Sometimes the story behind the show is as riveting as the show itself. That’s why we’re launching The MasterVoices Podcast! We’re inviting a diverse range of masterful voices to explore subjects ranging from music and language to history and culture.
Hosted by writer, linguist, and musical theater aficionado John McWhorter, the first three episodes will explore different facets of Strike Up the Band, coming to Carnegie Hall on Tuesday October 29th at 7:00pm. Tickets here!
Episode Three: Stories, Songs and STRIKE!
In the 1920s, operetta reigned supreme and American audiences were in love with Gilbert and Sullivan – the Gershwins included. Their score for Strike Up the Band paid homage while creating songs that were sui generis and utterly American. Listen as McWhorter and Maestro John Mauceri – who, at the behest of Mrs. Ira Gershwin, conducted complete recordings of the show’s 1927 and 1930 scores – go deep on orchestration, figuration, and the miracle of the Gershwin brothers’ collaboration.
Also discussed:
- the story of the Gershwin brothers is a great love story. They were a true union and always had each others’ back.
- differences between orchestrations for operetta, jazz, and musical theater.
- more strings means less seats!
- a brief primer on figurations.
- songwriters v composers.
Episode Two: Strike up the Satire
When the first version of Strike Up the Band closed in Philadelphia in less than a week, its author George S. Kaufman famously quipped, “Satire is what closes on Saturday night.” But what is satire, anyway? Join host John McWhorter and celebrated New Yorker cartoonist and editor Bob Mankoff as they trace the arc of satire from Aristophanes to Jon Stewart, and ponder its eternal attempt to rid us of our (equally eternal) human foibles.
Also discussed:
- Vaudeville, and other important stops on the comic development train.
- Are the Marx Brothers still funny?
- Humor is its own reason for existence, like music.
- When did “sense of humor” become a thing?
- John does a mean Mrs. Draper!
Episode One: Preparing Strike Up the Band
For over half a century, Strike Up the Band has been one of the great mysteries of the American musical theater – lovingly reconstructed and reworked by teams of theater makers, historians, and archivists. For the past year, Maestro Ted Sperling and theater historian Laurence Maslon have been crafting a new version that brings out the best of the original 1927 and 1930 scripts and scores. Listen as they discuss their process with John McWhorter – and share some great anecdotes.
Also discussed:
- What was life like back then? No broccoli, no pizza, no talkies.
- Business with cigar… continued business with cigar…
- Everyone pays attention to the way a note begins, not so much to how it ends.
- Larry Hart had a brother, Teddy
- Who is George Spelvin?
Now available on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Or you can listen Here on Buzzsprout.com or Here on Youtube!