Archive
76 TROMBONES IN FED SQUARE
Thursday 12th December 2019 5.30-6.15pm
The Mel'Bones are augmenting to 76 to play Meredith Willson's "76 Trombones", plus some seasonal music, in Federation Square, Melbourne (opposite Flinders Street Railway Station). There could be several thousand people in the Square, so this is a great opportunity to reach and entertain a large crowd. Any trombone players who would like to participate should contact me at dontrb@gmail.com or 0488 218 185 with their standard, whether tenor or bass, preference for part (1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th/bass), need for treble clef music, and email address and mobile number.
The 4-part arrangement of "76 'Bones" that we'll play is by Kenneth Amis (a performance of this is on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpfzjZ4W28M), and we'll play 4-part arrangements of seasonal music by Bob Elkjer (and perhaps others). You can check Bob's website (www.robertelkjer.net) for mp3 files of his Trombone Quartet Christmas Carols V. 6 charts so you can get an idea of the standard. Notice of one or more rehearsals for those that need them will be sent out later.
Because of numbers, need for stands, weather uncertainty and sound focus, we'll play on the stage of the Square. To give the appearance of a flash mob, we'll leave cases and bags in a secure area by the stage and then move surreptitiously (trombones under our jackets ha! ha!) out around the square. I'll conduct the performance from a raised spot in the square in front of the stage, and I'll start playing "When The Saints" in Bb when everyone is ready. Everyone will then join in while making their way through the crowd and up on the stage. When everyone is there we'll swing into "76 Trombones".
I'll get people to bring music stands, but we'll only need half the number as two players will have to share a stand for reasons of stage space and music copying! The stage will be marked out for 1st, 2nds, 3rds and 4ths so everyone on a part will have the support of their fellow-parters. Getting such a large group playing together musically and hearable clearly by the audience may be tricky so tempos may be a bit slower than might be used indoors.
Thursday 12th December 2019 5.30-6.15pm
The Mel'Bones are augmenting to 76 to play Meredith Willson's "76 Trombones", plus some seasonal music, in Federation Square, Melbourne (opposite Flinders Street Railway Station). There could be several thousand people in the Square, so this is a great opportunity to reach and entertain a large crowd. Any trombone players who would like to participate should contact me at dontrb@gmail.com or 0488 218 185 with their standard, whether tenor or bass, preference for part (1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th/bass), need for treble clef music, and email address and mobile number.
The 4-part arrangement of "76 'Bones" that we'll play is by Kenneth Amis (a performance of this is on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpfzjZ4W28M), and we'll play 4-part arrangements of seasonal music by Bob Elkjer (and perhaps others). You can check Bob's website (www.robertelkjer.net) for mp3 files of his Trombone Quartet Christmas Carols V. 6 charts so you can get an idea of the standard. Notice of one or more rehearsals for those that need them will be sent out later.
Because of numbers, need for stands, weather uncertainty and sound focus, we'll play on the stage of the Square. To give the appearance of a flash mob, we'll leave cases and bags in a secure area by the stage and then move surreptitiously (trombones under our jackets ha! ha!) out around the square. I'll conduct the performance from a raised spot in the square in front of the stage, and I'll start playing "When The Saints" in Bb when everyone is ready. Everyone will then join in while making their way through the crowd and up on the stage. When everyone is there we'll swing into "76 Trombones".
I'll get people to bring music stands, but we'll only need half the number as two players will have to share a stand for reasons of stage space and music copying! The stage will be marked out for 1st, 2nds, 3rds and 4ths so everyone on a part will have the support of their fellow-parters. Getting such a large group playing together musically and hearable clearly by the audience may be tricky so tempos may be a bit slower than might be used indoors.
