slate.com: Since the Broadway musical Hadestown opened on April 17, it has run for 237 shows, many of them selling out the 945-seat Walter Kerr Theatre. Thus, around 200,000 audience members have experienced Anaïs Mitchell’s lovely music, Rachel Chavkin’s inventive directing, and the award-winning cast. But if you’re a musician like me, you can’t help but notice that many of the responses on social media are making more or less the same joke
9 comments:
I didn’t think I would be reading an article about a trombone but this is honestly a really great article. I personally haven’t listened to Hadestown, sorry to any fans of that show, so I haven’t heard any of the trombone parts mentioned in this article. I love it when shows put musicians on the stage. Instead of leaving the musicians in a pit or off to the side, when musicians interact with the actors on stage it brings a new sense of unity to the show. In musicals, music seems to come out of thin air and makes some numbers seem too unreal or the transition from monologue to the song might be too drastic. When the musicians and actors can interact it makes the whole scene better (in my opinion). The trombone player in hades town, Brian Drye, is literally an actor on stage. It seems as though they found the perfect man to play the role, I would love to see his performance.
I know very little about Hadestown, but this article highlights how people react, thus, I am excited to learn more about the show. It always amazes me what an audience attaches to, in this case the trombone player Brian Drye. I know when we talk about our productions during conservatory hour, everyone talks in circles about the same thing. For Elegies, people would have talked for hours on end about the stupidly loud and annoying gel scrollers. For Tiger, people would talk about the lack of cohesion. On that note, people would highlight different aspects but then still say the same thing about how that one great thing didn’t click with all the other great things therefore the whole show was a shit show. While these examples were critiques and not admiration, the same concept applies. I really enjoy how this article addresses and takes charge in recognizing Brian in his role and saying his name, not just saying the trombone player.
I. Love. The Trombone. In. Hadestown. I think it stylizes the music uniquely and adds to the apocalyptic vibe of the show. I am really intrigued by the idea that the trombonist is allowed to improvise during the show. I obviously didn’t know that because i haven’t seen the show on Broadway. I’ve only listened to the original cast recording. I never really thought of how rigid song performances are in musicals. As the article said, you practice the same thing over and over again and get it absolutely perfect. There’s no room for improvisation. But since music is an integral part of musicals, maybe improv can be used to an advantage for storytelling. Also, I’m so glad that musicians are getting recognized. In Broadway shows, the actors and directors are the most well known because a) people most likely go see shows because of them and b) they’re the most visible. But there’s so much talent that exists behind that. The designers, musicians and composers, etc.
The trombone is by far the best bluesy part of the Hadestown soundtrack by far. It is my favorite part of the musical, and makes the musical that more memorable. I can literally jam out to Hadestown in any situation solely because of the trombone. Its played in an unconventional way with its mutes and big brass. It reminds me more of a jazz or blues bar than of a Broadway musical. And I love that. Like this article mentioned, the musicians in a Broadway musical are very good and usually play the same part the same way night after night in order to keep consistency for the actors and crew. However, Hadestown breaks this tradition by allowing the trombone a couple solos over the course of the musical, allowing for improvisation and unconventional rhythms that weren't heard the night before. I applaud Brian Drye for giving his trombone and the music of Hadestown soul and flair. It makes listening and watching the musical so much more enjoyable and memorable.
I have not listened a lot to Hadestown, but the little bit I have listened to, this article is one hundred percent on point! The music I have listened to is so fun and has a great sound to it. The trombone part is no exception. I feel like it is so rare to have an instrument like the trombone be so integral to a score. I love that this article also gives a name to the trombonist as well! Brian Drye, as the article states, definitely made the part his own. Much like an actor, he was given a ‘script’ (a score) with what to play, but made it completely his own. He and the rest of the musicians in the show are just as much part of the storytelling as the performers are. It creates a lovely sense of ensemble and community which seems to be a lot of what theatre is doing now.
Honestly, trombones are a hilarious instrument. I can never take them seriously. Although i do think they are usually thrown under the bus a bit within the music scene. Unlike instruments such as the trumpet, flute, or violin, trombones are not usually thought of as a melody carrier or lead voice within an ensemble. I do not know much of Hadestown, but I have heard lots of talk about the trombone part within the music. Reading other comments above, It sounds like the trombone plays a pretty important role within the score. Therefore, I wonder if the trombone, which I would not be surprised if this is true, carries a leitmotif or any motif from the story. I am super interested in leitmotifs within movie soundtracks, and I would be interested to look at the ones within Hadestown and see if they are played by the trombone. I wonder why this specific instrument was chosen to play such a prominent part?
Who doesn't like Hadestown now! After it won the Tony for the best musical everyone is talking about it. What makes this show so unique and fun is the folkish music tied with the New Orleans jazz and rock music. The trombone is an essential part to what makes the music in Hadestown so great and so lively. I am glad the trombone solo is getting attention because the first time I heard it in the soundtrack I thought it was amazing. I am glad these musicians are getting credit for their hard work and great talent especially since they perform right onstage with the actors at some moments. Something about the instrument itself and the musician playing the instrument (in the soundtrack at least) just makes it have a rich sound that elevates any part of the music we hear it in. People are right, the trombone is the star of the show.
-Pablo Anton
I love seeing this article written about the all-too-forgotten pit musicians that do an incredible job each and every night on broadway. I have had a few chances to play in pits for musicals before and it is honestly some of the most fun I've had working on a production! There seems to be a recent trend to really get the pit musicians involved in the storytelling of the show, and Hadestown continues this. I remember first playing the cast recording on my way out to Pittsburgh and was immediately surprised when I thought to myself, "They're opening up the show with a trombone solo?". It was so cool to hear and it carried through the rest of the recording as this underlying structure acting almost like a backbone for the show. It surprised me so much since the trombone usually doesn't get the spotlight or, as the article points out, usually isn't in the orchestrations at all. Hopefully this trend of creative orchestrations continue in new works!
I had never thought that when I was going to this school that I would anazlyze a trombone but here we are. I saw Hadestown back in May before it won the tony. Going into I did not have to much expections nor did I know the story line. All I knew was that everyone who had seen it at NYTW loved and became obsessed. Once the show started I totally understood the hype. This show is one of the most organic shows I have seen in a while. This includes an icredible trombone part. Most of the time in musicals the orchestrea will be playng as a whole not able to have solo moments. Rachel and Anais knew that they are just as important in the story telling so they gave him a moment. The cast of Natasha, him and the sound artist at spongebob have really gotten the attention in the media!
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