" Drink, Drink, Let the Toast Pass"

The Drinking Song comes from "The Student Prince" by Sigmund Romberg. It is just one of the songs from the show written in 1924. It does fit the 26 note scale as I found out a couple of months ago, although it does become a bit repetitive. A lot of music that repeats the theme, playes the repititions on different instruments and/or, octaves up or down. The little organ can't cope with this although  the repeat can be played on a different 'stop'.

However, the reason behind this post, is that I read today that some musicians are taking this 'Drinking' a bit too literally.

"Inappropriate use of alcohol in Britain's great orchestras is, according to musicians, endemic....ranging from drinking a pint before a concert to steady the nerves, to full-blown inebriation on stage."

"A recent incident involved one of the UK's most celebrated opera and ballet orchestras and its heavy brass section. The players were involved in only one of the three works being staged that night - and performed drunk."

It was claimed that "For musicians there can be so much captive time.... a lot of time and not many distractions. Frequently the only place to go is the pub, everywhere else is closed and there are no facilities backstage".

Because there has been so little research, it is hard to untangle whether drinking has increased in orchestras, in line with alcohol use generally in the UK.

Some musicians point to a gradual culture change. Older musicians recall a time when bars in venues were open before, during and after performances. That is no longer true, as employers have become more aware of the "dreaded" health and safety issues.