In music, the Phrase "Don't show the whole gorilla" means to avoid giving full volume in any crescendos untill the song's climax, thus "hiding the gorilla". The phrase comes from king kong, in which the audience is teased and hinted at to what is behind the curtain when kong is captured.
Band Director:On this next run-through, use your phrasing and dynamics well, but Don't Show the Whole Gorilla untill measure 74.
by MExibone January 18, 2011