 More Toledo pictures taken by Tom Hendricks. This can be called Elephant Act Terminology Class 1-A, for what few might be interested. The display opened with the above Prologue which I might add, had the greatest music I ever worked to, scored by Bill Pryun.  |
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
RBBB Blue Unit 1979 #1 (Vol. 5)
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4 comments:
I still whistle that music to the elephant act all the time!
From Eric:
Bill Pruyn did indeed produce a music score that was 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.
Following the ringing of a gong and a fanfare from Kismet, the exotic mood was immediately established by an excerpt from Borodin's "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" (by 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 ever played or heard.
I always wondered - when Gunther had the elephants working around the track "by voice command alone" was that for real? I didn't see many other handlers around, so figured they were indeed following his direction. It was pretty amazing, especially when each elephant held the lead rope of a horse. But wasn't that taking a chance having them so far from control?
Gunther was an amazing guy.
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