can tell you that it's usually just for that extra bit of "whatever" that it gives you....maybe it's confidence. Still, I know that you can write things on your music that you can easily forget..
MusicMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/03
#4re: Why do musicians in long running shows continue to read their score?
Posted: 2/18/05 at 2:14pm
The score is on the stands not only for the players' (and their subsitutes') reference but also to incorporate any changes, if necessary, during the life of the production. It also provides security if something goes wrong (a performer drops a verse, an understudy is unprepared, a scene change goes awry, the orchestra falls apart, what have you). The conductor can call out the respective measures in the score where the orchestra can regroup.
#5re: Why do musicians in long running shows continue to read their score?
Posted: 2/18/05 at 2:17pm
I've always thought of it as a security blanket.
Often in the big road shows 90% of the musicians are hired from a group of local union musicians to play for only the engagement in that city. So it's always new to them.
:: Clouseau Blog ::
Joshua488
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/29/04
#6re: Why do musicians in long running shows continue to read their score?
Posted: 2/18/05 at 2:55pmWhen I went to see PHANTOM, I had front row seats, so we were chatting with the conductor and musicians before and after the show. The conductor said that there were a few musicians that had been playing in PHANTOM since it opened on Broadway in 1988! My mom and I wondered the SAME question! We guessed that those musicians could probably play the score in their sleep!
#7re: Why do musicians in long running shows continue to read their score?
Posted: 2/18/05 at 3:04pmUnfortunately Clouseau, this is no longer the case. Most road shows are self contained and utilize a watered down version of the original Broadway orchestration using half the number of musicians, if that, and/or the virtual orchestra machine, a computerized playback device. Yes folks, the audiences are getting ripped off.
Joshua488
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/29/04
#8re: Why do musicians in long running shows continue to read their score?
Posted: 2/18/05 at 3:17pmWhen has an audience ever NOT been ripped off?
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#9re: Why do musicians in long running shows continue to read their score?
Posted: 2/18/05 at 3:21pmWhen I saw PACIFIC OVERTURES in December, Paul Gemignani conducted the entire score from memory without a score.
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#10re: Why do musicians in long running shows continue to read their score?
Posted: 2/18/05 at 4:06pmFrom what I understand (someone feel free to correct me on details), when Paul Gemignani conducted the original Sweeney Todd someone (producer?) had asked him to use the score when conducting because the fact that he conducts from memory had made them feel uncomfortable. So he would put the score in front of him but not actually look at it. One night some of the blood from the stage squirted onto the score... he just left it there for the entirety of the run.
#11re: Why do musicians in long running shows continue to read their score?
Posted: 2/18/05 at 4:31pmWhen I saw Witches of Eastwick and the flying apparatus didn't work, the conductor had to cue the orchestra to jump ahead in the score to cover the long flying sequence, which was getting rather embarassing to watch as the ladies remained sitting firmly on the sofa waving their arms about. Imagine if the musicians didn't have their music in front of them? What was already a serious mishap would have turned into a major disaster. Though the end result was pretty bizarre. The audience was completely bewildered by what they were seeing and the act ended in silence.
morosco
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/10/04
#12re: Why do musicians in long running shows continue to read their score?
Posted: 2/18/05 at 4:32pmPaul Gemignani is amazing! I was thrilled when I sat down to see KISS ME KATE and I noticed the abscence of a score on the conductors stand. I knew Paul would be conducting! He's a joy to watch. And it appears that the actors and the musicians are all very fond of him. The interaction between everyone and Paul is amazing.
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