‘Barnum’, at Hampton Hill Theatre

I don’t think I’ve got any friends in Twickenham, but if any of my enemies want to come along to this then they’d be more than welcome. We can always have a punch-up or something afterwards…

Barnum
Tuesday 23rd May – Saturday 27th May
7:45, with 2:30 matinee on 27th
Hampton Hill Theatre, Hampton, TW12 1NZ
www.topsmusicals.co.uk
 

 
Like any conscientious reed player I’ve been giving this a listen in advance, and it sounds like it should be great fun. I’ll be playing clari, bass clari, bari, and tenor saxophoni, and if the rumours are to be believed then we musicians will be in view on stage. So if nothing else you’ll get some good quality eye candy.

Saint-Saëns’ Organ Symphony in High Wycombe

Wycombe Sinfonia
Saturday 20th May
7:30
All Saints Church, High Wycombe
www.wycombesinfonia.co.uk

Have you seen the film ‘Babe’?

I have.

And I was most excited recently to learn that somebody called Camille Saint-Saëns has taken the main song from that film and expanded it into an entire symphony! Furthermore, he appears to have then travelled back in time to 1886 in order to premiere it. Ah, the wonders of modern technology.

Anyhoo, this Saturday I get a chance to play bass clarimanet for this symphony, in a concert with Wycombe Sinfonia. The programme also includes Tchaikovsky’s ‘Polonaise from Eugene Onegin’ and ‘Piano Concerto No. 1’. Plenty of good tunes there to sing along to should you attend.

As further encouragement, here is a picture of Saint-Saëns speaking his mind:
 

Haydn: The Creation, with Scarborough Choral Society

Joseph Haydn: The Creation
Scarborough Choral Society
Saturday 13th May
7:30
Westborough Methodist Church, Scarborough
http://scarboroughchoral.com/

Here’s one for anybody who likes The Creation, by Joseph Haydn, and will be in the Scarborough vicinity this weekend. I’ll be joining in with Scarborough Choral Society to help bring this monumental oratorio, by the Man of Many Symphonies, to life!

I’ll be playing the contrabassoon part, but sadly contrabassoons are very expensive so on this occasion I’ll be putting the notes in on my non-contra-bassoon. Unless, of course, anyone has a contra that they’d particularly like to donate…!
 

I Went On the Underground This Week… And I Found This!

 
Now isn’t that nice? A big musical mosaic on the southbound Northern line platform at Tottenham Court Road. What’s more, I managed to photograph it without falling onto the tracks. What a good day.

But let’s take a moment to consider this work of art, and what instruments it is attempting to depict. At first glance I suppose most people would assume it is a pair of saxophones, perhaps alto and tenor. However, the clearly cylindrical (rather than conical) bores show this not to be the case. A more likely candidate would be a pair of bass clarinets. That certainly fits the general shape, especially the distinctive curve of the neck, but we are then faced with the problem of why there are two different sizes. Perhaps the larger one is a bass and the smaller an alto? This cannot be true either, for if one of them was an alto it would have a much straighter neck. Maybe the smaller one is a bass and the larger a contra-alto? Again, this theory falls flat because the contra-alto has a much more dramatically curved neck than either of these examples. You could almost suggest that both are basses, and the smaller one is simply further away, if it weren’t for the fact that the smaller one is clearly in the foreground. A pair of basses, one in Bb and the other in A? Surely not – their sizes are far too dissimilar. At any rate, these are the issues that keep strange folk such as myself awake at night.

If you’ve read this far then I assume you have enough of a nerdy interest in woodwind instruments to appreciate a picture of my setup for this week’s run of Kiss Me, Kate at the Rhoda McGaw theatre in Woking:
 

 
Note that I play the piano with my left foot during the scene changes. By the way, my offer of a free chocolate biscuit to anyone who comes to say ‘hello’ still stands.

Behind the Scenes at Sweeney Todd

I’m about half way through the run of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street with Finchley & Friern Barnet Operatic Society, so thought now would be a nice time to share some behind-the-scenes odds and ends with y’all.

Firstly, here’s another little glimpse of life through my eyes:
 

 
Now, I do like a challenge, but being positioned behind the musical director is a new one to me!

Secondly, I managed to get a little clip of me playing The Worst Pies in London during the dress rehearsal, which you may find enjoyable. This video makes up for all the occasions when I’m drowned out by other instruments:
 

I’ll conclude by saying that this really is an excellent production, and anyone with access to North North North North North North North London should most certainly come and see it. Here are the details.

Video: Rey’s Theme, for 2 clarinets and 2 bassoons

It’s been many many moons since I’ve done a one-man/two-clarinets/two-bassoons video of John Williams’ music. In fact, since my last one they’ve made a couple of new Star Wars films, and therefore I would now like to present some music from one of those for you. Here is Rey’s Theme, from Episode VII – I hope it was worth the wait!
 

This Week’s Adventures

I can truly say I did my bit to contribute to Hull’s ‘City of Culture’ status on Monday, by doing a very successful spot of busking with The Jelly Roll Jazz Band. As some sort of non-definitive proof, here’s a variation on my usual point-of-view photo:
 

 
Or, for those who would prefer to see it from the audience’s perspective, here’s a selection of videos sent to us by a kindly passer-by:
 

While I’m here, I’ll inform you of a key date for your diary: Friday 21st April (Tomorrow! Crikey!) I’ll be back in my old role as bassoonist with Scarborough Concert Band for a performance in aid of Scarborough Alzheimer’s Society. Do come along if you are able – here are the specifics:

Scarborough Concert Band, Scarborough Community Choir, and Eleanor and Libby Wood
Friday 21st April
7:30
Westborough Methodist Church, Scarborough
www.scarboroughconcertband.co.uk/home/4577093808

Upcoming Musicals

Good afternoon everybody. Now seems like a suitable moment to inform you all of a few musical theatre productions I’m going to be involved in over the near future, and therefore that is what I shall do. Are you ready? Here we go!

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Monday 24th April – Saturday 29th April
7:45, with 2:30 matinee on 29th
The Dugdale Centre, Enfield, EN2 6DS
ffbos.com/current-show

If you like pies made from unconventional types of meat (and I’m not talking about horse), you’ll love this show. It’s all about a guy called Sweeney Todd, who’s a barber and also a demon, and he gets up to no good on Fleet Street. I’ll be manning the bassoon, with possibly a dash of flute and/or clarinet thrown in. Also, us musicians will be in full view so if you particularly dislike my face then you may want to stay away.
 

 
Kiss Me, Kate
Tuesday 2nd May – Saturday 6th May
7:30, with 2:30 matinee on 6th
Rhoda McGaw Theatre, Woking, GU21 6GQ
waos.info/shows/latest-show

Here’s something a bit less intense, after the bloodbath of Sweeney Todd. ‘Kiss Me, Kate’ is a musical about someone called Kate, and someone else who would quite like a kiss from her. It’s got music by Cole Porter, which is never a bad thing, and some stuff about Shakespeare, which I suppose is also good. I’ll be on clarinet, flute and some saxophone or other. If you come along and say ‘hello’ then I promise to give you a chocolate biscuit in return.
 

 
Legally Blonde
Tuesday 30th May – Saturday 3rd June
7:30, with 2:30 matinee on 3rd
YMCA Theatre, Scarborough, YO11 1DY
scarboroughmusicals.co.uk

Back on home turf again, to reprise my role as Reed 1 in Legally Blonde at the YMCA. This musical is about a person who is blonde but doesn’t need to worry about being prosecuted for it. I’ll be playing flute, piccolo, clarinet and alto saxophone, and if I can afford to buy some oboe reeds in time then I might play that as well. But I’m not making any promises. Also, note that I won’t be performing on Saturday 3rd so if you don’t like the sound I make when I blow down instruments then that’s probably the best day to attend.
 

My New Favourite Lyrics

Well I had a splendid time last week playing for ‘Tahiti!’ with Bloomsbury Opera. We got to throw paper around, loudly blow air down our instruments, and shout “You’re smelly!” a lot. At least, I assume that was part of the performance…

he highlight, however, has to be my new all-time favourite lyrics, from Bernstein’s ‘Trouble in Tahiti’: