Has anyone played for the musical Godspell?

someguy0105 · #1 02-06-2008, 03:45 PM

What did you think of it?

I just got the music for it today. I will be playing with my drummer and my band conductor on guitar. I'm a little concerned about the short fills I will have to do... any advice on how to play something tasteful for them?

pcurtain · #2 02-06-2008, 11:14 PM

Hey!

I've got just one recommendation. The score you'll likely receive is pretty minimal. Straight, but a good starting point.

Listen to the 70's Soundtrack!

GREAT R&B bass parts. Listen on headphones (or a great sound system) and try to lift those lines. Loved the whole show.

--p

BassChuck · #3 02-07-2008, 05:13 AM

I've played the show. Its a blast. Keep it simple. As much as you'll want to make your part great, its all about the people on stage and the message the show is bringing.... be a part of that.

Texas twelve · #4 02-07-2008, 06:00 AM

I played for a high school production three year ago. I switched back and forth from bass to acoustic guitar as some rather mellow songs sounded better with a plucked guitar sound than the bass.

As stated, I kept is simply because the music was the background for the vocals so I was really simple.

It has a lot of variety, and is fun. The song that Jesus sang to the pharisees is a killer, though.

anechoic · #5 02-07-2008, 07:30 AM

Wow, this brings back memories. I got roped into playing bass for a local production of Godspell during the summer before I left for college. A friend of mine was involved in the production and apparently remembered that I played bass.

Now, at the time, I could have been more accurately described as a "guitarist who owns a bass" than an actual bassist. Needless to say, I'm pretty sure I sucked. I was playing a Mach 1 Thunder Series bass (essentially this crappy short scale bass with a single J pickup and a pointy 80s headstock) through a 10" 25 watt Crate amp in a several hundred seat junior high auditorium. I'm pretty sure most of what I was playing got lost under the drummer's kick, the guitarist's low E, and the pianist's left hand.

I had a blast, though. During that song that plays toward the end during the crucifixtion, I would crank that little Crate up to 10 and pound away. I think the band even got a line "Give him your coat as well!" or something.

GrooveWarrior · #6 02-07-2008, 07:44 AM

I played that show once. It was fun. I remember one song (can't remember which one) has some serious time changes throughout that keep you on your toes. Great fun. Good luck!

anechoic · #7 02-07-2008, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrooveWarrior

I played that show once. It was fun. I remember one song (can't remember which one) has some serious time changes throughout that keep you on your toes. Great fun. Good luck!

"We Beseech Thee"? I think that one had some odd time signatures in it.

werbo1 · #8 02-07-2008, 08:04 AM

Mmm...I played this show about 2 or 3 years ago. I certainly remember the funky time changes...Oh man and Day by Day that was always a fun one.

dave64o · #9 02-07-2008, 04:22 PM

I never played in a production but my wife loves the show and has the sheet music for it. She plays All Good Gifts on piano and I accompany her on acoustic.

I also played guitar in a friend's wedding a few years ago and the director planned to do that song on piano with one of the singers so he never sent the sheet music to the rest of the musicians. When we did a short practice before the ceremony I told him I could add guitar and my wife quickly worked out the recorder solo on clarinet. That arrangement ended up sounding pretty nice so the director decided to do it that way in the ceremony.

basspraiser · #10 02-07-2008, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pcurtain

Hey!

I've got just one recommendation. The score you'll likely receive is pretty minimal. Straight, but a good starting point.

Listen to the 70's Soundtrack!

GREAT R&B bass parts. Listen on headphones (or a great sound system) and try to lift those lines. Loved the whole show.

--p

+1000

I have never played it "out" but I DID play alot of the music at home in the 80s.....lots 'o' good bass parts!

Listen and listen some more.......

peace and good luck! Let us know how it turns out!

Doug

jimmy rocket · #11 03-11-2008, 08:08 PM

I'm playing for a touring show this summer and I must admit the complexity of some of the parts (or rather the ones you want to make more complex than they really have to be) is a little overwhelming. I found that I had to simplify each line to about as basic as I could get, and then re-build it with the short fills, etc. until I found the groove in each song. Otherwise I was tempted to overplay and that isn't what this particular score calls for. The 70's soundtrack helped me break the lines down. If you want to be blown away listen to the 2001 soundtrack.

"We Beseech thee" will get you with it's time changes, but "You are the Light of the World" is where its at!

basspraiser · #12 03-11-2008, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmy rocket

I'm playing for a touring show this summer and I must admit the complexity of some of the parts (or rather the ones you want to make more complex than they really have to be) is a little overwhelming. I found that I had to simplify each line to about as basic as I could get, and then re-build it with the short fills, etc. until I found the groove in each song. Otherwise I was tempted to overplay and that isn't what this particular score calls for. The 70's soundtrack helped me break the lines down. If you want to be blown away listen to the 2001 soundtrack.

"We Beseech thee" will get you with it's time changes, but "You are the Light of the World" is where its at!

GREAT feedback! you are lucky to be playing it on tour! which label is the 2001 soundtrack on?

ryco · #13 03-11-2008, 08:32 PM

I played in it about a million years ago around '71, '72.
A girl flutist I really liked in high school asked me to do it for her church group.
I'm not "of the faith", but I had a GREAT time and thought it was a lot of fun!
Met a bunch of very nice ppl! And made a few bucks to boot.

The parts aren't all that hard. Playing in a "pit" or back up band is an out & out GAS!!

Hoover · #14 03-12-2008, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anechoic

I think the band even got a line "Give him your coat as well!" or something.

I'm pretty sure the libretto specifies that the band say that line.

I did the show in 1978 at Boston University's School For The Arts (I was playing guitar at the time, mea culpa). I remember having a ton of fun.

Definitely listen to the original soundtrack album (either the stage show or the movie) for ideas on how to approach fills and stylistically appropriate playing.

bigfatbass · #15 03-12-2008, 12:50 PM

+1 on the score you receive being minimal. and another +1000 for listening to the 70s sound track. The playing is great and knowing the show well before you sit down to do a read-along is ALWAYS a good thing in my world. I find I can really master a score quickly if I know the songs well enough to sing along through the whole thing. Then, when I sit down with my bass and the score, my ears will do most of the work for me allowing me to read for the key counterpoints that make the tunes go.

CamMcIntyre · #16 03-12-2008, 05:43 PM

I've only played a handful of the songs from Godspell [in a variety show setting]. I am however, getting ready to play The Wild Party. I got my book yesterday and am starting to work on it.

For fills-i'm basing a lot of it off of what Konrad Adderly originally played [he's on the album].

The main thing that i recommend is listening to the album and get a feel for how the original guy played it. Synthesize that with how you play and then what comes out will fit.

take it easy.

jimmy rocket · #17 03-14-2008, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by basspraiser

GREAT feedback! you are lucky to be playing it on tour! which label is the 2001 soundtrack on?

Here's a link to the recording I'm talking about

http://www.amazon.com/Godspell-Steph...5500583&sr=8-7