With Sonya's help and some influence elsewhere, I have been able to narrow down my final shortlist of songs that I will be performing this term. As I did not know many musicals, it was useful to get some support and I also spent considerable time searching for suitable songs.
Some songs that I had initially intended to choose for the repeotire have been left out due to incompatiblity with alternative choices. Although initally I felt I had little knowledge or experience of Musicals, as I studied various composers and era's, I found that I was familiar with more songs and musicals than I initially realised. THis is mostly because musicals have been adapted to films (or vice versa) and songs have become popularised (Many Sinatra songs are from musicals)
Sheldon and Bock
'Fiddler on the roof - If I were a rich man'
I have not seen the film or play, but I will need to part of the course. It is also a story I would like to review due to my own interest. I can not remeber how I originally came across this song, but I enjoyed the performance. I like the theme, the character and the style of the song and it has been a go to shower song ever since. The song tells a story of a man who has been persecuted. It reveals his inner thoughts of how he would be if he had money. How he too would have fatantasic things and that he would be considered important because of his wealth. The song shows how that a person of wealth is treated with astain simply because of their position. It is easy to be a rich person. The song is sung with a sense of iron, especially such as line " sit in the synagoguge and pray". He is saying "yeah, if I had Money, yes I could be in the position where I could stop working and pray, like you..." as if he is speaking to a rich person who mocks him.
Fortunately, the song was compatible with my other choices
Man of La Mancha
Mitch Ligh (Music) and Joe Darion (Lyrics)
The Impossible Dream
Les Miserable
Schonberg
Bring Him Home
I was introduced to this song by a singing tutor, who encouraged me to sing in my higher range by using this song. This is because I am comfortable in the bass range and easily full into the technique used singing for bass. This encouraged me to look at using the song for my vocal rep as I am some practice learning the song and it also shows my range. I have now heard this song many times already by various songs and feel some connection to the song.
SONDHEIM!
Sunday in the Park with George
Sondheim is considered the most complex, layered and authentic of each style and composer. It was difficult to find material for Sondheim as outside of 'West SIde Story' I had no experience of his musicals. West Side Story is not considered truly 'Sondheim'. Sonya was able to guide me towards this song. The lyrics and music are almost independent of each other. I see them as being in a rce to the bell. The bell in the song is a moment where the singing and music meet each other.
Hamilton
You'll be back
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Hamilton is one of my favourite musicals and possibly my favourite. It is a musical that was inluential in developing my interest in musical theatre. I like the style of the performance as it is mostly done in a rap and hip hop style. It works for musicals as the style is naturalistic. Most of the songs are musically upbeat, but the lyrics have darker meaning and deeper undertones. The Broadway version of Hamilton also contained a number of talented singers within the cast, that were natural singers, rather than actors singing. I choose this song because I have familiarity to it and it is performed by a solo male performer. Very few of the songs in Hamilton are perfomed solo.
Family Entertainment
If I can't Love her - Beauty and the beast
'Holiday Inn - White Christmas'
Irving Berlin
Backup Choices
Music of the Night has been a go to shower song for a while. The song is extensive but I had originally intended to use this song as part of my vocal repetoire. I like the song as it tells a story that refers to using the imagination to explore new worlds. The song also has many contrasting sections, with softer parts building to the powerful sections. My decision to drop this song was based on my preference for 'Bring him home'.
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