Actors as musicians (was Julia Roberts plays oboe)
Edward dimitri Kennaway
actors/actresses with musical backgrounds and abilities. For now, I
recall that Jack Lemmon plays the piano (very musically) and composes
a little; Lew Ayres composed (even symphonies apparently); Lionel
Barrymore, IIRC, played the piano and was also and accomplished
artist; Fred Astaire (perhaps less surprisingly) demonstrated some
terrific piano playing in a couple of his movies. I'm sure there must
be others I don't know about or have forgotten - anyone else have some
examples to add, I wonder?
EDK
Jeremy Cook
Having seen "The Competition," I can tell you with certainty that
Richard Dreyfuss is *not* one of them. :-D
Thomas Ruedas
>anyone else have some examples to add, I wonder?
film music.
--
--------------------------------------------
Thomas Ruedas
Institute of Meteorology and Geophysics,
J.W. Goethe University Frankfurt/Main
Feldbergstrasse 47 D-60323 Frankfurt/Main, Germany
Phone:+49-(0)69-798-24949 Fax:+49-(0)69-798-23280
e-mail: rue...@geophysik.uni-frankfurt.de
http://www.geophysik.uni-frankfurt.de/~ruedas/
--------------------------------------------
Frank Eggleston
>
> The Julia Roberts thread reminds me that there have been quite a few
> actors/actresses with musical backgrounds and abilities. For now, I
> recall that Jack Lemmon plays the piano (very musically) and composes
> a little; Lew Ayres composed (even symphonies apparently); Lionel
> Barrymore, IIRC, played the piano and was also and accomplished
> artist; Fred Astaire (perhaps less surprisingly) demonstrated some
> be others I don't know about or have forgotten - anyone else have some
> examples to add, I wonder?
>
I understand that Warren Beatty, Richard Gere, and Clint Eastwood are
accomplished amateur pianists. And I think that Peter Weller
(Robocop) plays trumpet. And Woody Allen is a well-known Dixieland
clarinetist.
Frank Eggleston
--
"... for it goes without saying."
--- description of Milo's car
(borrowed from King Azaz the Unabridged)
in "The Phantom Tollbooth"
Donearlsto
>Edward dimitri Kennaway wrote:
>>
>> The Julia Roberts thread reminds me that there have been quite a few
>> actors/actresses with musical backgrounds and abilities. For now, I
>> recall that Jack Lemmon plays the piano (very musically) and composes
>> a little; Lew Ayres composed (even symphonies apparently); Lionel
>> Barrymore, IIRC, played the piano and was also and accomplished
>> artist; Fred Astaire (perhaps less surprisingly) demonstrated some
>> terrific piano playing in a couple of his movies. I'm sure there must
>> be others I don't know about or have forgotten - anyone else have some
>> examples to add, I wonder?
>>
>> EDK
>
>I understand that Warren Beatty, Richard Gere, and Clint Eastwood are
>accomplished amateur pianists. And I think that Peter Weller
>(Robocop) plays trumpet. And Woody Allen is a well-known Dixieland
>clarinetist.
>
>
Apparently Jeff Goldblum is also a jazz pianist who occasionally gigs out.
D
SAP23556
>Richard Dreyfuss is *not* one of them. :-D
>
He plays, just not very well.
Dermot Mulroney plays the cello, as does Lori Singer. Keiffer Sutherland plays
violin and something else (probably guitar), Jonathon Frakes plays trombone,
Woody Allen plays clarinet, Dudley Moore plays piano, Donald O'Connor plays
piano. Doesn't Dan Aykroyd play the tuba or something like that?
SAP
Sacqueboutier
Paula Zahn (formerly of "CBS This Morning") is a decent cellist.
Harry Sullivan (same show) plays tuba.
Charles Osgood (CBS Sunday Morning) plays piano.
Dr. Bob Arnott (formerly medical correspondent of same show) trumpet.
--
Don Patterson
* DCP Music Printing
* Professional Computer Music Typeset
* Music Arrangements
* don...@erols.com
* Asst. Principal Trombonist
* "The President's Own"
* United States Marine Band
http://www.marineband.hqmc.usmc.mil
The views expressed are my own and in no way
reflect those of "The President's Own" United
States Marine Band or the United States Marine Corps.
Sacqueboutier
played cello in his comedy routines.
Sacqueboutier
Jack benny is rumoured to be much better
on the violin than his comedy routines
would suggest.
Tony T. Warnock
Edward dimitri Kennaway wrote:
> The Julia Roberts thread reminds me that there have been quite a few
> actors/actresses with musical backgrounds and abilities. For now, I
> recall that Jack Lemmon plays the piano (very musically) and composes
> a little; Lew Ayres composed (even symphonies apparently); Lionel
> Barrymore, IIRC, played the piano and was also and accomplished
> artist; Fred Astaire (perhaps less surprisingly) demonstrated some
> terrific piano playing in a couple of his movies. I'm sure there must
> be others I don't know about or have forgotten - anyone else have some
> examples to add, I wonder?
>
> EDK
Jimmy Stewart played the accordion. John Garfield didn't play violin (it
was Isaac Stern's hands doing the playing from behind. "Humoreque")
rdmtimp
kept donea...@aol.com (Donearlsto) writing:
>>
>>Edward dimitri Kennaway wrote:
>>>
>>> The Julia Roberts thread reminds me that there have been quite a few
>>> actors/actresses with musical backgrounds and abilities. For now, I
>>> recall that Jack Lemmon plays the piano (very musically) and composes
>>> a little; Lew Ayres composed (even symphonies apparently); Lionel
>>> Barrymore, IIRC, played the piano and was also and accomplished
>>> artist; Fred Astaire (perhaps less surprisingly) demonstrated some
>>> terrific piano playing in a couple of his movies. I'm sure there must
>>> be others I don't know about or have forgotten - anyone else have some
>>> examples to add, I wonder?
>>>
>>> EDK
>>
>>I understand that Warren Beatty, Richard Gere, and Clint Eastwood are
>>accomplished amateur pianists. And I think that Peter Weller
>>(Robocop) plays trumpet. And Woody Allen is a well-known Dixieland
>>clarinetist.
>>
>>
>
>Apparently Jeff Goldblum is also a jazz pianist who occasionally gigs out.
>
>D
And don't forget Holly Hunter, who did her own playing in _The
Piano_.
Russell
tim...@gumby.futureone.com (remove "gumby." to reply)
"If you're happy all the time, you're no longer a human being,
you're a game show host."
Winona Ryder, _Heathers_
Christian Ohn
: The Julia Roberts thread reminds me that there have been quite a few
: actors/actresses with musical backgrounds and abilities.
The other way round, there is Gustav Leonhardt, playing the role of
J.S.Bach in a Bach biography movie. I haven't seen it myself, but I've
been told his performance was lousy. Coming from somebody as perfectionist
and uncompromising as Leonhardt, this is quite surprising.
--
Christian Ohn
For my real email address, see my
homepage: http://come.to/christian.ohn
Dwightg
>>Having seen "The Competition," I can tell you with certainty that
>>Richard Dreyfuss is *not* one of them. :-D
>>
> He plays, just not very well.
> Dermot Mulroney plays the cello, as does Lori Singer. Keiffer Sutherland plays
> violin and something else (probably guitar), Jonathon Frakes plays trombone,
> Woody Allen plays clarinet, Dudley Moore plays piano, Donald O'Connor plays
> piano. Doesn't Dan Aykroyd play the tuba or something like that?
Comedian Charlie Callas--drums
Comedian Dana Carvey--drums
Trash TV slut (and former comedian) Jenny Jones--drums (and prety good at
them, too)
Why o why is it that only the funny people are drummers !?!
--DwightG (one-time drummer)
Matthew B. Tepper
>
> Edward dimitri Kennaway <ken...@zetnet.co.uk> wrote:
> : The Julia Roberts thread reminds me that there have been quite a few
> : actors/actresses with musical backgrounds and abilities.
>
> The other way round, there is Gustav Leonhardt, playing the role of
> J.S.Bach in a Bach biography movie. I haven't seen it myself, but I've
> been told his performance was lousy. Coming from somebody as
> perfectionist and uncompromising as Leonhardt, this is quite
> surprising.
How about Gidon Kremer playing Paganini, or Sviatoslav Richter wigged up
as Liszt?
--
Matthew B. Tepper: WWW, science fiction, classical music, ducks!
My personal home page -- http://www.deltanet.com/~ducky/index.htm
My main music page --- http://www.deltanet.com/~ducky/berlioz.htm
And my science fiction club's home page --- http://www.lasfs.org/
To write to me, do for my address what Androcles did for the lion
Paul Dormer
dimitri Kennaway) wrote:
> The Julia Roberts thread reminds me that there have been quite a few
> actors/actresses with musical backgrounds and abilities. For now, I
> recall that Jack Lemmon plays the piano (very musically) and composes
> a little; Lew Ayres composed (even symphonies apparently); Lionel
> Barrymore, IIRC, played the piano and was also and accomplished
> artist; Fred Astaire (perhaps less surprisingly) demonstrated some
> terrific piano playing in a couple of his movies. I'm sure there must
> be others I don't know about or have forgotten - anyone else have some
> examples to add, I wonder?
>
> EDK
>
When Sir Anthony Hopkins announced recently that he was retiring from
acting, he said he wrote music in his spare time, and that was what he was
now going to concentrate on.
Recently, there was an interview with Tom Conti in the Independent in
their series "My favourite piece of modern technology". He talked about
writing music using his computer.
David Bluestone
Eggleston) wrote:
> Edward dimitri Kennaway wrote:
> >
> > The Julia Roberts thread reminds me that there have been quite a few
> > actors/actresses with musical backgrounds and abilities. For now, I
> > recall that Jack Lemmon plays the piano (very musically) and composes
> > a little; Lew Ayres composed (even symphonies apparently); Lionel
> > Barrymore, IIRC, played the piano and was also and accomplished
> > artist; Fred Astaire (perhaps less surprisingly) demonstrated some
> > terrific piano playing in a couple of his movies. I'm sure there must
> > be others I don't know about or have forgotten - anyone else have some
> > examples to add, I wonder?
> >
> > EDK
>
> I understand that Warren Beatty, Richard Gere, and Clint Eastwood are
> accomplished amateur pianists. And I think that Peter Weller
> (Robocop) plays trumpet. And Woody Allen is a well-known Dixieland
> clarinetist.
>
> Frank Eggleston
Jack Lemmon does honky tonk piano.
David
Grant Hicks
Frank Eggleston wrote in message <367E5133...@erols.com>...
>I understand that Warren Beatty, Richard Gere, and Clint Eastwood are
>accomplished amateur pianists.
In fact, in keeping with the Julia Roberts connection, I believe that the
piano scene in Pretty Woman was Gere actually doing his own playing (and
improvising his own music).
Grant Hicks
ghic...@sprynet.com
(remove "spamnot" from address when replying)
Fred Goldrich
Christian Ohn <wi...@st-sulpice.org> wrote:
>
>The other way round, there is Gustav Leonhardt, playing the role of
>J.S.Bach in a Bach biography movie. I haven't seen it myself, but I've
>been told his performance was lousy. Coming from somebody as perfectionist
>and uncompromising as Leonhardt, this is quite surprising.
Some years ago, Stephen Sondheim appeared in a
Public TV production of _June Moon_. I am a great admirer
of Sondheim's art, but his performance left me with a height-
ened appreciation for the skills of actors.
-- Fred Goldrich
--
Fred Goldrich
gold...@panix.com
SAP23556
Also plays guitar and piano. And composes very amusing songs to use in his
act.
And then there's the one and only Adam Sandler, who plays guitar and sings
songs about holidays.
SAP
EMNagamine
>
> How about Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.? Violin?
> Jack benny is rumoured to be much better
> on the violin than his comedy routines
> would suggest.
Jack Benny did own a Strad I believe.
--
Aloha and Mahalo,
Eric Nagamine
JackH35785
accomplished violinist who had soloed with the Dallas Symphony and did concert
benfits.
BTW, Jack Benny did gigs in pit orchs for theatre shows and, I believe he also
played in the Rivina Symphony, which is the "summer season" of the CSO and may
have played in the CSO since he had many friends in this orch, among them a MD
friend of mine who also had played in CSO.
Regards,
Jack
Cathy and Kip
>
> Morey Amsterdam (Dick van Dyke Show of the 60s)
> played cello in his comedy routines.
Morey also wrote a song that (I believe) charted: "Yuk a Puk (Hill Billy
Calypso)."
--Kip Williams
--
[we're fooling the spammers today--delete CAPS from address to reply]
Cathy and Kip
...
> Jack benny is rumoured to be much better
> on the violin than his comedy routines
> would suggest.
On the show, he once relaxed his comedic stance and played something
straight, for the benefit of his apoplectic music teacher (played by Mel
Blanc, I do believe).
While we're on actor/musicians, Gary Busey did a fine job singing as
Buddy Holly. And just a brief repeat mention of Alan Alda, who was
coached for hours a day until he could apparently play Liszt's Mephisto
Waltz, then forgot how after filming was over. My hat's off to him.
Edward dimitri Kennaway
>Edward dimitri Kennaway wrote:
>>
>> The Julia Roberts thread reminds me that there have been quite a few
>> actors/actresses with musical backgrounds and abilities. For now, I
>> recall that Jack Lemmon plays the piano (very musically) and composes
>> a little; Lew Ayres composed (even symphonies apparently); Lionel
>> Barrymore, IIRC, played the piano and was also and accomplished
>> artist; Fred Astaire (perhaps less surprisingly) demonstrated some
>> terrific piano playing in a couple of his movies. I'm sure there must
>> be others I don't know about or have forgotten - anyone else have some
>> examples to add, I wonder?
>
>Richard Dreyfuss is *not* one of them. :-D
Moreover, he didn't manage to wave a baton like a true conductor in Mr
Holland's Opus either. To be fair, I've yet to see an actor who has
accomplished this - not Charlton Heston (can't remember the film's
title), nor John Cassavettes in an episode of Columbo: there's
obviously more to looking like a conductor than some might think!
Edward dimitri Kennaway
>On 21 Dec 1998 14:16:35 GMT, neither rain nor snow nor gloom of night
>kept donea...@aol.com (Donearlsto) writing:
>
>>>
>>>>
>>>> The Julia Roberts thread reminds me that there have been quite a few
>>>> actors/actresses with musical backgrounds and abilities. For now, I
>>>> recall that Jack Lemmon plays the piano (very musically) and composes
>>>> a little; Lew Ayres composed (even symphonies apparently); Lionel
>>>> Barrymore, IIRC, played the piano and was also and accomplished
>>>> artist; Fred Astaire (perhaps less surprisingly) demonstrated some
>>>> terrific piano playing in a couple of his movies. I'm sure there must
>>>> be others I don't know about or have forgotten - anyone else have some
>>>> examples to add, I wonder?
>>>>
>>>
>>>I understand that Warren Beatty, Richard Gere, and Clint Eastwood are
>>>(Robocop) plays trumpet. And Woody Allen is a well-known Dixieland
>>>clarinetist.
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>D
>And don't forget Holly Hunter, who did her own playing in _The
>Piano_.
Hmm...I was only too happy to forget Holly Hunter and the whole
miserable film, saved only, IMO, by the impressive photography and the
fact that Ms Hunter didn't get a speaking role (*g* and apologies to
any friends here whose sensibilities I may have offended).
Edward dimitri Kennaway
>Sacqueboutier wrote:
>....
>> Jack benny is rumoured to be much better
>> on the violin than his comedy routines
>> would suggest.
>
>On the show, he once relaxed his comedic stance and played something
>straight, for the benefit of his apoplectic music teacher (played by Mel
>Blanc, I do believe).
>
>While we're on actor/musicians, Gary Busey did a fine job singing as
>Buddy Holly. And just a brief repeat mention of Alan Alda, who was
>coached for hours a day until he could apparently play Liszt's Mephisto
>Waltz, then forgot how after filming was over. My hat's off to him.
Yes, in that case....even forgetting how to play it is quite a feat.
Edward dimitri Kennaway
Hall? Not so bad, perhaps, but Stokowski was, IMO, terrible in A
Hundred Men and a Girl, with Deanna Durbin (but the film itself was
pretty hard to stomach). Then, of course, there were Oscar Levant, Jose
Iturbi and possibly others.........?
Richard Schultz
: And don't forget Holly Hunter, who did her own playing in _The Piano_.
That goes under the category of "musical performances I *wish* I
could forget." (I thought it amusing that I saw _The Piano_ in a
two-theatre complex where the other film being shown was "Farewell
my Concubine." Apparently it was a "finger removal" double bill.)
-----
Richard Schultz sch...@mail.biu.ac.il
Department of Chemistry tel: 972-3-531-8065
Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel fax: 972-3-535-1250
-----
"You go on playing Bach your way, and I'll go on playing him *his* way."
-- Wanda Landowska
Richard Schultz
: Moreover, he didn't manage to wave a baton like a true conductor in Mr
: Holland's Opus either. To be fair, I've yet to see an actor who has
: accomplished this - not Charlton Heston (can't remember the film's
: title), nor John Cassavettes in an episode of Columbo: there's
: obviously more to looking like a conductor than some might think!
Rex Harrison (in "Unfaithfully Yours") was obviously not a conductor
in real life, but as I recall, he was beating in time and using the
correct gesture for four-in-a-bar.
-----
Richard Schultz sch...@mail.biu.ac.il
Department of Chemistry tel: 972-3-531-8065
Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel fax: 972-3-535-1250
-----
"Contrariwise," continued Tweedledee, "if it was so, it might be, and
if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic."
LouFiddler
>Edward dimitri Kennaway <ken...@zetnet.co.uk> wrote:
>: The Julia Roberts thread reminds me that there have been quite a few
>: actors/actresses with musical backgrounds and abilities.
>
>The other way round, there is Gustav Leonhardt, playing the role of
>J.S.Bach in a Bach biography movie. I haven't seen it myself, but I've
>been told his performance was lousy. Coming from somebody as perfectionist
>and uncompromising as Leonhardt, this is quite surprising.
Harry Connick Jr. is pretty good both at singing and acting.
--
Louisa Hennessy
Essex, UK, Europe
HOWARD HELLER
Sa> @FROM :don...@erols.com
Sa> N @SUBJECT:Re: Actors as musicians (was Julia Roberts plays oboe)
Sa> N @UMSGID :<367E80...@erols.com>
Sa> N @UNEWSGR:01rec.music.classical
Sa> How about Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.? Violin?
[snip...]
His father, Efrem Zimbalist Sr. was also a violinist and, if I'm not
mistaken, founded the Curtis Institue of Music...along with his wife,
Mary Curtis Zimbalist.
btw...You mentioned Paula Zahn playing cello. A few years ago when
Rostropovitch was stepping down as music director of the National
Symphony, they held a gala in his honor at which Ms. Zahn was the
emcee. One of the musical selections on the program was the famous
"Bacchianis Braziliaris" for eight celli by Villa-Lobos, performed
be seven members of the symphony's cello section, and Paula Zahn
playing the eigth part. She played very well, and although she seemed
a bit nervous prior to going onstage, she seemed quite comfortable
at the cello once the music began.
Regards,
Howard Heller
E-mail: howard...@juno.com
***************************************************
* Imagine a world with no hypothetical situations *
***************************************************
.. Good Tidings of Comfort and Joy! Merry Christmas ALL!
___ Blue Wave/DOS v2.30
Edward dimitri Kennaway
>Edward dimitri Kennaway (ken...@zetnet.co.uk) wrote:
>
>: Moreover, he didn't manage to wave a baton like a true conductor in Mr
>: Holland's Opus either. To be fair, I've yet to see an actor who has
>: accomplished this - not Charlton Heston (can't remember the film's
>: title), nor John Cassavettes in an episode of Columbo: there's
>: obviously more to looking like a conductor than some might think!
>
>Rex Harrison (in "Unfaithfully Yours") was obviously not a conductor
>in real life, but as I recall, he was beating in time and using the
>correct gesture for four-in-a-bar.
How could I have forgotten that one!? Yet I still don't think he
looked the part somehow. Maybe the problem is that most real
conductors don't have much of a visible beat, while actors, naturally
assuming the beat to be paramount, make a real go of it (?).
Fred Goldrich
>conductors don't have much of a visible beat, while actors, naturally
>assuming the beat to be paramount, make a real go of it (?).
As a conductor I've given a lot of thought
to these issues. What distinguishes real conducting
from simulated conducting is an interesting question,
and I don't claim to have all the answers, but let me
take a stab at it:
o First, the basics. The actor pretend-
ing to conduct must have some innate musicality, so
that the gestures convey at least a convincing metrical
sense. This is hard to describe, but it's like the diff-
erence between a dancer who "feels the beat" and one who
does not.
o Conductors *lead* the music, while those
who are pretending (or learning) often follow it, or at
best go along with it. Even those conductors who do not
conduct ahead of the beat still convey a lot of infor-
mation before the beat by using what are called prepara-
tory gestures. I think that even an observer who does
not know the technical details can feel the difference
between a conductor who is leading a group and one who
is just making motions along with their playing.
o Simply doing the patterns is not enough;
there needs to be a sense of authority in a conductor's
gestures. This is difficult to describe, and for some
can be very difficult to learn. I like to use the exam-
ple of traffic cops. Watch them: they all use more or
less the same gestures, but some do it in a much more
commanding way than others. A real conductor needs to
know not only how to be commanding, but also when to do
so, and this ebb-and-flow of control can also be seen
when watching experienced conductors at work.
That's my view, and I'd be interested to hear
what others have to say.
By the way, to return to the thread, I think
Cary Grant did a better-than-average imitation of a
conductor in the 1951 comedy "People Will Talk."
Frank Eggleston
>
> Edward dimitri Kennaway (ken...@zetnet.co.uk) wrote:
>
> : Moreover, he didn't manage to wave a baton like a true conductor in Mr
> : Holland's Opus either. To be fair, I've yet to see an actor who has
> : accomplished this - not Charlton Heston (can't remember the film's
> : title), nor John Cassavettes in an episode of Columbo: there's
> : obviously more to looking like a conductor than some might think!
>
> Rex Harrison (in "Unfaithfully Yours") was obviously not a conductor
> in real life, but as I recall, he was beating in time and using the
> correct gesture for four-in-a-bar.
The Rossini section of "Unfaithfully Yours" is one of the funniest
things ever put on film. There was a very paltry remake starring
Dudley Moore, but it doesn't hold a candle to the Preston Sturges
original.
Frank Eggleston
--
Kristin E. Stiteler
>
> Moreover, he didn't manage to wave a baton like a true conductor in Mr
> Holland's Opus either. To be fair, I've yet to see an actor who has
> accomplished this - not Charlton Heston (can't remember the film's
> title), nor John Cassavettes in an episode of Columbo: there's
> obviously more to looking like a conductor than some might think!
And while we're on that subject, there's nothing I hate more than seeing a
musical performance in a movie and it is OBVIOUS that these people are not
musicians or even attempting to LOOK like they are! Come on Hollywood, how
hard can it be to find a violinist that can actually move the bow at the
right time (or at least hold it corredtly!)
kristin
CBailis
CBailis
that one should read the entire thread before responding.
Richard Schultz
: >Rex Harrison (in "Unfaithfully Yours") was obviously not a conductor
: >in real life, but as I recall, he was beating in time and using the
: >correct gesture for four-in-a-bar.
: How could I have forgotten that one!? Yet I still don't think he
: looked the part somehow. Maybe the problem is that most real
: conductors don't have much of a visible beat, while actors, naturally
: assuming the beat to be paramount, make a real go of it (?).
That could be. As I said, it was obvious to me (and even more obvious
to my father, who plays the violin) that Rex Harrison wasn't really
conducting the orchestra because his gestures, while "correct," were
somehow way too exaggerated. Of course, that *was* a Preston Sturges
movie, where things would be exaggerated as a matter of course. . .
-----
Richard Schultz sch...@mail.biu.ac.il
Department of Chemistry tel: 972-3-531-8065
Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel fax: 972-3-535-1250
-----
David Bluestone
u09...@cic-mail.lanl.gov (Tony T. Warnock) wrote:
>
>
> Edward dimitri Kennaway wrote:
>
> > The Julia Roberts thread reminds me that there have been quite a few
> > actors/actresses with musical backgrounds and abilities. For now, I
> > recall that Jack Lemmon plays the piano (very musically) and composes
> > a little; Lew Ayres composed (even symphonies apparently); Lionel
> > Barrymore, IIRC, played the piano and was also and accomplished
> > artist; Fred Astaire (perhaps less surprisingly) demonstrated some
> > terrific piano playing in a couple of his movies. I'm sure there must
> > be others I don't know about or have forgotten - anyone else have some
> > examples to add, I wonder?
> >
> > EDK
>
> Jimmy Stewart played the accordion. John Garfield didn't play violin (it
> was Isaac Stern's hands doing the playing from behind. "Humoreque")
>
There's a film ("What's New Pussycat?" was it?) in which Peter Sellers is
the soloist in an avant garde piano concerto. After a cacophonous cadenza
he ends up on the wrong note. He tries again, to no avail. "B-flat!"
hisses the infuriated conductor. Sellers has another bash, and
triumphantly lands on the right note. The orchestra included a lavatory,
which flushed to great effect at the climax of the tutti.
David
David Cleary
: The Rossini section of "Unfaithfully Yours" is one of the funniest
: things ever put on film. There was a very paltry remake starring
: Dudley Moore, but it doesn't hold a candle to the Preston Sturges
: original.
Dudley Moore apparently can play piano as well.
And both Kelsey Grammer ("Frasier") and Bebe Neuwirth ("Cheers") attended
Juilliard. No idea what they majored in, but both seem able to sing well
enough--and there are scenes in "Frasier" where Grammer appears to be
actually playing the piano.
Dave
Edward dimitri Kennaway
>Frank Eggleston <eggl...@erols.com> wrote:
>
>: The Rossini section of "Unfaithfully Yours" is one of the funniest
>: things ever put on film. There was a very paltry remake starring
>: Dudley Moore, but it doesn't hold a candle to the Preston Sturges
>: original.
>
>Dudley Moore apparently can play piano as well.
>
his show with Peter Cook ("Not Only But Also"). He used to do
hilarious spoofs on Beethovenian endings which go on forever and never
seem to reach a final cadence. Another gem was his German lied based
on Schubert - entitled "Der Flabberghast" - which he sang to his own
piano accompaniment!
I wonder if Morecambe and Wise ever made it on American TV? There was
a great sketch with Eric Morecambe mutilating the Grieg Piano
Concerto, with Previn conducting the LSO: "You're playing all the
wrong notes!", protested Previn, whereupon Morecambe grabbed him by
the lapels and said "I'm playing all the right notes .....but not
necessarily in the right order!"
EDK
Lawrence Faltz
> There's a film ("What's New Pussycat?" was it?) in which Peter Sellers is
> the soloist in an avant garde piano concerto. After a cacophonous cadenza
> he ends up on the wrong note. He tries again, to no avail. "B-flat!"
> hisses the infuriated conductor. Sellers has another bash, and
> triumphantly lands on the right note. The orchestra included a lavatory,
> which flushed to great effect at the climax of the tutti.
Sellers is also a guitarist in "The Bobo".
LLF
ish...@scottsburg.com
L.
In article <19981221103942...@ng04.aol.com>,
sap2...@aol.com (SAP23556) wrote:
> >Having seen "The Competition," I can tell you with certainty that
> >Richard Dreyfuss is *not* one of them. :-D
> >
>
> He plays, just not very well.
>
> Dermot Mulroney plays the cello, as does Lori Singer. Keiffer Sutherland plays
> violin and something else (probably guitar), Jonathon Frakes plays trombone,
> Woody Allen plays clarinet, Dudley Moore plays piano, Donald O'Connor plays
> piano. Doesn't Dan Aykroyd play the tuba or something like that?
>
> SAP
>
-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own
JackH35785
British "character actor" Max Adrian conducting a pit orch ? It's a hoot !
Jack
HOWARD HELLER
KES> @FROM :kri...@richnet.net
KES> N @SUBJECT:Re: Actors as musicians (was Julia Robe
KES> N @UMSGID :<367FA8E9...@richnet.net>
KES> N @UNEWSGR:01rec.music.classical
> Moreover, he didn't manage to wave a baton like a true conductor in Mr
> Holland's Opus either...[snip...]
KES> And while we're on that subject, there's nothing I hate more than
KES> seeing a musical performance in a movie and it is OBVIOUS that these
KES> people are not musicians or even attempting to LOOK like they are!
KES> Come on Hollywood, how hard can it be to find a violinist that can
KES> actually move the bow at the right time (or at least hold it
KES> corredtly!)
This reminds me of that wonderful film "Tout Les Matins du Monde" which
catapulted Jordi Savall into the limelight of the main-stream classical-
music scene. I can recall my reaction the first time the actor playing
the old man did a scene where he was "playing" the viola da gamba. It
was obvious they weren't making any attempt whatsoever at synching his
movements with the music, and I'll admit it threw me at first. However
after a couple more scenes I just accepted it...similarly to the way one
becomes accustomed to reading the English subtitles.
It then dawned on me that it's probably more an American obsession with
ensuring synchronization and (although I'm not sure) I would imagine the
Europeans do not find it nearly as important. I can also recall watching
a show on TV a few years back which focused on the life of the actor Jimmy
Stewart. One of the episodes they discussed was the difficulty and resistance
he had in learning the synchronous movements of the trombone slide while
preparing to play Tommy Dorsey. In fact, as I recall, his first teacher
either quit in frustration or was fired becuase things were going so badly.
Regards,
Howard Heller
E-mail: howard...@juno.com
***************************************************
* Imagine a world with no hypothetical situations *
***************************************************
.. Continental people have sex lives. The English have hot-water bottles.
___ Blue Wave/DOS v2.30
Benjamin Maso
Sacqueboutier wrote in message <367E80...@erols.com>...
>How about Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.? Violin?
>on the violin than his comedy routines
>would suggest.
>
>
>Don Patterson
Jack Benny started his professional career as a violonist.
Benjo Maso
>.
SEMarcus
" [Peter] Sellers is also a guitarist in 'The Bobo'."
I thought The Bobo was a tuba player (Roger Bobo). :)
Kindest regards,
Steve Marcus (SEMa...@aol.com)
http://members.delphi.com/stevemarcus/index.html
Director of Sales, THE BEAUTIFUL SOUND, INC.
http://www.qrsmusic.com/mrktng/dealers/Beautsound/BeautSound.htm
Edward dimitri Kennaway
>In article <75o535$bfi$1...@irk.zetnet.co.uk>,
>Edward dimitri Kennaway <ken...@zetnet.co.uk> wrote:
>>conductors don't have much of a visible beat, while actors, naturally
>>assuming the beat to be paramount, make a real go of it (?).
>
However, perhaps the best approximation of the conductor's art that
I've ever seen from a non conductor was by Tom the cat, in Tom and
Jerry at the Hollywood Bowl, doing Die Fledermaus (no, I'm not being
flippant: I reckon the animators must have studied conductors with the
keenest eye to achieve that kind of result - I even wondered if it was
modelled after a specific conductor).
EDK
Edward dimitri Kennaway
P.S. With apologies, I forgot to thank you for your most thoughtful
follow-up above, which grants interesting insights into the question
in hand. I think you are most probably right in what you say, though I
often wonder how some orchestras cope with the 'imperceptible' beats
of certain conductors.
EDK
Michael A. Abelson
EMNagamine wrote:
>
> Jack Benny did own a Strad I believe.
>
Hell, George Lange (the owner of Cafe des Artistes) owns a Strad. Ever
hear him play?
Mike Abelson
Michael A. Abelson
wearing a white wig while the audience excitedly whispered "Leopold!
Leopold!"? Funniest thing I ever saw.
David Hyde Pierce is an organist, if that counts.
David Ogden Steirs is a hornist, and member of the International Horn
Society.
The actress that played Helen Chappell on "Wings" was an accomplished
cellist who played the opening of the Saint-Saens A minor every now and
then on the show.
Mike Abelson
Fred Goldrich
>> o Simply doing the patterns is not enough;
>>there needs to be a sense of authority in a conductor's
>>gestures. This is difficult to describe, and for some
>>can be very difficult to learn. I like to use the exam-
>>ple of traffic cops. Watch them: they all use more or
>>less the same gestures, but some do it in a much more
>>commanding way than others. A real conductor needs to
>>know not only how to be commanding, but also when to do
>>so, and this ebb-and-flow of control can also be seen
>>when watching experienced conductors at work.
>
>... I think you are most probably right in what you say, though I
>of certain conductors.
To some extent, I think this is related to my
comments on control, which is why I have quoted them
above. There are long stretches of many pieces in which
good players can continue in tempo without having the
beat constantly "in their face"; and then even a slight
increase in the prominence of the beat serves as a signal
to pay increased attention. This can happen without the
players -- and sometimes even the conductor -- being aware
of it, much like the subtle audio/visual cues that accom-
pany our words when we speak.
But this does not address the question of conduc-
tors who are apparently successful though they fail to give
clear beats even in situations that seem to require them.
When that happens, you tend to hear various explanations
ranging from the conductor's hypnotic control to the con-
certmaster's bow or the trombonist's foot.
One interesting aspect of this, though, is that
if an orchestra *wants* to play well for a particular
conductor, they can usually find a way to surmount the
most overwhelming obstacles.
Fred Goldrich
Michael A. Abelson <mabe...@telerama.lm.com> wrote:
>...
>David Ogden Steirs is a hornist, and member of the International Horn
>Society.
Also a conductor, and member of the Conductors
Guild. He is Resident Conductor of the Yaquina Orchestra
and Associate Conductor/Music Advisor to the Ernest Bloch
Music Festival, both located in Oregon.
BTW, it's spelled "Stiers".
matthew...@my-dejanews.com
sap2...@aol.com (SAP23556) wrote:
> >Having seen "The Competition," I can tell you with certainty that
> >Richard Dreyfuss is *not* one of them. :-D
> >
>
> He plays, just not very well.
>
> Dermot Mulroney plays the cello, as does Lori Singer. Keiffer Sutherland
plays
> violin and something else (probably guitar), Jonathon Frakes plays
trombone,
> Woody Allen plays clarinet, Dudley Moore plays piano, Donald O'Connor plays
> piano. Doesn't Dan Aykroyd play the tuba or something like that?
>
> SAP
>
Malcolm Gets (of "Caroline in the City") is a fine pianist. He played quite
well as the lead in William Finn's musical "A New Brain" at Lincoln Center
earlier this year.
Meryl Streep did her own singing in "Ironweed" and "Postcards from the Edge".
You may remember that she had been slated to play the title role in "Evita"
until whichever producer ended up with the rights went for Madonna instead.
Meryl was quoted as saying, "I could rip her throat out. I can sing better
than she can, for what that's worth."
--
Matthew Westphal
Sacqueboutier
>
> Does anyone remember the cartoon in which Bugs Bunny walked onstage
> wearing a white wig while the audience excitedly whispered "Leopold!
> Leopold!"? Funniest thing I ever saw.
Even funnier is what ensued. He gave that poor
baritone fits!
>
> David Hyde Pierce is an organist, if that counts.
He has played piano several times on the show "Frasier".
>
> David Ogden Steirs is a hornist, and member of the International Horn
> Society.
Much to Hawkeye's and B.J.'s chagrin.
>
> The actress that played Helen Chappell on "Wings" was an accomplished
> cellist who played the opening of the Saint-Saens A minor every now
> and then on the show.
That would be Crystal Bernard.
--
Don Patterson
* DCP Music Printing
* Professional Computer Music Typeset
* Music Arrangements
* don...@erols.com
* Asst. Principal Trombonist
* "The President's Own"
* United States Marine Band
http://www.marineband.hqmc.usmc.mil
The views expressed are my own and in no way
reflect those of "The President's Own" United
States Marine Band or the United States Marine Corps.
Cathy and Kip
>
> Does anyone remember the cartoon in which Bugs Bunny walked onstage
> wearing a white wig while the audience excitedly whispered "Leopold!
> Leopold!"? Funniest thing I ever saw.
A great character study, too. During the evil Tenor's concert, Bugs
stalks into the room, dressed as Stokowski, to the audience's whispers.
Advances to the cowed conductor, and holds out his hand, without looking
at him. The terrified little man gives the baton to Bugs/Leopold, who
snaps it in two and then conducts--with his hands.
The rest of the cartoon is great too, but that part is my favorite. I
think it's safe to say that Mike Maltese and Chuck Jones did know
something about the classical scene.
--Kip Williams
--
[we're fooling the spammers today--delete CAPS from address to reply]
Matthew B. Tepper
benefit concerts.
--
Matthew B. Tepper: WWW, science fiction, classical music, ducks!
My personal home page -- http://www.deltanet.com/~ducky/index.htm
My main music page --- http://www.deltanet.com/~ducky/berlioz.htm
And my science fiction club's home page --- http://www.lasfs.org/
To write to me, do for my address what Androcles did for the lion
BANilsson
>Public TV production of _June Moon_. I am a great admirer
>of Sondheim's art, but his performance left me with a height-
>ened appreciation for the skills of actors.
Sondheim was terrific in that part, which required a cynical, wisecracking
pianist, a role for which he did a wonderful impersonation of Oscar Levant.
And then there's Oscar Levant!
to e-mail properly, lose "lott"
A R Pickett
as fund raisers. I remember at least one TV broadcast from many years ago
in which he performed the Bach double concerto with Isaac Stern the other
soloist. There was a lot of wisecracking, but Benney acquitted himself
pretty well.
Sacqueboutier <don...@erols.com> wrote in article
<367E80...@erols.com>...
> How about Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.? Violin?
> Jack benny is rumoured to be much better
> on the violin than his comedy routines
> would suggest.
>
ARP aka Woodstock
JackH35785
conductor would play the "intro" of the Concerto then there would be a
pause-the conductor would then nod to Benny, Benny would nod back and then
start playing "Love in Bloom." The conductor would then take the score over to
him and point out the part, so then the orch would repeat the "intro" and he
would once again play "Love in Bloom", the conductor would shake head and start
acompanying him in "Love in Bloom" with the orch. It was always a very funny
and a great audience "getter."
Jack
Lexley Vaughan
Edward dimitri Kennaway wrote in message <75l86k$9o6$1...@irk.zetnet.co.uk>...
>The Julia Roberts thread reminds me that there have been quite a
>few actors/actresses with musical backgrounds and abilities.
>anyone else have some examples to add, I wonder?
Gry Oldman did all his own piano playing (and there was a LOT of
it!) in "Immortal Beloved", where he portrayed Beethoven. He's
very good - up to concert standard.
When interview on "The South Bank Show" last year, they
mentioned this and he said yes, he really is that good, but
the reviews of the movie included lines like "quite the best
piano dubbing I have ever seen"... He seemed resigned to being
thought of as an unmusical oik :-) .
Lexley
khows...@zdnetmail.com
=?iso-8859-1?Q?ducky=FE=40deltanet=2Ecom?= wrote:
> Phyllis Diller occasionally plays the Beethoven Piano Concerto #1 for
> benefit concerts.
Learned it for a beauty pageant perhaps?
--
K. Howson-Jan
Keith Edgerley
>
>
>
> Dudley Moore apparently can play piano as well.
>
> Juilliard. No idea what they majored in, but both seem able to sing well
> enough--and there are scenes in "Frasier" where Grammer appears to be
> actually playing the piano.
>
As for Dudley Moore, his real profession is that of musician, and some
of think he should have stuck to it. A BBC television programme once did
a combined feature on two young British composers, Dudley Moore and
Peter Maxwell Davies...
A quick search produced this:
Dudley studied music as a child and by age 14 had learned to play violin
and organ. These talents eventually
brought him a scholarship to Oxford's Magdalen College where he earned
degrees in music and composition.
By 1959, Dudley had become a resident composer for the Royal Court
Theatre of London and was composing for
television commercials and ballet companies as well. The stage show
"Beyond the Fringe" hit London that same
year and was equally successful in New York three years later.
Dudley's numerous film [composer] credits include "Bedazzled," "Arthur,"
"Six Weeks," "Lovesick," "Romantic
Comedy," "Crazy People," and "Blame It On The Bellboy". Dudley continues
to give extensive concert
appearances, including key performances with the Los Angeles
Philharmonic, a chamber music concert at the
Metropolitan Museum in New York, and a jazz album with Cleo Laine.
Dudley's most recent projects display his diverse range of talent. Dave
Grusin's fine jazz label, GRP Records,
has released Dudley's "Songs Without Words," an album of ballads which
featured Kenny G. On stage at Los
Angeles' Wiltern Theater, he starred in "The Mikado," directed by
compatriot and fellow Fringe colleague
Jonathan Miller. Dudley has also starred in the debut of Mel Shapiro's
acclaimed dramatic comedy "Lay Of The
Land" at the L.A.T.C.
--
Keith
Sapere aude
Euan Bayliss
> I wonder if Morecambe and Wise ever made it on American TV? There was
> a great sketch with Eric Morecambe mutilating the Grieg Piano
> Concerto, with Previn conducting the LSO: "You're playing all the
> wrong notes!", protested Previn, whereupon Morecambe grabbed him by
> the lapels and said "I'm playing all the right notes .....but not
> necessarily in the right order!"
The Morecambe and Wise Grieg Piano Concerto sketch remains one of my
all-time favourites.
Another comedian worth a mention is Les Dawson. He would always have a
sing-along session with the audience at the end of his shows, where he
would have them singing some old tunes, then a few phrases in he'd
start to deliberately play the tune wrong. He'd take the tune up a
semitone or a tone and still keep the bass in the correct key... and
it threw the audience every time.
Euan
--
*from* Euan Bayliss aka eu...@agm.net ... writing to you from Leeds, England....
Catch me on ICQ #25319325!
"As every cat owner knows, no-one owns a cat." Ellen Perry Berkeley
Andrys D Basten
Donearlsto <donea...@aol.com> wrote:
>>I understand that Warren Beatty, Richard Gere, and Clint Eastwood are
>>accomplished amateur pianists. And I think that Peter Weller
>>(Robocop) plays trumpet. And Woody Allen is a well-known Dixieland
>>clarinetist.
Still plays weekly somewhere, it's said.
Another actor who played piano rather well was Christopher Reeve. They had
a segment on, I think, on a Barbara Walters show, years ago, that surprised
me in that his playing was very sensitive. It's amazing how he's dealt with
his paralysis after having been such a physical person.
- A
--
===========================================================
Andrys Basten <and...@netcom.com> CNE, Basten Micro Consulting
San Francisco area - 510/235-3861
http://www.andrys.com/books.html -SEARCH for Books/Films/Classical Music
Argerich discography. Also SEARCH FANFARE Review-Titles
http://www.andrys.com -Online resources
http://www.andrys.com/indox.html -Peru photos w/Canon Elph
Have music, will travel: piano, harpsichord, recorders
Gary K. Allen
> Sa> How about Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.? Violin?
>
> [snip...]
>
> His father, Efrem Zimbalist Sr. was also a violinist
I have a recording of violin sonatas by the Zimbalists, père et fils. EZ
Sr.'s sonata dates from 1927, EZ Jr.'s from 1970. The liner notes speak
of EZ Jr.'s early musical training, and I would think violin lessons would
have been included.
Cathy and Kip
(Christopher Lloyd) could play the piano quite well, or at least
negotiate the opening of Chopin's Fantasie-Impromptu with style. At the
time I saw the episode, I didn't think he was faking.
--Kip Williams
"Not my planet, monkey-boy!"
--Christopher Lloyd's character in BUCKAROO BANZAI
Fred Goldrich
Cathy and Kip <cdo...@NOSPAMvisi.net> wrote:
>I remember an episode of "Cheers" in which it turned out that Rev. Jim
>(Christopher Lloyd) could play the piano quite well, or at least
>negotiate the opening of Chopin's Fantasie-Impromptu with style. At the
>time I saw the episode, I didn't think he was faking.
Wasn't Reverend Jim on "Taxi"?
--
Fred Goldrich
gold...@panix.com
Cathy and Kip
>
> In article <36844B...@NOSPAMvisi.net>,
> Cathy and Kip <cdo...@NOSPAMvisi.net> wrote:
> >I remember an episode of "Cheers" in which it turned out that Rev. Jim
>
> Wasn't Reverend Jim on "Taxi"?
D'OH! WHY YOU... I mean, uh, why, yes he was, Fred! Thanks for pointing
that out to me. Obviously, the error is the fault of my computer, which
was without power for two days. I'll chastise it.
--Kip Williams
Frank Eggleston
It's those d____d Delawarians (or are they Delawarites?).
Frank Eggleston :-)
--
"... for it goes without saying."
--- description of Milo's car
(borrowed from King Azaz the Unabridged)
in "The Phantom Tollbooth"
Donald Phillipson
Edward dimitri Kennaway (ken...@zetnet.co.uk) writes:
> However, perhaps the best approximation of the conductor's art that
> I've ever seen from a non conductor was by Tom the cat, in Tom and
> Jerry at the Hollywood Bowl, doing Die Fledermaus (no, I'm not being
> flippant: I reckon the animators must have studied conductors with the
> keenest eye to achieve that kind of result - I even wondered if it was
> modelled after a specific conductor).
Challenge! The best was Bugs Bunny as Leopold (Stokowski,
also at the Hollywood Bowl, conducting a male recitalist.)
Several more BB cartoons of the period (1950?) revealed
their music director's love of opera, especially Wagner.
--
| Donald Phillipson, 4180 Boundary Road, Carlsbad Springs, |
| Ontario, Canada, K0A 1K0, tel. 613 822 0734 |
Eric Schissel
-Eric Schissel
--
schi...@lightlink.com
http://www.lightlink.com/schissel ICQ#7279016
standard disclaimer
Eric Schissel
posted twice.)
Bill Kinkaid
>Sacqueboutier wrote:
>>
>> How about Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.? Violin?
You're probably thinking of Efrem Zimbalist _Senior_, who was a world-class
violinist.
Bill in Vancouver
(delete EAT-SPAM-AND-DIE
from e-mail address to respond)
Bill Kinkaid
>> Jonathon Frakes plays trombone,
I thought I read somewhere that he said he was faking it. I'm pretty sure
that I also heard that Patrick Stewart also faked playing the recorder, but
that Brent Spiner's violin playing was real. I have no idea about any of
those instruments; any Trekker musicians care to enlighten us?
Richard Schultz
: It's those d____d Delawarians (or are they Delawarites?).
If there's going to be a Frank Sinatra retrospective, I *don't*
want to know about it. (And I already know what a yellow light means.)
-----
Richard Schultz sch...@mail.biu.ac.il
Department of Chemistry tel: 972-3-531-8065
Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel fax: 972-3-535-1250
-----
"I've lost my harmonica, Albert."
Grant Hicks
Bill Kinkaid wrote in message <36847228....@news.bctel.ca>...
>matthew...@my-dejanews.com wrote:
>>> Jonathon Frakes plays trombone,
>
>I thought I read somewhere that he said he was faking it. I'm pretty sure
>that I also heard that Patrick Stewart also faked playing the recorder, but
>that Brent Spiner's violin playing was real. I have no idea about any of
>those instruments; any Trekker musicians care to enlighten us?
>
Never having worn the pointy ears or carried a homemade tricorder, I doubt
I'm really a Trekker. But let me point out that, on the evidence of the
latest ST movie, Brent Spiner has a pretty fair singing voice.
Grant Hicks
ghic...@sprynet.com
Grant Hicks
Bill Kinkaid wrote in message <36847164....@news.bctel.ca>...
>
>>Sacqueboutier wrote:
>>>
>>> How about Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.? Violin?
>
>You're probably thinking of Efrem Zimbalist _Senior_, who was a world-class
>violinist.
>
I suspect he was thinking of E.Z. Jr. If he didn't play the violin (and if
not, why not?), he certainly wrote music for it. I've seen a recording of
sonatas by both Zimbalists, père et fils.
Grant Hicks
ghic...@sprynet.com
SAP23556
>>
>>I thought I read somewhere that he said he was faking it.
Nope. he really plays. In fact, the other cast members hated it when they did
eps with the trombone because he wouldn't stop playing between takes.
>I'm pretty sure
>>that I also heard that Patrick Stewart also faked playing the recorder, but
>>that Brent Spiner's violin playing was real
Don't know about Patrick, but Brent does not play the violin. Or the oboe for
that matter, just (as he puts it) a "very bad guitar".
> But let me point out that, on the evidence of the
>latest ST movie, Brent Spiner has a pretty fair singing voice.
Brent started his career on Broadway and was in Sunday the Park With George and
Big River. He most recently played John Adams in the revival of 1776 last year
and was really phenomenal!
SAP the cellomeister, who is a Trekkie and proud of it
Dwightg
SAP23556 <sap2...@aol.com> wrote:
>Don't know about Patrick, but Brent does not play the violin. Or the oboe for
>that matter, just (as he puts it) a "very bad guitar".
>> But let me point out that, on the evidence of the
>>latest ST movie, Brent Spiner has a pretty fair singing voice.
>
>Brent started his career on Broadway and was in Sunday the Park With George and
>Big River. He most recently played John Adams in the revival of 1776 last year
>and was really phenomenal!
There exists a record album of Brent Spiner singing popular songs,
entitled "Ol' Yellow Eyes Is Back."
amand...@my-dejanews.com
> Edward dimitri Kennaway wrote in message <75l86k$9o6$1...@irk.zetnet.co.uk>...
> >The Julia Roberts thread reminds me that there have been quite a
> >few actors/actresses with musical backgrounds and abilities.
Just went through this thread and was surprised at no mention of Steve Allen.
Although he never conquered the clarinet for his role in The Benny Goodman
Story, his way with the piano is well known and I believe he does play other
instruments also.
Amanda
SAP23556
>>and was really phenomenal!
>
>There exists a record album of Brent Spiner singing popular songs,
>entitled "Ol' Yellow Eyes Is Back."
Yes, it's also really phenomenal. We keep trying to convince him to do
another, but he's too busy.
SAP the cellomeister
Sacqueboutier
> that I also heard that Patrick Stewart also faked playing the recorder, but
> those instruments; any Trekker musicians care to enlighten us?
As a trombonist I can vouch for the fact that Frakes was very
close to the right positions.
Stewart was surely faking on the recorder.
To me, it was obvious that Spiner faking on the violin as well.
--
Don Patterson
* DCP Music Printing
* Professional Computer Music Typeset
* Music Arrangements
* don...@erols.com
* Asst. Principal Trombonist
* "The President's Own"
* United States Marine Band
http://www.marineband.hqmc.usmc.mil
The views expressed are my own and in no way
reflect those of "The President's Own" United
States Marine Band or the United States Marine Corps.
Frank Eggleston
>
> > Edward dimitri Kennaway wrote in message <75l86k$9o6$1...@irk.zetnet.co.uk>...
> > >The Julia Roberts thread reminds me that there have been quite a
> > >few actors/actresses with musical backgrounds and abilities.
>
> Just went through this thread and was surprised at no mention of Steve Allen.
> Although he never conquered the clarinet for his role in The Benny Goodman
> Story, his way with the piano is well known and I believe he does play other
> instruments also.
>
> Amanda
Steve Allen was also a skilled improviser. One of the regularly
repeated "stunts" on his show was to pick up themes from the audience
(sometimes having each note of a theme picked by a different person)
and improvise pieces on them. He often did rather brilliant things
with some rather intractable material.
Frank Eggleston
--
"... for it goes without saying."
--- description of cart Milo borrowed from the
cabinet of King Azaz the Unabridged
in "The Phantom Tollbooth" ;-)
Don Drewecki
One of Efrem Zimbalist Junior's works was played in Maine this summer,
at the Bay Chamber concert series. So yes, the G-Man does write music.
--
Don Drewecki
<dre...@rpi.edu>
Mark Starr
Before becoming an actor, Efram Zimbalist Jr. was
a Dean at Curtiss. He also produced some of
Gian-Carlo Menotti's early operatic hits on Broadway.
So yes, he did some useful work before he sold
out.
--
Regards,
Mark Starr
Ian Lowery
>Sacqueboutier wrote:
>> Jack benny is rumoured to be much better
>> on the violin than his comedy routines
>> would suggest.
>On the show, he once relaxed his comedic stance and played something
>straight, for the benefit of his apoplectic music teacher (played by Mel
>Blanc, I do believe).
Once on the show, after a few comments about his Strad, Jack played
Humoresque or something similar. It was hilarious as his eyes went
up to heaven and then looked intently and disapprovingly at a wayward
and very much out of tune finger.
His mistakes were fully calculated as only a fine musician can do, and
when he asked Isaac Stern how he went, Isaac said: "Jack, anybody who
plays that badly has got to be good".
Cheers
Ian
------------------------------------------------
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Len Fehskens
sapp...@cix.compulink.co.uk wrote
>There's a film ("What's New Pussycat?" was it?) in which Peter Sellers is
>the soloist in an avant garde piano concerto.
Not What's New Pussycat. Maybe The Secret (?) Life of Henry Orient?
len.
Paul Goldstein
scene in "Green Card" in which Gerard Depardieu pounds on a piano pretending
to be an avant-garde composer.
--
Paul Goldstein
http://www.jtcb.com/profile/profiles/pgoldstein/pgoldstein.html
Len Fehskens wrote in message <76qvub$2kb$1...@mrnews.mro.dec.com>...
David_U
>
> Once on the show, after a few comments about his Strad, Jack played
> Humoresque or something similar. It was hilarious as his eyes went
> up to heaven and then looked intently and disapprovingly at a wayward
> and very much out of tune finger.
>
> His mistakes were fully calculated as only a fine musician can do, and
> when he asked Isaac Stern how he went, Isaac said: "Jack, anybody who
> plays that badly has got to be good".
>
> Cheers
>
> Ian
I hate to admit that I am old enough to remember that one.
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Vic Filler
>
>The late actress and "Marilyn" Act-a-Like Jane Mansfield was a very
>accomplished violinist who had soloed with the Dallas Symphony and did concert
>benfits.
She also played the piano very well. (And had an IQ of 170).
Vic
Dan Koren
Alain DAGHER
: In article <77dkpr$j25$1...@nntp.Stanford.EDU>,
: Vic Filler <fil...@stanford.edu> wrote:
:>She also played the piano very well. (And had an IQ of 170).
: because of it or in spite of it?
This brings up an interesting question for a new thread. Who were the
smartest musicians ever? I don't mean smart musically, but
extra-musically?
--
regards,
alain
MT
smartest musicians ever? I don't mean smart musically, but
extra-musically?>>
I've heard from several people that Claudio Arrau had an incredible
intellect. It also seems that Glenn Gould was intellectually brilliant.
Regards,
mt
Paul Goldstein
--
Paul Goldstein
http://www.jtcb.com/profile/profiles/pgoldstein/pgoldstein.html
MT wrote in message <77gkht$hmu$2...@birch.prod.itd.earthlink.net>...
Stephen McElroy
<al...@nil.mni.mcgill.ca> wrote:
> This brings up an interesting question for a new thread. Who were the
> smartest musicians ever? I don't mean smart musically, but
> extra-musically?
>
> --
> regards,
>
> alain
>
This could be fun. Slonimsky? Babbitt? C.P.E. Bach was in some heavy
literary circles. Do bad musicians count? Nietzsche, Rousseau, E.T.A.
Hoffman?
Always willing to learn,
Stephen
--
"I've found that alcohol, taken in sufficient quantities, can bring about all the effects of drunkenness." Oscar Wilde
Alain
> In article <77gk4j$9...@sifon.cc.mcgill.ca>, Alain DAGHER
> <al...@nil.mni.mcgill.ca> wrote:
>
> > This brings up an interesting question for a new thread. Who were the
> > smartest musicians ever? I don't mean smart musically, but
> > extra-musically?
>
> This could be fun. Slonimsky? Babbitt? C.P.E. Bach was in some heavy
> literary circles. Do bad musicians count? Nietzsche, Rousseau, E.T.A.
> Hoffman?
Nietzsche does count and he was a great musician. His books were more music than literature.
But to get back to the question, I read that Daniel Barenboim was a genius as a child.
alain
Roger Lustig
Paul Goldstein wrote:
>
> Charles Rosen.
>
> --
> Paul Goldstein
>
You mean there were *two* Paul Goldsteins at U of C in those days?
I only knew one, and I don't think he was you.
Roger Lustig (Music dept, 80-84)
Bob Lombard
Alain DAGHER wrote in message <77gk4j$9...@sifon.cc.mcgill.ca>...
>Dan Koren <d...@netcom.com> wrote:
>: In article <77dkpr$j25$1...@nntp.Stanford.EDU>,
>: Vic Filler <fil...@stanford.edu> wrote:
>
stop growing mentally 'til adulthood. It is speculated that his IQ would
have been off the charts, if the tests were around then. Yet much of his
music was virtuosic hackwork, and he gained a reputation as a pisshead. What
price genius?
MT
<<Camille St. Saens. Reading and writing before his 3rd birthday, and
didn't stop growing mentally 'til adulthood. It is speculated that his
IQ would have been off the charts, if the tests were around then. Yet
much of his music was virtuosic hackwork, and he gained a reputation as
a pisshead. What price genius?>>
I put it to you that Saint-Saens not only was not a hack but wrote a lot
of great pieces. Have you heard his string quartets, piano trios, cello
sonata? Give me hacks like that...By the way, in the second volume of
his autobiography Artur Rubinstein talks reverently about the experience
of hearing Saint-Saens play the piano. Apparently he was an outstanding
pianist, too.
Regards,
mt