Licensing Company: Concord Theatricals
A New Brain
A New Brain is a show about making the most out of life in the face of tragedy. When a neurotic, frustrated composer is confronted with a terminal illness, he finds comfort in the healing power of art. The show is in fact the William Finn’s autobiographical account of his own battle for life when he was afflicted with a seemingly terminal illness. As the central character, Gordon Michael Schwinn struggles to survive, he finds salvation in the healing power of art.
A New Brain
PROGRAMMED INSTRUMENTS
Synth
$300.00
A New Brain is a show about making the most out of life in the face of tragedy. When a neurotic, frustrated composer is confronted with a terminal illness, he finds comfort in the healing power of art. The show is in fact the William Finn’s autobiographical account of his own battle for life when he was afflicted with a seemingly terminal illness. As the central character, Gordon Michael Schwinn struggles to survive, he finds salvation in the healing power of art.
PROGRAMMING NOTES
This orchestration is based on the Original Off-Broadway production at the Lincoln Center in 1998.
There are 2 key players in this orchestration with the Conductor playing the Piano book. The second book is a Synth book which contains all of the keyboard programming for the show. As with many William Finn shows, the PC book requires an advanced player who is versed in the musical theater style of playing.
The Synth book is not as technically difficult as the PC book but it is rhythmically heavy with lots of programming and will require a strong and confident player. There are lots of electric keyboard sounds based on the JV1080 sound module. Some of these include MK80 Rhodes, Nylon EP, OctaRhodes, & Fantasia. There are also plenty of synth based elements including pads, brass, vox, bells, and organs.
ORIGINAL MUSICAL EQUIPMENT USED
Roland JV1080 Sound Module
ORIGINAL MUSIC TEAM
Music & Lyrics: William (Bill) Finn
Music Director: Ted Sperling
Vocal Arrangements: Jason Robert Brown
Orchestrator: Michael Starobin
ORIGINAL ORCHESTRA
Pianist/Conductor: Ted Sperling
Cello: Laura Bontrager
Reeds: Alva F Hunt
Synth: Phil Reno
Drums/Percussion: Glenn Rhian
French Horn: Roger Wendt
SHOW DESCRIPTION
By the Tony Award-winning authors of Falsettos, here is an energetic, sardonic, often comical musical about a composer during a medical emergency. Gordon collapses into his lunch and awakes in the hospital, surrounded by his maritime-enthusiast lover, his mother, a co-worker, the doctor, and the nurses. Reluctantly, he had been composing a song for a children’s television show that features a frog – Mr. Bungee – and the specter of this large green character and the unfinished work haunts him throughout his medical ordeal. What was thought to be a tumor turns out to be something more operable, and Gordon recovers, grateful for a chance to compose the songs he yearns to produce.