Hi again, Broadway composers/orchestrators are given direction from the producers; I believe they are told about the style and the number of players. I don't know if producers get into exactly which instruments to use. The AFofM contract specifies only the *number* of players, which relates to the particular (size of) theater. Every few years when the contract is re-negotiated, the producers try (and succeed) in reducing the minimum-number requirements. Also they can prepare a show and cite a "special situation" clause to try to go below the minimum, and argue it in arbitration (some cases won, some lost). And yes, there is often a "cut list" so after the reviews are in and the album recorded, some players are let go. The largest problem is the increasing use (or desire of the producers for the use) of the "virtual-orchestra-machine" which is a combination of a sampler, hard disk to record, and variable playback. Producers want to use this instead of paying for live musicians. The AFofM is trying to keep musi cians working, naturally, and also see this machine as a perversion of the artform (musical theater) to be disallowed: musical theater is live actors and live musicians, the 2 basic components. Outside of this, I believe the union has no problem with other choices in orchestration. Unfortunately, the public has had years of listening to canned music and less and less music education in the school systems; also they go to shows where the orchestra is no longer in an open orchestra pit but covered or even in another room, and the sound is mangled through a sound-board and the ineptness of incompetent sound-technicians.
snip: <<Message: 10 Date: Thu, 30 Dec 2004 13:46:05 -0500 From: "Michael O'Connor" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [Finale] Broadway pit orchestras Ah, but here's the other side of the question. Do Broadway composers still have to write for a set ensemble? I recall that there was a union action about this some time ago when composers were leaning more towards electric instruments (not the orchestra in a box, but guitars, keyboards, etc.). Mike>> _______________________________________________ Finale mailing list Finale@shsu.edu http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
