Question re: Bernstein's Simple Song

[myorgan]

Folks,

My wife and I just discovered Bernstein's Simple Song is scored specifically for 2, yes that's right, two Allen organs--one large and one small. She's the Symphony librarian and we don't have the music yet. Would anyone be able to provide insight into the piece--whether the organs could be played by one organist at a time, or if it indeed requires two organists as well?

Because the score is a rental and is NOT in public domain, there's no chance of obtaining either the conductor's score in advance, nor the organ parts in advance. Luck's Music Library doesn't even have it listed.

Thanks in advance for any and all help y'all can provide.

Michael

[regeron]

This link shows the score. I don't see two organs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dr6XgVJMsWk
I checked YouTube and couldn't find a 2-organ arrangement either.
Where/How did you discover that it was scored for 2 organs?

I searched some more and found this page:
https://leonardbernstein.com/works/v...rs-and-dancers
If you search the page for "Allen", you'll find the big/small Allen organ mention as part of a larger orchestra.

And this link
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_(Bernstein)
has the following information:
Pit orchestra
Percussion instruments (at least 4-5 players): timpani, bongos, snare drum, tenor drum, bass drum, 4 tuned drums, cymbals, suspended cymbal, triangle, 2 cowbells, chimes, tam-tam, anvil, temple blocks, wood block, tambourine, xylophone, glockenspiel, marimba, and vibraphone
Keyboards: celesta, piano, and 2 Allen organs (small and large)
Strings: harp, first and second violins, violas, violoncellos and double basses
[This does not include the on-stage groups of instruments]

[myorgan]

Regeron,

You found the two links I found referencing 2 Allen organs. I believe my wife has requested an advance score from the publisher for our conductor, but he probably has his own, as he has worked with Mr. Bernstein before in his (much) younger years (the conductor, that is;-)). I'll check the YouTube link and see what I can glean from that recording. Being old-school, I often forget much of what I play has already been recorded there.

Thanks so much for your help (& links).

Michael

[MarkS]

How about this?

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/east...324-story.html

Allen heavily promoted this story years ago. I believe Bernstein called the organs something like "Big Al" and "Little Al."

I'm guessing that they were System 600 and 100 since this was at the very beginning (1971) of digital production.

[myorgan]

How about this?

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/east...324-story.html

Thank you, Mark. I've forwarded the article to our Executive Director & Conductor. I'll get back to you when I learn their impressions--probably after the concert later this year.

Thanks again.

Michael

[MarkS]

I listened to the first half of Mass this afternoon and heard only a few places (not Simple Song) where organ was prominent. Maybe you won't need them.

But it would look impressive...

[MarkS]

Brainstorm:

A search of the online catalog for this state (Illinois) shows many colleges/universities with full scores of Mass.

If you can find your local online catalog you will likely find a score at a college or university nearby. You may not be able to check it out but they should at least let you look at it.

One other warning: Sometimes the most prestigious institutions (University of Chicago and Northwestern University, e.g.) do not participate in the online catalog/interlibrary loan system.

[myorgan]

A search of the online catalog for this state (Illinois) shows many colleges/universities with full scores of Mass.

One other warning: Sometimes the most prestigious institutions (University of Chicago and Northwestern University, e.g.) do not participate in the online catalog/interlibrary loan system.

Thank you for the idea. I don't think it's actually the Mass I need, but just Simple Song (part of the Mass). Even then, there are more than 2 variants written of Simple Song, as well. I do know the score and parts are rental only, and we currently have it on reserve. For that reason, I'm not sure any actual scores exist for this particular version outside the rental.

Great idea, though, Mark!

Michael

[myorgan]

In perusing the official Leonard Bernstein site, I see the version we're playing listed just right of center. It is from 1971, is 5:00 long, and lists Big Al & Little Al (2 Allen organs) as being used for the piece. https://leonardbernstein.com/works/v...rs-and-dancers. I suspect we're doing the staged production. The link is just below the Three Medications From MASS (1977).

I'll keep searching and see what I can find.

Michael