On Sunday, a sizable portion of the creative team for Big Shoes assembled in UNCSA’s Gray Building to hear how the music was shaping up for the new show. Three composition students – Kenneth Florence, Ted Oliver and Bruce Tippette – had each written one song, and were on hand to share their efforts for critique.
Bruce composed music for the opening scene -- a scene that switches in midstream from Alexander’s braggadocio to his kid brother Gordy’s sense of comparative inadequacy. Bruce sat down at the piano and launched into a full-throated anthem of youthful energy and strength that morphed beautifully into the fragile admiration of a younger sibling. Everyone in the room was pulled in by the danceable rhythms and charismatic performance.
Next came Ted, who had written a song for the Ish Triplets, Weepish, Sheepish and Deepish. Ted had recorded his song with midi-piano accompaniment, singing all three parts himself (despite having a head cold). The close harmonies and gentle sway quickly established it as an homage to the Andrews Sisters. Chuckles were heard as the clever lyrics bounced off the syncopated accompaniment. At the conclusion, Beth Bostic (the director) praised the song but asked Ted if he could channel some of the 8-to-the bar energy of
Boogie-Woogie Bugle Boy. After a brief discussion among the composers, Ted figured out how he could juice up the accompaniment to her specifications.
Kenneth’s turn was next. His Robber song was set as a sinuous tango, with the lyrics mostly rhythmically spoken. Like Ted, Kenneth played a recording of synthesized piano, over which he had recorded the vocals. Fully inhabiting the character, he managed to be both villainous and hilarious, a tricky combination to pull off, and an essential one in children’s programming.
It is clear at this point that Open Dream has a winning combination for the musical aspects of our new show. Hurrah! We look forward to hearing more of the music as it is composed and are eager to hear it come to life in the rehearsal process this summer.
Next up: starting the design process. Definitely more fun to come!
