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
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