Pit Crew. Racing or Musical?
Robert Huffman in the pit during a performance
On the stage and in the wings the cast and tech crew for the Prince of Egypt prepare for their performance, but most importantly the pit orchestra is working hard to make this show sound good.
“I play the flute. Flute, we don’t play that much. And then, all the fun songs go to the sopranino recorder, but the parts that we do play, they’re really melodic and fun,” Senior Anya Hewitt said.
Unlike many of the past shows this year’s music is more like movie music providing mood and background music, as opposed to just playing while the ensemble sings.
“The music helps tell the story and helps build emotion,” Senior (and player of aforementioned sopranino recorder) Robert Huffman said.
This musical features many impactful songs and lines of powerful music, blending ancient Egyptian motifs and modern music style voices.
“Through heaven’s eyes, Simcha, are my favorite, they’re both really upbeat and fast paced, and the melodies are pretty fun,” Hewitt said.
The pit orchestra, while sometimes unnoticed, plays a crucial role in this musical and cultivates an environment conducive to making music and friends.
“ It’s a fantastic experience, and it gives you views that you haven’t had before, because whether you’re in orchestra or you’re in band, you get to play with the other, which we don’t do a lot,” Huffman said.
