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An interview with OSM principal trumpet, Adam Bhatia
OSM: What is your principal instrument and do you play any others?
Bhatia: My principal instrument is the trumpet, but there are many variations to this. We primarily play on C trumpets in the orchestra, but also use B-flat trumpets for pops concerts and more commercial music. Then there's the piccolo trumpet which is half the size of a regular B-flat trumpet, and is popular to use for Baroque music due to its smaller, more pure sound, and easier facility in the high range. My personal favorite is the flugelhorn, which has a darker, more sinuous sound. The flugelhorn I play has a high copper content so it looks unique and I always get a lot of questions about it.
OSM: Would you list some of your film studio work?
Bhatia: Some examples of films that I have played in include "Spiderman Homecoming", "The House With a Clock in its Walls", and the upcoming "Big City Greens" movie. In addition to films, I have played on documentaries, video games, and some TV shows including "Star Girl", "Agent Carter", and "American Dad", including others.
OSM: Can you briefly describe what it’s like to do studio work, How does this differ from performing on stage?
Bhatia: In the studio, we live with a click track (like a metronome), providing a steady tempo for most of the things we record, and allowing the music to align with the film in exactly the intended way. Typically we will record until everyone gets a passage right, and then record a “safety,” or backup in case something is missed. Of course you wouldn’t want to, but one can miss something difficult 10 times, but as long as they can get it for the recording, all is covered. Live, you get one chance! In the studio, every little detail is scrutinized, but for live performances, we use rehearsal to work out the issues and then perform to the best of our ability.
OSM: Do you know anything about the film story prior to recording?
Bhatia: Often times the composer will give a little backstory, or someone from the production team will give some insight as to what we are playing for. During the session, a large screen behind the orchestra will show the clips from the movie for which the music is being recorded.
OSM: What do you find most challenging and/or unique about film music?
Bhatia: What I love about film music is how the story can be told without a visual. When you hear the "Jaws" theme, or "Psycho" violin screeches, you know exactly what you are listening to. A challenge can be performing it to the composer’s standards and intentions. This is never heard before, original music for the most part, and the first time it has ever been played. I enjoy that every time we show up to a studio, the music is new.
OSM: Do you have any particularly noteworthy experiences or stories to share?
Bhatia: I do have a fun story about the first movie I was involved with! I was fresh out of UCLA, and the movie "The Soloist" was filming. It’s about a Juilliard trained cellist who suffers from schizophrenia and lives on the streets of L.A. Many of my colleagues and myself were chosen to sideline as students in the Juilliard orchestra. We first recorded the music at Sony Studios and were then to film at a high school in Long Beach. The scene which we were involved with takes place in 1970's New York…in the winter. On the filming days, the local weather was 96 degrees! I was wearing three layers of wool, including wool pants, and the makeup department fit a large wig on my head, using glue, tape, and pins, which was overkill considering I was playing trumpet and not stunt driving! The ensuing headache was relentless, and my wig fitter was fired! If you watch the movie, you can see me throwing a piece of a sandwich towards the back of Jamie Foxx’s head! As uncomfortable as the days were, we always have a good laugh about it.
OSM: Have you met and/or worked with any film composers that you would like to mention?
Bhatia: I will share the story of when I first met John Williams. When I was a student at UCLA, I was principal trumpet of the YMF Debut Orchestra in Los Angeles. We were performing at a gala hosted by Merv Griffin at the Beverly Hilton, and the honoree was Mr. Williams. Trumpets were placed about the audience to perform "Summon The Heroes" (written by Mr. Williams for the Atlanta Olympic Games), which features one of the all-time great trumpet solos. As principal trumpet, I had the honor of performing the solo, and sure enough, sitting 20 feet in front of me, was Mr. Williams! After the concert, I sheepishly approached him for a signature on my music to commemorate the day. I still have this hanging on my office wall!
OSM: Any other thoughts to add?
Bhatia: Playing a concert of film music is great fun. These are some of the iconic scores to the biggest movies. Growing up, you dream of playing these themes, and it is never lost on us to get to do it.
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