by "ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
Published 06/30/2017 at 17:08
by "ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
Published 06/30/2017 at 17:08
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STARS: 3
It’s becoming a pretty popular trend now to have live symphony orchestras accompany a screening of a film. It really fills the seats, and I’ve done a number of them with great success. Tonight, we’re dong La La Land . And I have very little confidence that it will go well at all.
This is the first time that the show has been done in the US. It was done previously in Korea, but I don’t know if we have the same conductor or the same production company. There’s a ton of music (as you might expect), and at last night’s rehearsal we barely played through half of it. We had a rehearsal scheduled today from 2:30-5:00, and the conductor just dismissed most of the orchestra and said “See you tonight.” We have not run the music with the movie. We have not played any numbers sequentially. The director cut two numbers after dismissing the orchestra. The whole show has a click track, which means that the musicians wear an earpiece with a computer programmed click that makes sure we stay synced with the film. With a click, the conductor just stays out of the way and lets the musicians play, giving a cue here and there. The conductor isn’t using it except for a few of the numbers, convinced that he can stay with the film better than the click. This does not bode well.
I may be overly worried. We’ve got a stageful of great musicians, but when the conductor dismissed us there was silence. Everybody was dumbfounded that we were done with so much work still to do. The small jazz group is rehearsing, and they can’t get through a number without stopping. It’s not their fault, they’re all fantastic players. It’s the conductor who can’t seem to express what he wants or how he wants it. He spends all his time fixing minor things that will do nothing to keep the show together. Some of the seats are selling for as much as $250. If this falls apart tonight it will be a major fiasco. Wish us luck.
"RPM esq." (rpm3)
06/30/2017 at 17:15, STARS: 0
I look forward to hearing the story when it all goes to shit in entertaining fashion.
I mean, break a leg!
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
06/30/2017 at 17:17, STARS: 0
Tonight will probably either be a triumphant success, or a total shit-show. Either way you should end up with a good story!
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
06/30/2017 at 17:19, STARS: 2
And a paycheck.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
06/30/2017 at 17:20, STARS: 0
I heartily hope it will be fine, and with the caliber of musicians we have, it will probably be okay. But it’s not like we are accompanying singers who can adjust the tempo to stay with the band. It’s hard, but it’s eminently doable, with a click track an adequate and efficient rehearsing.
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
06/30/2017 at 17:24, STARS: 1
Even better!
"unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)" (unclevanos)
06/30/2017 at 17:28, STARS: 0
Shit shows are the best story, you get paid anyway at the cost of seeing a shit show with your own eyes.
"For Sweden" (rallybeetle)
06/30/2017 at 17:30, STARS: 3
So you’re basically Nissan’s LMP1 program.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
06/30/2017 at 17:49, STARS: 0
Yeah, pretty much.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
06/30/2017 at 17:50, STARS: 0
But it’s no fun to be in the middle of one. Luckily, we’re all wearing black, and the stage is dark, so nobody will be able to see me.
"DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!" (daft-ryosuke)
06/30/2017 at 18:07, STARS: 2
HERES TO THE FOOLS WHO DREAM
EXCEPT FOR THOSE WHO ARE LEFT IN THESE TYPES OF PREDICAMENTS.
In all honesty, I hope it goes well. I love this movie and I’d love to see it presented like this.
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
06/30/2017 at 18:10, STARS: 1
It’s becoming a pretty popular trend now to have live symphony orchestras accompany a screening of a film.
I must be living under a rock because I never heard of this until now.
I’m crossing my fingers for you guys. I have just enough musician left in me to cringe when I hear a mistake from an instrument because I know how the musician kicking himself feels.
"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
06/30/2017 at 18:15, STARS: 0
Seriously I never hear the fuck ups. But that one time there was a trumpet solo and it was off the stage, that was a strange moment. My wife who was playing base in the orchestra was like WTF was that after the performance. She said it was not rehearsed that way.
"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
06/30/2017 at 18:15, STARS: 0
Generally I don’t like show tunes, I prefer music specifically composed for orchestra, unless it is star wars, I love star wars.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
06/30/2017 at 18:18, STARS: 0
This music is catchy, and I can see why it’s popular. However, it really isn’t that good. Speaking of Star Wars, we’re playing the music for a screening of Episode IV in October, and we’ll be doing V and VI after that. We’re also scheduled to do Jurassic Park and the first Harry Potter movie. This fad shows no sign of dying out, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. People who have never seen a live orchestra are buying tickets. They may never come to a regular concert, but at least they see how that music is being made.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
06/30/2017 at 18:19, STARS: 1
I’m more concerned with the whole thing falling apart, or the music grinding to a screeching halt, or becoming completely off with the film.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
06/30/2017 at 18:22, STARS: 1
Check your local papers. This sort of thing is really taking off. We’re doing Star Wars Ep. IV in October, and they are working on the contracts to do V and VI. We’re also doing Harry Potter and Jurassic Park this season.
I’m crossing my fingers for you guys.
Thanks. I’ll be crossing mine too. I talked to the orchestra’s personnel manager and he said that this is the first time the conductor has done this show, and this is the first show the producer has ever done by himself after years as an assistant. Gotta start somewhere, I guess.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
06/30/2017 at 18:23, STARS: 0
Thanks. I’ve never seen the film, so this is the first time I’ve heard the score. We’ve got a fantastic lead trumpet player, a guy I went to school with back in the 90s. In fact, the conductor said that the trumpets are the best section in the orchestra, so there’s that. If it falls apart, it won’t be on us!
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
06/30/2017 at 18:24, STARS: 1
Star Wars I would love to see with a live orchestra!
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
06/30/2017 at 18:27, STARS: 2
My dad bought me the soundtrack to Star Wars back in the day and I almost wore it out. The brass in the final Death Star battle is just awesome. I can’t wait to play it!
"R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet" (r-saldana)
06/30/2017 at 18:33, STARS: 0
I found that movie so underwhelming that I did not even finish it. I was raised watching actual Danvers who cut their teeth first on Broadway and in travelling shows, Soni expected much much more from the production team.
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
06/30/2017 at 18:41, STARS: 1
I have it on LP, too!
"DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!" (daft-ryosuke)
06/30/2017 at 18:43, STARS: 1
Something I learned in marching band is to blame the trumpets at every chance you get.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
06/30/2017 at 18:58, STARS: 0
Don’t worry. We just blame everybody else.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
06/30/2017 at 19:00, STARS: 1
I have been told that, though it says London Symphony Orchestra, it was really a bunch of subs and extras or studio players, though the playing is still fantastic. At the time, they didn’t know if the movie would flop. When it didn’t, all the subsequent recordings were done by the A team.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
06/30/2017 at 19:03, STARS: 0
My father, who is somewhat of a movie snob, hated it. But I think the only movie he ever walked out of was Boogie Nights, which isn’t saying much. Despite rehearsing, I still haven’t heard much of it with the voices. And from where I’m sitting I won’t be able to see the screen.
"Frank Grimes" (FrankGrimes)
06/30/2017 at 20:10, STARS: 1
I would like to see something like that. I havent seen la la land but kinda wanted to.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
06/30/2017 at 20:27, STARS: 0
I’ll let you know how it goes.....
"RacinBob" (racinbob)
06/30/2017 at 21:31, STARS: 0
Which orch and venue ?
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
06/30/2017 at 22:07, STARS: 0
Austin Symphony, Long Center for the Performing Arts.
"R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet" (r-saldana)
06/30/2017 at 23:25, STARS: 0
Wanted to walk out of, but didn’t, The Wolf of Wall Street.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
06/30/2017 at 23:40, STARS: 0
Never saw that either.
"RacinBob" (racinbob)
07/01/2017 at 10:28, STARS: 1
Doesn’t look to hard. I think I could do it.......
"C62030" (c62030)
07/01/2017 at 10:44, STARS: 0
Our trumpets in high school jazz band spent most of the year either falling asleep or actively injuring one another, and somehow they were still the best section in the band.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
07/01/2017 at 11:02, STARS: 0
There was really not that much playing for the section trumpets.
"RacinBob" (racinbob)
07/01/2017 at 14:20, STARS: 0
Were I a trumpet player, I would get one of there bad boy Conn 40B Conquerer
Art Deco beast with rimless bell. The most extravagant trumpet made during the great depression years. That’s Pan playing the pipes.
https://cderksen.home.xs4all.nl/Conn40B1932image.html
Also Conn 48B https://cderksen.home.xs4all.nl/Conn48B1941image.html
Looks like this guy has one in town.....
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"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
07/01/2017 at 14:58, STARS: 0
Beautiful horns, with a sound from a different era. Not sure about ringless bells, though. You want that added strength. I’ve got a gorgeous King cornet from that era. I don’t play it much because it’s a small bore. But it remains in my collection. I’ll see if I can send you some pics.
"RacinBob" (racinbob)
07/01/2017 at 15:20, STARS: 1
I agree with your point. I expect it’s sound would be different than all around it which probably isn’t good. It may be bright as hell, but it does look cool though. If you ever get a chance to take one for a spin,I’d recommend it.
I have the same conquerer trombone. It doesn’t get a lot of use as I am a bass trombonist. but they are cool to look at and people notice them when playing alumni band gigs etc....
You’d enjoy this ‘37 conn video .
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"scottellsw" (scottellsw)
07/01/2017 at 16:08, STARS: 0
So I had the privilege to see the concert last night in Austin with my wife and daughter. My daughter is studying music at the collegiate level (trumpet!), and she stated that the musicianship was excellent. She mentioned that there was one moment there was some confusion during a large accelerando, but the musicians recovered quickly. To my layman’s ears, the music was outstanding, and the trumpet section excellent. The trumpet soloist was outstanding. Thanks for putting on a great concert, even if you felt ill prepared.
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
07/01/2017 at 19:19, STARS: 0
Ha! Didn’t know that.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
07/01/2017 at 20:08, STARS: 1
Well, don’t quote me on that. It may not be true. But it is certainly believable.