Makin' Whoopee / Vibraphone Quartet
Makin’ Whoopee (1928), Walter Donaldson (1893-1947)
arr. Doug McKenzie and Steven Hemphill
arr. Doug McKenzie and Steven Hemphill
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Arranged for four vibraphones (one instrument necessarily being an extended 3.5 octave instrument), Makin’ Whoopee was originally created for the 1928 Broadway musical Whoopee! This two-mallet quartet version of composer Walter Donaldson’s long-standing lampooning of marriage (with lyricist Gus Khan), engages the pianistic configurations of Doug McKenzie. It also integrates elements of a “theatre work” (as a light spoof) with quartet members debating what jazz standard to play. The arrangement was created for the 2021 centennial celebration of the invention of the vibraphone, a uniquely American invention of the twentieth century.
With disruptive interjections and dialogue, each member has a suggested tune and performs a snippet of their preference, finally leading to Makin’ Whoopee. The fragmented jazz standards include Moanin’ by Bobby Timmons (1958), Billie’s Bounce by Charlie Parker (1945), Bye Bye Blackbird by Ray Henderson (lyrics by Mort Dixon; 1924), Killer Joe by Benny Golson (1960), Four by Miles Davis (1954), and Ain’t Misbehavin’ by Thomas “Fats” Waller & Harry Brooks (lyrics by Andy Razaf; 1929). American songwriter, pianist, and music publisher, Brooklyn-born Walter Donaldson served in World War I as a U.S. Army entertainer. Soon after the war he was hired by the Irving Berlin Music Company, leaving in 1928 to start his own publishing firm. With numerous hit popular songs, many co-created with lyricist Gus Kahn, Donaldson published approximately 600 original works, including music written for Hollywood’s motion picture industry and Broadway. Some of his most popular songs included Carolina in the Morning; My Baby Just Cares for Me; My Blue Heaven; Yes Sir, That’s My Baby; Little White Lies; You’re Driving Me Crazy; along with Makin’ Whoopee. See: video below |
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| score_-_makin_whoopee.pdf |
| vibe_1_-_makin_whoopee.pdf |
| vibe_2_-_makin_whoopee.pdf |
| vibe_3_-_makin_whoopee.pdf |
| vibe_4_-_makin_whoopee.pdf |
Video - Makin' Whoopee (vibraphone quartet) [5:07]