| From: Karen Mercedes To: VOCALIST <vocalist> Subject: Re: Recital theme for a mixed group Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>
On Wed, 12 Jan 2000, Molly McLinden wrote:
> Hi list, > > I got a great suggestion from another lister about > doing a recital with a group of others at a church. > If I get the OK, I would love to do this. > I need a great theme. Funny things work best. > This group would include all types of singers at the > college level who sing pop, classical, and musical > theatre.
With that mix, I'd definitely suggest you look at possibilities by Stephen Sondheim and Kurt Weill. Sondheim, in particular, wrote some viciously funny lyrics ("Could I Leave You?" is an all-time favourite of mine), as well as some very touching and also some strikingly cynical lyrics. You can also find some good funny numbers in Weill (the Jealousy duet for two legit sopranos from THREEPENNY OPERA is wickedly funny; the Saga of Jenny from LADY IN THE DARK is more traditionally musical-theatre comedic), particularly if you're into dark/sardonic wit, which abounded in his early output with Berthold Brecht.
There are possibilities for all voice types (including duets and ensembles for "legit" and "belt" voices in all sorts of combinations, in these two composers' output. You'll find "legit" (classically trained) options in:
Sondheim: SWEENEY TODD, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, EVENING PRIMROSE, Soundtrack of "The Seven Percent Solution", PASSION
Weill: DER DREIGROSCHENOPER (THE THREEPENNY OPERA), AUFSTIEG UND FALL DER STADT MAHAGONNY (RISE AND FALL OF THE CITY OF MAHAGONNY), STREET SCENE, LOST IN THE STARS, KNICKERBOCKER HOLIDAY
As for "belting" options for men and women, in Sondheim they're virtually endless. In Weill, take a look at his Broadway output (excluding the shows I mentioned above that were/are normally cast with "legit" singers because of the vocal demands.
If you want suggestions of specific songs by these composers, based on vocal category and style, let me know.
Karen Mercedes ===== There is delight in singing, tho' none hear Beside the singer. - Walter Savage Landor ----- MY WEB PAGE: http://www.radix.net/~dalila/index.html MY NEIL SHICOFF PAGE: http://www.radix.net/~dalila/shicoff/shicoff.html
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