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Post by dancingmarcher on Jun 19, 2019 19:15:42 GMT
I have an audition for the orchestra of the musical Company and I have no clue what to play. I will be auditioning for bass guitar, acoustic guitar, and electric guitar. Any advice would be appreciated!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2019 8:47:50 GMT
I have an audition for the orchestra of the musical Company and I have no clue what to play. I will be auditioning for bass guitar, acoustic guitar, and electric guitar. Any advice would be appreciated! Who's doing the production and where? (This doesn't affect the audition, just interested!) You want something that can demonstrate a number of style across those instruments, ideally using the one instrument. I'd say audition on acoustic, as that'd be the easiest to get into/out of an audition room. You could then pick a piece which allows you to strum (ie acoustically), riff a lead line (electric-style) and maybe adapt a few bars to mimic a bass riff. As well as his sweeping melodies, Sondhim's scores are known for their quick patter-type rhythms, so you want something to demonstrate your ability in both areas. I dare say the auditionees will have chosen something musical theatrey, singers probably something from Company, so why not go a little off piste? The panel will probably be glad of the relief. Given all of the above I'd suggest maybe Billie Jean by Michael Jackson. It's lively, riffey, toe tapping, and you could modulate some of it to sound like a bass line, and loosely it's technically Musical Theatre. |
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Post by xanady on Jun 20, 2019 11:54:43 GMT
Brilliant advice from SerialShusher...Theatreboard is definitely THE place to come for specialist advice on such matters...fascinating!
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660 posts
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Post by Oleanna on Jun 20, 2019 13:16:53 GMT
Or if you want to go for that late 60’s folk-rock feel, how about Classical Gas by Mason Williams, or Embryonic Journey by Jefferson Airplane?
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Post by Seriously on Jun 20, 2019 13:23:47 GMT
Company is usually orchestrated for 2 guitars, with the second doubling with bass, so I presume that's the part you're up for (as the 1st guitar also plays banjo). They'll want to hear whether you're equally proficient on bass and regular ac/elec guitar, so try to choose pieces that show off your bass playing as much as everything else. I have to disagree with Serial_Shusher, they're not looking to hear different styles, they'll want to hear if you have the right style for Sondheim. I absolutely would NOT take Billie Jean! Look at Sondheim's other works, from around that era.... perhaps Follies, or A Little Night Music. For acoustic guitar, perhaps "Not a Day Goes By", or "Losing My Mind". For bass, maybe something from "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum".
Find out if they're providing an amp in the audition room, as that'll make porterage easier.
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