Extremes in doubling

[Merlin]

I did a gig tonite with one of the biggest horn changes yet...and possibly one of the most demanding parts.

I played an overture on Eb contra clarinet, then did the 2nd flute part in the Hanson Symphony #2....

[Jack W.]

I once batted cleanup in a "West Side Story" pit, covering everything that was left over. I got to play flute, piccolo, Bb clarinet, soprano sax, alto sax, and bari sax. There were a couple times when I had to play bari sax immediately followed by piccolo, or vice versa. That was charming. :o

(The best part was that I worked out a system where I got to put away horns one by one during the course of the show, and ended up with only the flute left, and the bari sax sitting on the stand. Sort of like a doubler's version of the last movement of the Haydn "Farewell Symphony".)

The Reed 1 book in "Crazy For You" calls for flute, piccolo, Bb clarinet, soprano sax, and alto sax. Switches between soprano sax and piccolo are common. Similar headspace but murder on the embouchure.

The Reed 4 book in "The Music Man" calls for a switch from bass clarinet to piccolo (possibly an even worse switch than bari sax to piccolo) in the last number of the show. This is also the only number that calls for piccolo, so the little monster sits there the entire show beforehand, mocking you. :lol:

But I have only played a tiny percentage of the shows out there, and I'm sure much worse lurks out there waiting to be found. :o

I have even heard tell that there are some pit books that call for doubling on woodwinds and violin or viola! :shock:

[bpimentel]

In one semester while working on my bachelor's degree:

-BBb contrabass clarinet in the wind symphony
-clarinet and tenor in the Dixieland band
-lead alto (with doubles) in the big band
-flute, recorders, pennywhistles and such in a folk group
-soprano saxophone in a saxophone quartet
-clarinet, tenor, oboe, and English horn in a musical
-clarinet in a woodwind quintet
-appearance as alto saxophone soloist with the orchestra
-while taking bassoon lessons

Lots of fun stuff, but not a feat I'd care to repeat.

Oh, and I broke my arm partway through the semester.

Bret

[paulwl]

I just got a concert DVD by The Beau Hunks. They're from Holland, and probably the best pop/jazz repertory orchestra on the planet.

Anyway, they had something like 9 saxophonists, doubling like mad, but only in saxes and clarinets. The 2 flutes/piccolo, oboe and bassoon were played by 4 other musicians.

So, are they just slacking off, or is this all-woodwind doubling thing mostly a North American tradition?

[Dr G]

Most demanding switches: clarinet to alto flute.

Oddest gig: Post-Nasal Drip Wind and Percussion Symphony. We actually got some recognition in DownBeat back in the early '70's. Yes, we were a bit eclectic. :lol:

I've played everything from acoustic 12-string guitar to bassoon to percussion back to electric guitar to SATB. Probably some piccolo in the middle... Where's my harmonica??? Ah, it's sitting on the congas. :lol:

[Carl H.]

String bass to violin solo (albinoni adagio) back to string bass.
Violin to bass clarinet (pines of rome) back to violin.
Alto sax to xylophone (some rag from the 20's) to alto sax - the thing that got me on this one was the sax section was featured on the rag, but the xylophone part was much more involved and extremely difficult - and only my sax section (not me because I had stepped out to cover the xylophone) was recognised at the end of this particular number :!:

more competent doubles = more gigs = $$

[Draconistarum]

Most I've done was go from the Eb contra to a Bb clarinet. It was fun having to switch embouchures that fast. Oh, the flatness of it.

[bpimentel]

My vote for most difficult switch: anything to piccolo. Yikes. Flute to piccolo is tricky; tenor sax or bass clarinet to piccolo is a nightmare.

Bret

[Jeff]

While learning to play all the instruments for teaching, I found the most difficult transition was from tuba to clarinet or tuba to piccolo. Why do that to myself? I guess it was because of limited practice time. I doubt that anyone would have to worry about that kind of extreme transition, but it sure made the embouchure muscles sit up and yell.

Jeff

[saxmangeoff]

In my personal most extreme, on one Sunday at church I played fiddle, clarinet, flute, jew's harp, electric bass, and tenor saxophone.

Fortunately, I only played one instrument per song! Some of those books for Broadway shows sound pretty brutal.

Geoff

[bruce bailey]

When I was at the U of Miami in the 60s, the sax teacher played for the Jackie Gleason show and his book was for Oboe, Cello and Bari. Talk about job security. He was a Cello player in the 20s and work was scarce, so he took up saxophone. When CBS moved the show from NY to Miami, he moved with them.
I played the same West Side story book, but I was playing the book for Bb Clarinet and Eb Clarinet and the guy next to me was playing the book mentioned above with Oboe, Eng. Hn. Bass Cl etc. I remember the show well as in "America" the WW had Eb clarinet and 3 piccolos all playing at the same time and we were all sax players! Intonation? What's that?

[Jack W.]

I always thought that had to be a mistake in "America", with everyone on piccolo except for the Eb clarinet player. :x In the past what we've done is draw straws, and the loser has to play piccolo, the other two get to play flute. :D

[Merlin26]

I'd have to say my biggest Doubles were playing Lead Trumpet in a concert band (Including playing 2nd Part of Buglers Holiday) over to playing Bari Sax and then Back again - Didn't my poor chops complain that day :lol:
Oh yeah and like a lot of other people here I did a double in Westside Story but a strange one - Played Bb and D Trumpet and also in the gym scene to round out the piece with the 3 flute parts I played the 3rd flute part

[And7barton]

I play tenor and alto sax, EWI4000s, and also Indian shawm, Chinese shawm, various little bamboo flutes, and a RAUSCHPFYFFE ! - If you don't know what that is, it's rather like a Schrierpfyffe.
Is anyone else a Rauschpfyfferist ?

[sopranofreak]

Just have to say - went to a gig a couple of weeks ago, and top session dude Phil Todd was sat there with nine horns around him! In the last number he played a solo on tubax then turned around and picked up a piccolo... Gotta be worth some kind of award, that.