Cruise ship audition suggestions

[schrewbie]

Hey all

I've been thinking about applying to be a pianist on a cruise ship and have been looking at different cruise lines about auditions and such. From what I've looked at, it seems that variety is key - they want to see that you can play different styles.

So for something contemporary I think I might go for something by William Joseph, maybe the song Leningrad. And to have something in contrast to that, I plan on playing something by Scott Joplin. The thing is, neither of those styles are really loungy or cocktail-ish, those are just to show off my versatility.

So what do you guys think? What is something that would be appropriate for the roll of a cocktail pianist? (That is the title of the position I'd be applying for on Carnival Cruises, I'm not sure about other cruise lines though.) I'm thinking something by Erik Satie, but I don't really know.

And feel free to make suggestions on the other pieces I have planned, if you think they're good or bad choices, or maybe what I should try instead.

[redbaron]

Satie wrote some lovely pieces but they can tend to be a bit melancholy. The piano arrangement of Je Te Veux is very lovely, you could try that. It may not be very cocktail lounge-ish either but it has much more of a music hall/cabaret type feel than his other famous pieces e.g. Gymnopedies and Gnossienes. To be honest you aren't really going to find a 'cocktail lounge' type sound in the classical repertoire unless you come across a book that has classical pieces arranged that way. You're much better off going for something like Richard Clayderman or some slow jazz.

[thalbergmad]

How about Nearer My God To Thee.

Thal

[thalbergmad]

You're much better off going for something like Richard Clayderman.

There would be a few jumping overboard.

Thal

[ahinton]

There would be a few jumping overboard.

Only a few?(!)...

Much depends on what you'd be hired to play on a cruise for. There are quite a few cruises on which pianists give recitals of the kind of repertoire that they could as easily play in concert halls, although choices have to be made judiciously - I mean, Schönberg, Xenakis, Ferneyhough and Finnissy probably wouldn't really fit the bill...

Best,

Alistair

[redbaron]

There would be a few jumping overboard.

There'd be a lot more than a few jumping overboard. It's not great music, it's not even good music but it has the kind of sound that is required for that kind of environment, harmlesss background music that nobody is really paying attention to. That's why you wouldn't get away with something like Scriabin's Black Mass sonata if you're a cocktail pianist, it draws the attention far too much...

[thalbergmad]

I mean, Schönberg, Xenakis, Ferneyhough and Finnissy probably wouldn't really fit the bill...

That would probably warrant an abandon ship and it's every man for himself.

I would rather take my chances with the sharks than listen to any of that nonsense.

Thal

[ahinton]

That would probably warrant an abandon ship and it's every man for himself.

I would rather take my chances with the sharks than listen to any of that nonsense.

Pity the evidently abandoned "women and children first" tradition! You'd not in any case have to be at sea (as you seem to be with that music) in order to avail yourself of an opportunity to take chances with sharks; you'd have only to go to your local high street bank.

Planning on going on a cruise, are you?

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

Pity the evidently abandoned "women and children first" tradition!

Well, the Italians have set a precedent.

Thal

[birba]

Well, the Italians have set a precedent.

Thal

In fact Churchill adored the italian cruises.  "First-rate cuisine, excellent service, and none of this women and children first rubbish."

[costicina]

  :(I'm afraid Thal is referring to the shameful tragedy  of the Concordia: the Italian captain in his foolinesh provoked a shipwreck near the Isola del Giglio, then  abandoned the ship, refusing to came back and to save the poor passengers....

The public image of Italy is steadily improving 

[thalbergmad]

I rather suspect that the amount of people going on a cruise this year will fall slightly.

That Italian Captain has probably damaged the Cruise Industry and we must be grateful that the incident was close to port.

Thal

[flyinfingers]

My sister is on a cruise right now!
Three's plenty for me -- don't like being held hostage!

If you're serious about this, I would look into the living arrangements on board and all the rules you'll be expected to follow.  Years ago I had a friend who worked on a cruise line at the perfume counter, and she said it was horrible living on a cruise ship as an employee and that she tried to get off the ship and they wouldn't let her. 
Just relaying her experience.  Maybe it's improved.   This is many, many years ago.   I think she was on Princess cruise lines.  I know Carnival is not the most prestigious cruise line of the many that are out there.
Hey, Italians aren't all bad!   

[wendling]

We recently were on a Queen Mary 2 cruse. The pianist played mostly show tune and clasical pieces. Cunard lines who operates the QM is owned by the Carnival Corp.
Just a thaught to keep in mind.
John  

[costicina]

Hey, Italians aren't all bad!   

I hope you'll include me in the 'good ones' category 

P.S. I'm a 'cat person', but your pet is absolutely lovely!!!!!

[brogers70]

There are quite a few cruises on which pianists give recitals of the kind of repertoire that they could as easily play in concert halls, although choices have to be made judiciously - I mean, Schönberg, Xenakis, Ferneyhough and Finnissy probably wouldn't really fit the bill...

Best,

Alistair

Sorabji on the other hand......

[flyinfingers]

I hope you'll include me in the 'good ones' category 

P.S. I'm a 'cat person', but your pet is absolutely lovely!!!!!

Thank you.  She's a mix of toy poodle and yorkshire terrier, but she's so pretty cause she got the white fur (not that common) and those lovely poodle ears and the brains too!

Sorry to screw up the thread, just wanted to say thank you.  She's family!
Ciao!  Prego!

[lostinidlewonder]

If you are playing in a dining enviroment then you need to play cocktail piano. You need to play pieces which people know and can sing to. Most people who are on cruisers are older than middle aged so you need to play a lot of popular music from the 40s onwards. If you play classical music you are limited to only the ones which are most popular, if you do anything else you will not be apprecaited.

Heres some music that might interest you:
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=36944.0
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=19860.0  (arensky offers some good piece suggestions)

[oxy60]

Try to talk to people who have been on cruises and who can remember what the pianist played. On Holland America ships there is a big grand piano on a balcony overlooking a two deck dining room. And there is a piano bar.

Beyond that I can't be of much help because  the only cruises I was on were chartered for the blues. I only heard the pianos played by big names for shows. During dinner and cocktails we had silence. The ship's musicians hid. However we once spotted them and asked them to sit in on a jam to which they declined.

[ahinton]

Sorabji on the other hand......

......has been performed in recital on a cruise liner to considerable success when Donna Amato gave two performances of his Fantaisie Espagnole on 31 October 1991 on P&O's Canberra in recital programmes entitled "The Exotic Piano", which is almost certainly not something that anyone could truthfully claim in respect of the Suite Op. 25, Evryali, English Country-Tunes or Lemma-Icon-Epigram respectively by the four composers whose names I mentioned above...

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

......has been performed in recital on a cruise liner to considerable success when Donna Amato gave two performances of his Fantaisie Espagnole on 31 October 1991 on P&O's Canberra in recital programmes entitled "The Exotic Piano", which is almost certainly not something that anyone could truthfully claim in respect of the Suite Op. 25, Evryali, English Country-Tunes or Lemma-Icon-Epigram respectively by the four composers whose names I mentioned above...

If it was that much of a success, one has to question why this astounding feat has not been repeated in the 20 years since?

Thal

[redbaron]

Sorabji on the other hand......

Tell me about it. It's almost as irritating as the pretentiously long sentences and questionnable grammar.

[redbaron]

And appears with as much predictability.

[ahinton]

If it was that much of a success, one has to question why this astounding feat has not been repeated in the 20 years since?

One doesn't actually have to, but one may if one so chooses; that said, it may well have been repeated for all that I know. Why, however, would that matter in the context in which what I wrote was that the piano music of four other composers that I named would not expect to find itself on recital programmes given on cruise liners? Do try to stick to the point!

Best,

Alistair

[ahinton]

Tell me about it. It's almost as irritating as the pretentiously long sentences and questionnable grammar.

I've already told that member about it. When so doiong, however, I did not also tell him/her about Sorabji's apparently alleged "pretentiously long sentences and questionnable[sic] grammar" for a number of reasons not least of which is that it has nothing whatsoever to do with the topic and, while we're about it, one might equally raise the matter of questionable spelling by pointing out that the word "questionable" has only one "n".

Best,

Alistair

[ahinton]

And appears with as much predictability.

You must presumably know brogers70 better than I, for I could not have predicted that he/she would raise the subject and I imagine that plenty of other members could not have done so either.

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

One doesn't actually have to, but one may if one so chooses; that said, it may well have been repeated for all that I know.

Surely you would know if it has.

Would you not have to approve all public performances??

Thal

[ahinton]

Surely you would know if it has.

Would you not have to approve all public performances??

No; whatever gave you that idea?

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

No; whatever gave you that idea?

I thought Public performances of Copyrighted works needed the permission of the Copyright holder.

Obviously I was wrong, so it is all steam ahead for my Sorabji recital at the Gravesend Deaf Society next month.

Thal

[pnogirl]

I agree with redbaron's idea of playing Satie's pieces.  They are perfect for this type of situation.  How about some Debussy, such as the girl with the flaxen hair?  That piece always goes over well, when I play it, and it slower music.  I would recommend playing Misty by Erroll Garner.  It sounds beautiful on the piano, is jazzy, and is always great for cocktail music.  Hope this helps!

[ahinton]

I thought Public performances of Copyrighted works needed the permission of the Copyright holder.

Again, no, except in the case of unpublished works; the only factor that applies here is that the public performance of copyright works usually obliges the licensee of the performance venue to include them on returns to the royalty collecting agency in the country concerned (i.e. MCPS/PRS in UK) and to remit those royalties thereto when they fall due.

Obviously I was wrong, so it is all steam ahead for my Sorabji recital at the Gravesend Deaf Society next month.

Whilst I wouldn't work up too much of "a head" of "steam" on this if I were you, I'm nevertheless curious (as no doubt other forum members may also be) as to which works you propose to perform there, where exactly the performance is scheduled to take place on what date at what time and whether anyone (besides the performer) with hearing will be allowed to attend.

Best,

Alistair

[black_keys]

I think you should choose "popular pieces" because most of people dont like musics or styles that they're not familiar with , and dont look only for hard pieces , people also enjoy with some of (very) easy pieces