Thoughts on Lowering Keys and Artistic Integrity- Page 2

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 9/28/05 at 7:35pm

When do high notes equal edgy?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/28/05 at 7:35pm

I saw that play in NY. Craig, the maitre d from Sam's (nee Charlie's) was in it. I'll bet you were very funny in that part, DG.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 9/28/05 at 7:36pm

hmmmmm, now i wonder how much of that appaluse was for the monologue and how much for the monologuist?

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 9/28/05 at 7:36pm

Thus, DGrant, the criticism of the film isn't that Madonna had to sing lower--it's that she didn't possess the strength to her voice.

I BET there have been Evitas that didn't sing in the original keys.

Posted: 9/28/05 at 7:39pm

papa - THAT applause came at the end when the pants came off

Pal - it was REALLY a fun play to do - and I did have all the best lines!

Jerby - I think it's a visceral thing - there's something that heightens the tension a little when the notes are higher. Not sure how to explain this properly. I'm thinking of when there's a high screeching sound (NOT singing) and people's general reaction is to tense up. A lower tone doesn't seem to have that same effect. So I'm thinking that it works the same for vocal pitch levels.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 9/28/05 at 7:40pm

Please note that movie musicals ALWAYS lower the keys of songs. (It's another reason why I hate movies!) Listen to the soundtracks of THE SOUND OF MUSIC, THE KING AND I, WEST SIDE STORY--most of all the keys are lower. The reasoning is that the lower keys don't give audiences the "jolt" when the characters break out in song. The lower keys sound more "conversational".

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 9/28/05 at 7:42pm

ahhhh, the old whip off the drawers, eh?

Posted: 9/28/05 at 7:43pm

That 'jolt' that Dollypop refers to seems to be kind of what i'm trying (unsuccessfully) to reference.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 9/28/05 at 7:46pm

and which I alluded to earlier in this thread, particularly in matters of physics.

I am arguing both sides to this issue, but my stance (and the reason why) is the same as JohnPopa's--sometimes it does matter and sometimes it does not.

Posted: 9/28/05 at 7:48pm

Papa - i prefer the whip ON the drawers. Once they come off, then we move into straps and paddles.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/28/05 at 7:50pm

Exactly, jrby, the way that Roger Edens and Kay Thompson changed the keys of Judy Garland's arrangements from year to year, so that she would always be crescendoing at the top of her current range. This always gave her voice a desperate urgency, as if the next note might be her last. They all knew how effective those notes were, even when Judy didn't have many of them left.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 9/28/05 at 7:50pm

buckle up, eh?

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 9/28/05 at 7:53pm

Exactly, PJ.

I think usually it's just a cheap shot. An easy way to insult someone or "prove a point". And it just doesn't.

Posted: 9/28/05 at 7:53pm

Pal - that makes me think that the truest statement is what Jerby was talking about with just hitting the right emotional force for the range involved.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 9/28/05 at 7:57pm

Which even I can agree Madonna didn't always do.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 9/28/05 at 8:41pm

I knew people would have interesting, varying opinions on this subject.