Double Bass My Fair Lady Doubling DB and Tuba

[dderatz]

I will be playing MFL in a few months, and will likely need to cover both books. Anyone ever done this, and if so, how did you decide which were DB Songs, and which Tuba?

 

[dderatz]

Thanks.

 

[neilG]

It'll say on the music, at the top of each tune.

 

[dderatz]

I guess I wasn't clear - there are two separate books. I need to make a preliminary decision which will be a tuba and which a double bass.

D

 

[Steven Ayres]

I would expect this to normally be the music director's call, after all the MD has made the choice to hire one player for two books. If the MD is deferring the decisions to you, then you get to choose which sound is right for each tune and when it's practical to switch. It becomes a test of your musical sense, and you can work it out in rehearsal if MD has other ideas.

When I've worked in pits with too few players for the book (um, every time?), part of the fun has been integrating parts -- cello, bass clarinet, bone, tuba, bari sax, whatever -- to deliver essential bits that would go missing if I only played the bass book.

 

[two fingers]

I would expect this to normally be the music director's call, after all the MD has made the choice to hire one player for two books. If the MD is deferring the decisions to you, then you get to choose which sound is right for each tune and when it's practical to switch. It becomes a test of your musical sense, and you can work it out in rehearsal if MD has other ideas.

When I've worked in puts with too few players for the book (um, every time?), part of the fun has been integrating parts -- cello, bass clarinet, bone, tuba, bari sax, whatever -- to deliver essential bits that would go missing if I only played the bass book.

All of this. Ask the MD up front if they want you to make the decision.

 

[neilG]

I guess I wasn't clear - there are two separate books. I need to make a preliminary decision which will be a tuba and which a double bass.
D

Ah, you did say "both books". I've played the show so many times and never knew there was a tuba book. I'd agree to ask the music director.

 

[Jeff Elkins]

This is what prompted me to finally buy a tuba, which I'm studying like mad at the moment. Too many shows in a row where tuba would have been the better instrument to play, OR it was actually called for (and the chart I read from). I used double-bass (instead of electric) for all of those, but hopefully by the time the next opportunity pops up, I'll be ready.

Late to the thread, but there's a group on Facebook that I've found to be a wealth of knowledge; all kinds of doubling is only one of the areas of expertise over there. If you haven't already sorted which parts you'd switch for, I'm certain they'll have suggestions: Log into Facebook | Facebook

Break a leg!

 

[old spice]

I'm impressed and amazed.