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[Daddy Long Les]

I was sad to hear that they are replacing live musicians at War Horse with pre-recorded music.  I saw this show a couple of years ago and thought what a fantastic advert it was for the melodeon.  If this is in fact the case I will be writing to complain.  Does anyone on here know anything about this?

[Sage Herb]

See here: http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/2014/04/musicians-fail-legal-bid-rejoin-west-end-production-war-horse/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=musicians-fail-legal-bid-rejoin-west-end-production-war-horse

They make it sound as if this doesn't affect the live 'folk' music in the show.

Cheers
Steve

[Steve_freereeder]

It's a sorry state of affairs. Similar situations sadly affect musicians throughout the theatre/entertainment industries. In so many cases, the perception is that musicians providing live music for shows are not worth paying for their talent, skills and professionalism. 

The Musicians' Union statement on the War Horse case is here.

[Daddy Long Les]

I believe Bob Fox worked incredibly hard to learn to play the box for this show.  I'm guessing he's no longer in the show but even so, as Steve says, "it's a sorry state of affairs".  Once again the role of the live musician is undervalued.  It's not like this a struggling show with limited funds.  AFAIK it's sold out for every performance.  I know the horse "puppets?" probably cost a small fortune but they must have been paid for many times over.  When Bob appeared in the show telling the story with his songs + melodeon it definitely added an air of authenticity to it all.
The show is absolutely amazing - what a shame to spoil the ship for a ha'porth of tar!

[Clive Williams]

It's a sorry state of affairs. Similar situations sadly affect musicians throughout the theatre/entertainment industries. In so many cases, the perception is that musicians providing live music for shows are not worth paying for their talent, skills and professionalism. 

The Musicians' Union statement on the War Horse case is here.

My understanding is that this article refers to the War Horse (small) "orchestra", not the (pretty key) character of Songman, who's the chap that wanders around the stage playing melodeon, singing and "stuff". The orchestra has been replaced with a backing track, which as ever is unfortunate, but Songman is still singing/playing live against it.

Having said that, it does rather seem that melodeon has been replaced with piano accordion in the latest production in London - Ben Murray has taken over the role, and pretty great he is at it too. I believe Mehmet Dogan does some productions too (on melodeon), but haven't seen his performance. There are now several touring parties for War Horse, rather like Riverdance became a franchise after a few years. My understanding is that Bob Fox (who *learned* the melodeon to get the part and played it live on stage within a month!) is still involved with the UK touring party.

Cheers,

Clive

[Daddy Long Les]

It's a sorry state of affairs. Similar situations sadly affect musicians throughout the theatre/entertainment industries. In so many cases, the perception is that musicians providing live music for shows are not worth paying for their talent, skills and professionalism. 

The Musicians' Union statement on the War Horse case is here.

My understanding is that this article refers to the War Horse (small) "orchestra", not the (pretty key) character of Songman, who's the chap that wanders around the stage playing melodeon, singing and "stuff". The orchestra has been replaced with a backing track, which as ever is unfortunate, but Songman is still singing/playing live against it.

Having said that, it does rather seem that melodeon has been replaced with piano accordion in the latest production in London - Ben Murray has taken over the role, and pretty great he is at it too. I believe Mehmet Dogan does some productions too (on melodeon), but haven't seen his performance. There are now several touring parties for War Horse, rather like Riverdance became a franchise after a few years. My understanding is that Bob Fox (who *learned* the melodeon to get the part and played it live on stage within a month!) is still involved with the UK touring party.

Cheers,

Clive

Thanks Clive.  I really hope that is the case.  Even so,  it's a shame that the melodeon has been replaced by the P.A. and of course, more importantly, that the live orchestra has gone.

[Ollie]

All the strings and larger percussion have always been recorded, as far as I know. It's only the brass and the woodwind that have ever been live, and it is a shame to lose them. However, the Songman is still live - the show wouldn't work otherwise. When I saw the production for the first time 3 years ago, there was a piano accordion player - it depends who has been cast in the role as to whether it is a piano accordion or melodeon. It's very hard to find a folk musician who a) plays the melodeon or piano accordion, and b) is willing to put their career on hold in order to spend 18 months of their life doing the same thing 8 times a week.

Bob Fox is indeed still Songman on the UK touring production.

[Graham Spencer]

Having said that, it does rather seem that melodeon has been replaced with piano accordion in the latest production in London - Ben Murray has taken over the role, and pretty great he is at it too.

Yep - he's playing what looks like a Saltarelle (or similar) 3-voice 48-or-so-bass and I have to say it sounds very good; in fact when I heard it (before he was lit on stage) I wasn't sure it wasn't a melodeon.

Graham

[Theo]

Bob Fox is indeed still playing Songman in the touring show.  I've been privileged to supply and maintain the two Hohner Erikas that he plays.

[David J]

Saul Rose did put his career on hold for a few months, and I was lucky enough to see the London production with him in it. Totally agree that a musician playing and singing would be far better in this context than a singer performing to recorded music.