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Godspell - Ron Grassi

Ron Grassi's setup for Godspell at the Neffs UCC Summer Theater, in Neffs, Pennsylvania.

Ron's write-up below photos.

Ron Grassi's setup for Godspell at the Neffs UCC Summer Theater, in Neffs, Pennsylvania.Ron Grassi's setup for Godspell at the Neffs UCC Summer Theater, in Neffs, Pennsylvania.Ron Grassi's setup for Godspell at the Neffs UCC Summer Theater, in Neffs, Pennsylvania.Ron Grassi's setup for Godspell at the Neffs UCC Summer Theater, in Neffs, Pennsylvania.Ron Grassi's setup for Godspell at the Neffs UCC Summer Theater, in Neffs, Pennsylvania.Ron Grassi's setup for Godspell at the Neffs UCC Summer Theater, in Neffs, Pennsylvania.Ron Grassi's setup for Godspell at the Neffs UCC Summer Theater, in Neffs, Pennsylvania.Ron Grassi's setup for Godspell at the Neffs UCC Summer Theater, in Neffs, Pennsylvania.Ron Grassi's setup for Godspell at the Neffs UCC Summer Theater, in Neffs, Pennsylvania.Ron Grassi's setup for Godspell at the Neffs UCC Summer Theater, in Neffs, Pennsylvania.Ron Grassi's setup for Godspell at the Neffs UCC Summer Theater, in Neffs, Pennsylvania.Ron Grassi's setup for Godspell at the Neffs UCC Summer Theater, in Neffs, Pennsylvania.

PLAYING THE SHOW:

"Godspell is the first live performance I am playing since March 13th, 2019. I've done a few recordings which were paired with their respective shows, but this is the first actual LIVE show with a full cast and an audience. I was surprised at my feelings of apprehension, and it was interesting to see the actors' reactions to being in front of a live orchestra again (we set up on the stage, behind the action).

As we all do, I put in the necessary several hours of practice before the first dress rehearsal last night, and we let it fly. Considering everything, I think it went pretty well. The conductor and the director were happy, so that's always good. This theater is outside, underneath a large pavilion, and we had monitors behind us so we could hear the cast and the other members of the orchestra. Not as controlled as an indoor venue, but doable.

Two dress rehearsals and then we do only two performances on July 30th and 31st. I'm always amazed that so many hours go into preparing for what is probably three to four hours of actual performance time! The cast is excellent. They all hail from the Lehigh Valley in PA, and they are a mixture of Theater Majors, Teachers of Theater/Voice, and Professionals, all thrilled to be working again.

The orchestra consists of keyboard/conductor, guitar 1, guitar 2, guitar 3/keyboard 2, bass, and percussion. A nice big sound, and all the players are top-notch local Philly people with whom I often work. Since both the cast and the orchestra came prepared, we basically ran through the show on this first night with very few stops and no train-wrecks. Our second and final dress rehearsal is tonight, and the sound-tech has promised to tweak the percussion mic set-up (miking percussion is never an easy job)."

GEAR:

"I'm using my Yamaha Stage Custom Birch kit (I use my Yamaha Live Oak kit for indoor work) with a Yamaha 4" x 14" Brass Recording Custom Snare. I use all "A" Zildjians, and I threw in an 18" Spiral Trash for the big endings of a few of the numbers. Such a nice effect (and a head-turner, as you can imagine).

The trap table contains all of the hand percussion which is not attached to the kit. I used the cabasa for the sandpaper effect because it cuts through a little better, with better control. Also, I used two different shakers: A Meinl Luis Conte Stadium Double Shaker, and then two LP One Shots (taped together) for 'Turn Back, O Man'. Since the tempo is a bit slower, I think the Meinl can get a bit sloppy (could be 'operator error'!), and the LP One Shot allows for better control. Keyboard one is not providing the finger snaps, so I am using a Roland SPD Percussion One Pad with the snaps programmed into it (days of The Addams Family). I added the Vibraslap on beat '2-and' in measure 14 of 'Turn Back, O Man'; a good 70's effect, I think.

I'm also using a slide whistle, siren, LP 36 Bar Concert Chimes, LP Jam Block High, Cowbell, mounted LP Tambourine, and a Miller Machine with an Alan Abel 6" Symphonic Triangle which I purchased from my percussion teacher at Temple: Charles Owen. Charles worked with Alan in the Philly Orchestra, and got them on the cheap! Also, the trap table is from LP"

 LUMBER:

"I'm using Vic Firth Signature Series Steve Gadd sticks with nylon tips and Vic Firth T1 American Custom Timpani Mallets for the suspended cymbal rolls and tom-tom effects on 'By My Side'. Also, I'm using a pair of Regal Tip Flares (model 532R) on 'On The Willows' for more definition."

Godspell - Regional - Ron Grassi
July 2021

Ron Grassi's setup for Godspell at the Neffs UCC Summer Theater, in Neffs, Pennsylvania.

"Conducting a National Tour is incredibly challenging, but so rewarding. Stepping on to the podium with a new orchestra every few weeks really keeps you on your toes. Every player responds differently so you are constantly adjusting to get the desired result. I would compare it to playing a multi-percussion piece where the instruments are constantly moving."
"After a grueling four years at SUNY I still had one theory class left to finish. I was really depressed. A classmate of mine recommended me for a tour of a Broadway show. This completely changed the course of my life."
"When I first got the call to start working on Ain’t Too Proud - The Life And Times Of The Temptations, I was curious about which era the show was going to focus on. Their career began in the early 1960’s and they’re still releasing albums today."
"The timpani tunings are the real challenge of The Little Mermaid. Changing pitches must be done by feel, that was my biggest challenge. Memorizing the mallet parts was also very necessary."
"As you can see in the pictures, I prefer to have as much 'stuff' right in front of me, as close as possible. Because there are so many instruments close in, I have mounted a music stand off of the tom mount.
"Different from the tour, the original Broadway production had acoustic drums, an acoustic set of timbales, and an acoustic tambourine - the tambourine is now programmed in the SPD-SX."
  • 2 min read

Gene Krupa's drum solo from "Gene's Blues" from the album Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich released November 1955.

Steve Jordan's drum solo from the title track of the album Casa Loco.
Robbie Ameen's drum solo from the track "Spring Fling".

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