Anyone think that Broadway is too tenor happy?

[sleepyguy1717]

Posted: 1/12/08 at 4:33pm

Now I'm a tenor 2 with a nice lower register and a belt up to F# or sometimes G natural (but I tend to shy away from that because its not consitent). And I've always thought that being a tenor was kinda special. But does anyone else think that Broadway was is a little TOO tenor happy? When you've got a big chunk of roles that require belting G#s, As, and even Bs above middle C, that can't be too good for a male range. Even with all the amazingly talented men who can do it, it can't be healthy to do it 8 times a week, can it? Even I can sing up to those notes, but not at all full blastissimo.

Any thoughts?

[BNN]

Posted: 1/12/08 at 5:35pm

I do think that the "modern" era of Broadway is a little tenor happy but I think that is only because the lead actors of shows typically tend to be younger, although there are alot of cases to refute that idea. There seems to be some obsession with forcing singers to sing as high as their natural voices will let them, and people eat it up, but I do think it is equally enjoyable to watch a baritone sing a song without having to burst blood vessels in his neck to do so.

There are times when I wish I was a tenor, but they aren't too frequent.

[Boq101]

Posted: 1/12/08 at 6:19pm

Most new shows are very rock and pop-oriented, tenors get leads. Sucks, I'm a tenor 1 but very untrained, so I usually sing tenor 2 in most shows I do because my technique isn't anywhere near where it should be. Things happen, shows close, others open. It's not so long ago that musicals were Soprano happy, now it's all about the damn mezzo with a power belt. Is that healthy?

[myshikobit]

Posted: 1/12/08 at 10:31pm

Yes! At one point in my life, me and everyone else I knew thought my voice had settled down and that I was a tenor. Then a year later it plummets down to a baritone. Yet all the new musicals force us to pump helium into our veins...

Updated On: 1/12/08 at 10:31 PM

[ohjustjake]

Posted: 1/12/08 at 11:07pm

Oh totally. Do you notice in musicals that schools do, the male lead is usually a tenor? Which sucked because I'm a baritone (but I have the same range as you, maybe you're a baritone in the making? haha).

But as Boq101 said, a lot of shows have more of a pop feel to them which requires a tenor voice I suppose. I thought I heard somewhere that people like higher male voices or something. I tend to disagree.

[Juliash]

Posted: 1/13/08 at 8:04am

Good story...a boy I know from community theatre who is about 12 or 13 and is a tenor told my voice teacher at his first lesson that he wanted to be Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys and she says "Well you'd have to get castrated...but I guess anything is possible!"

[sleepyguy1717]

Posted: 1/13/08 at 11:42am

Same with my high school! All the leads are always tenors. And the thing is...I'm one of the the only two tenors. And I'm only a second tenor (It did snag me the Minstrel in Once Upon a Mattress though, which is nice as an underclassman) I wouldn't mind if there was more of a variety of voice parts for different roles. Like maybe lowering the belting expectation. I'm only speaking for tenor twos here but I'm sure the baritones would agree. :)

[Broadway_Bound_Star]

Posted: 1/13/08 at 6:25pm

Yes! As a baritone that can sing very limited tenor, I know the feeling. There arn't many songs out there that I can sing.

[Joshua488]

Posted: 1/13/08 at 9:58pm

As a baritone, I have to disagree with your statement, Broadway_Bound_Star. There is a plethora of baritone material to sing; you just have to do your research. There is so much more than just what's on Broadway right now. Updated On: 1/13/08 at 09:58 PM

[Broadway_Bound_Star]

Posted: 1/13/08 at 10:25pm

Really? I know a ton of shows and there isn't much music in my range. I know the classic baritone role, such as South Pacific. But what else? I've sang I am what I am from La Cage, and Fallin' from They're Playing Our Song, but seriously, there are just more songs for tenors out there.

[sleepyguy1717]

Posted: 1/13/08 at 11:07pm

Well, yes there are a lot of songs for tenors out there. But I have The Singer's Musical Theater Anthology vol. 1-4 for both Tenors and Baritones. And I have to say, there is some GOOD stuff in the baritone book. You might want to check it out.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 1/14/08 at 10:31pm

I agree that Broadway is WAY too tenor happy. It also pisses me off when tenors are given baritone roles.

[RunningInTheDark]

Posted: 1/15/08 at 1:57pm

Aside from the given few, MOST "tenor" songs on Broadway only go up to an A, or maybe a G, which is what a "ture" baritone should be able to sing. I'm a tenor in the musical theatre sense, but no WAY could I naturally reach a high C without significant training. My voice teacher (a bass) can reach an F, and I think a natural baritone should be able to reach a G at least. Think Brian Stokes Mitchell.

[sleepyguy1717]

Posted: 1/15/08 at 4:23pm

My music theory book says that the classical bass is E2-D4, baritone A2-F4, and tenore D3-C5.

But that's just my text.

[nate2]

Posted: 1/15/08 at 4:39pm

I'm a baritone and I can belt all the way up to an F and G. Then I start going into falsetto

[defyingravity11]

Posted: 1/15/08 at 10:28pm

Yes! Currnetly, most leads on broadway are tenors. The only exception I can think of is The Color Purple. Looking back through musical theatre history, there are many bass/baritone roles. I tend to think it has to do with the current phenomenon of high belting leading ladies (their romantic interest is usually a high tenor).

[actress_06]

Posted: 1/15/08 at 10:44pm

i agree...not that I have a lot of expertise with the male voice, but I am of the opinion that a baritone is one of the sexiest things on the planet. A man with talent, and a great lower register is amazing. I always get chills when I hear singers like Brian Stokes Mitchell who has got the type of voice that when it gets down to the lower portions is just kind of bores into your soul and reverberates through out the listeners body. Just my opinion though. So if you've got a lower voice don't be discouraged, just play to your strengths.

Kaija