The Evolution of the Drum Set in American Musical Theater

For several decades, American musical theater has been an essential part of the entertainment industry and has provided large-scale employment for musicians. Over the past several decades, composers have produced new works incorporating contemporary music styles and ensembles. This project will explore the changes in music styles in the music of musical theater from vaudeville to the present, analyze the effect that popular music in America has had on the techniques used by composers and orchestrators who write for drum set in musical theater, and examine changes in the function of the drum set player in pit orchestras. Ultimately, this research study will identify patterns in how the role of drum set players in pit orchestras has expanded and changed over time by examining the role of drum set players in several essential eras of American musical theater history. The researcher will complete this project through an extensive literature review, interviews with drummers and percussionists, and analyses of Broadway musical scores and drum set parts.