JimD
Oct-03-2004, 8:06pm
I just finished playing in the pit orchestra for the musical "Footloose". I was hired as a guitarist but, as pit orchestra parts usually go, there was much doubling. In this case it was electric, steel string and classical guitars, mandolin and harmonica. The mandolin is heard in 3 different numbers in the show--kind of a bluesy feel to those pieces. It was obviously scored by someone who was familiar enough with the instrument to write idiomatically for it--a nice surprise for this kind of work.
I have also played dozens of different productions of "Fiddler on the Roof" which has a Mandolin/guitar part (both instruments--one player).
Has anyone else had much experience with playing the mandolin for musicals?
I've done quite a bit of this kind of work but find that the mando shows up more often in classical orchestral works and opera than it does in musical theater. Maybe that is just the kind of calls that I get...
I have also played dozens of different productions of "Fiddler on the Roof" which has a Mandolin/guitar part (both instruments--one player).
Has anyone else had much experience with playing the mandolin for musicals?
I've done quite a bit of this kind of work but find that the mando shows up more often in classical orchestral works and opera than it does in musical theater. Maybe that is just the kind of calls that I get...