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Les Miserables - Jaren Angud

Jaren Angud's percussion setup for Les Miserables at the Eisenhower Auditorium at Penn State University in University Park, Pennsylvania.

Jaren's write-up and gear list below photos.

Jaren Angud's percussion setup for Les Miserables at the Eisenhower Auditorium at Penn State University in University Park, Pennsylvania.Jaren Angud's percussion setup for Les Miserables at the Eisenhower Auditorium at Penn State University in University Park, Pennsylvania.Jaren Angud's percussion setup for Les Miserables at the Eisenhower Auditorium at Penn State University in University Park, Pennsylvania.Jaren Angud's percussion setup for Les Miserables at the Eisenhower Auditorium at Penn State University in University Park, Pennsylvania.

"This is the version that was orchestrated for a separate percussionist and drum set player which I had found to be incredibly fun and musically satisfying. I had a blast playing this show! It was a real treat for me to use all real instruments that the orchestration called for instead of generated sound patches from an electronic multi-pad device.

Based on my location in the pit (house right) I positioned the instruments around me on three sides. The timpani were positioned to face the conductor. The keyboard instruments and small auxiliary instruments were adjacent to that (facing the house). The chimes and tam-tam were positioned opposite to the timpani. I was given a large video monitor for the two sides of my setup not facing the conductor so I would not have to strain myself to see the music, instruments, and conductor from my peripheral.

This setup worked for me and was fairly easy to navigate, not to mention I had quite a bit of room in the pit to stretch out. The triangle and finger cymbals, although scarcely utilized, were ergonomically positioned on my Meinl multi rack between the keyboard instruments and timpani and it made flying between bongos and triangle much easier. I did not have to pick up the triangle beater, then quietly set it down to play the bongos. Thank you Miller Machine for making my life so much easier!"

Gear:

  • Yamaha TP-6300 Series Timpani (32”, 29”, 26”)
  • Fall Creek Glockenspiel
  • Premier Xylophone
  • Deagan Chimes
  • Steve Weiss 30” Tam-Tam
  • TreeWorks Wind Chimes
  • Steve Weiss Bell Tree
  • Black Swamp Tambourine
  • Sabian 16" Artisan Suspended Cymbal
  • Sabian 19" Artisan Suspended Cymbal
  • LP Bongos
  • Toca Temple Block
  • Sleigh Bells
  • Miller Machine with Alan Abel 6” Triangle
  • Miller Machine with Steve Weiss Finger Cymbal

Les Miserables - Regional - Jaren Angud
June 2015

Jaren Angud's percussion setup for Les Miserables at the Eisenhower Auditorium at Penn State University in University Park, 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."

Ron Grassi's drum set setup for Mean Girls at Archbishop Performing Arts, in Warminster, Pennsylvania.

"The main challenge that I found with this show was the very quick instrument and stick changes. Having a good pair of swizzle sticks is necessary to go from tambourine to timpani and sometimes rolls on the concert bass drum."
"The real impetus of this book is the timpani. It is definitely the driving force for the percussion inBack to the Future and it requires a big articulate sound and once again Yamaha with the Evans Orchestral White Opaque Heads just deliver."

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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