Thursday, August 31, 2006

Ronnie Drumm #1


Photos and comments by Eric Beheim.

"It was my understanding that Ronnie came to the show via Eastern States Exposition. He took his job with Ringling very seriously and expected the local musucians who were hired in each town to do the same.
Under his baton, the musical tempos were faster than those of any other of the Ringling bandleaders I worked for. In 1980 (the last year he led the band in San Diego and at the time when Charly Baumann was away in Australia) he seemed much more relaxed and the tempo's weren't quite so fast."

Posted by Buckles at 8/31/2006 06:32:00 AM

2 comments:

Buckles said...

In regard to the quick tempo, I remember chatting with Eric in 1978 about the teriffic score Bill Pryun had done for the elephant number.
Eric agreed but added that the notes were flying by at break-neck speed, it was really a work out.

31 August, 2006 07:05
Anonymous said...

from Eric:

“Exotic Eastern Adventure,” must certainly rank as one of the most lavish elephant acts of all time. (It certainly ranks as my favorite elephant act of all time!) Bill Pruyn rose to the occasion and produced a music score every bit as lush and exotic as the number it accompanied. The fanfares and much of the music were taken from the Broadway musical "Kismet," which, in turn, had been adapted from the music of Borodin. Great drums, tinkling bells and the rich blare of trumpets resounded throughout the score.

Following the ringing of a gong and a fanfare from Kismet, the exotic mood was immediately established by an excerpt from "In the Steppes of Central Asia" (called "Sands of Time" in "Kismet.") When the elephants made their entrance, it was to some of the energetic dance music from "Kismet." This was followed by the "Bacchanal" from Saint-Saens’ opera "Samson et Delilah." Next came the "Wedding Procession" from Rimsky-Korsakov’s opera "Le Coq d’Or." Other selections that I was able to identify were "Orientale" (Cui), Borodin’s "Serenade" (called "Night of My Nights" in "Kismet"), "Procession of the Sardar," "War March of the Tartars" (Karl King), and a fragment from "Scheherazade." The high-energy "Kismet" dance music was reprised when the elephants made a fast exit from the arena. All in all, it was the BEST elephant act music I ever heard!

31 August, 2006 12:35

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