WSS Question - Prologue

[ssbtrumpet1]

So I'm practicing the Prologue and around mm 182 & 186 you have the descending 16th notes (top line F#, D#, B & first line E#) at 120 bpm. The first two 16th notes are slurred, the second two are tongued; then the figure goes up a half step at mm 246 & 250.

How on earth do you play that? Is there an alternate fingering to use? Do you double tongue the B & E#? I've been slowing it way down and practicing it to get it under my fingers, but what a mutha...

Advice welcome,
Steve

[BeboppinFool]

When I showed up for the first rehearsal of WSS at an area playhouse, I had been told it was going to be Sound of Music, and I wasn't worried about it.

When I arrived, I got knocked for a loop.

I came home and listened to all I could find online, and that helped tremendously, plus practicing all the hard places (which are abundant).

Basically, all I did was try to play what was written (lead) and make it sound as easy as possible, which of course, it isn't. If you sound like you're hanging on for dear life, everybody knows it. If you exude confidence and make it sound easy, you can fool a lot of the people a lot of the time.

Get ready for a helluva ride! I did 8 shows a week for 3 weeks and it changed my life!

By the way, save something for that ending. If you are shot when you get there, you're in trouble.
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Puttin’ On The Ritz

[MaestroTrpt]

I'm confident Tim Wendt will chime in soon re: this issue...

The good news is that this odd riff is descending, which I find easier to play than ascending, but that's just me. Looks like the fingering isn't too bad- 2, 2, 2, 1 (i.e.- F#, D#, B, E#).

Slowing the passage way down is good. I would try to actually sing it out loud as well.

Also of note: I believe the woodwinds and the pitched drums play this rhythm with you (the trumpets) as well, so the pressure isn't ALL on you.

Have fun with it!

[John Mohan]

I played 1st trumpet for that show through the winter of 2002/2003 in Basel, Switzerland at the Musical Theater Basil. Musically, that was and still is the highlight of my career. I felt like I discovered new musical nuances and displays of Bernstein's genius with each and every show.


https://s25.postimg.org/p6inkl2dr/Kerry_John_more.jpg
My friend, colleague and fellow CG Student Kerry Hughes and I playing WSS in the Musical Theater Basel pit - seated to my right and unseen in the photo is Jason Rambler on 3rd trpt

Slur the first two notes and double tongue the last two. It's not so hard - just practice it over and over, very slowly, resting as long as you played between each repetition. The key is to practice it VERY slowly and build up the speed at a VERY slow rate. Try to practice it too fast and you'll never get it.

Best wishes,

John Mohan
Skype Lessons Available - Click on the e-mail button below if interested
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Trumpet Player, Clinician & Teacher
1st Trpt for Cats, Phantom of the Opera, West Side Story, Evita, Hunchback of Notre Dame,
Grease, The Producers, Addams Family, In the Heights, etc.
Ex LA Studio Musician
16 Year Claude Gordon Student

[Craig Swartz]

[sab754]

I played 1st for my school's production of it last year! Was a really great production and I was incredibly happy with how it went.

For that passage, the section and I elected on playing the D# as 23 as opposed to 2 - it helped us keep everything moving.

For the section that goes up a step to G, I played the E on 12 to make it a bit easier. But really you could probably do the regular fingerings and just nut it out - it's your choice.

[ssbtrumpet1]

Thanks guys!! I've been shedding it out slow, but was wondering if there was a trick to it or not. And I was wondering if alternate fingers/double tonguing the lick worked better.

[trpthrld]

C trumpet.

You're welcome.
_________________
Tim Wendt

www.trumpetherald.com/marketplace.php?task=detail&id=146827&s=The-Best-Trumpet-Lead-Pipe-Swab-EVER--

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPWAJqghk24&feature=youtu.be

[agolden]

I'm currently playing that book on the World Tour of WSS. Just make sure to not let up on the mouthpiece pressure/energy (how's that for vague?) on the descending slurs/passages. You want to make sure you're still maintaining a "real" or active embouchure, not just a flab of flesh.

Maybe give those flexandos out of "Flexus" a look & let me know how it goes.

-Andrew
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trumpet - synths - cornet
Bach//Blackburn
Patrick Mouthpieces

[agolden]

PS: I just play it with the standard fingerings & articulation wise, I single tongue.
_________________
trumpet - synths - cornet
Bach//Blackburn
Patrick Mouthpieces

[RandyTX]