Adam Pascal and Wicked Song Transposition

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 8/20/04 at 12:52am

How many of you transpose sheet music for auditions into a better key for your voice and how many of you just use the key from the original sheet music?

And what keys do those of you who transpose it usually transpose it to?

(Sorry for the title, but no one was looking at this with the boring 'Transposition' title)

Updated On: 8/20/04 at 12:52 AM

[Seany]

Posted: 8/20/04 at 1:06am

I usually always sing songs in their original key. I hate transposing things, I just feel wrong doing it.

[LadyGuenevere]

Posted: 8/20/04 at 1:07am

If I have to transpose, I'll just find a different song, it usually isn't worth it for me to do that. There are tons of songs that I could audition with.

[Mattio98]

Posted: 8/20/04 at 1:14am

"I usually always sing songs in their original key. I hate transposing things, I just feel wrong doing it."

You shouldn't feel wrong about it. Most songs are written in an "open for negotiation" key and then changed for the performer who originates the role.

[QueenMuppet]

Posted: 8/20/04 at 1:15am

HA HA!!!! Very good!!! Read your subject and you immediately had my attention!!! HA!
Nice one. Can't answer your question though... can't sing!

QM

[amasis]

Posted: 8/20/04 at 1:18am

I try not to, but I've done it once or twice.

"(Sorry for the title, but no one was looking at this with the boring 'Transposition' title)" And thank you for the chuckle...

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 8/20/04 at 1:26am

Undiscovered---I saw that one. But it was slightly different from what I was asking. And with the abundance of Adam fans, why not?

Anyway, I've taken a little music theory, but is transposing a song from the key of C to the key of B-flat an "acceptable" transposition. I find the song sounds much better in the key of B-flat.

Updated On: 8/20/04 at 01:26 AM

[Mattio98]

Posted: 8/20/04 at 1:33am

There are really no "set-in-stone" transposition rules. You've gotta do it by ear. If it sounds good in that key, go for it. But I'd get a second opinion first just to make sure it sounds ok.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 8/20/04 at 2:19am

True. But usually doing something like going up or down just half a tone sounds odd. Stuff like that.

[Mattio98]

Posted: 8/20/04 at 2:20am

True.

[timote316]

Posted: 8/20/04 at 10:27am

The title is not fair! lol

Anyhoo, I basically echo what every one else says. If you must transpose, make sure it sounds good. A bad sounding song will certainly cost you any audition. Good luck!

[AnothaPartofMe]

Posted: 8/20/04 at 2:41pm

I agree that if a song is in a bad key for you, you shouldn't try singing it anyway-- unless the song is very right for the role you're auditioning for (i.e. I used CORNER OF THE SKY as my audition only once-- when I auditioned, and got the title role, in "Joseph..."), but I sang that in the original key.

To transpose a song, also, you can get a MIDI of the song-- use a sheet music writer on the computer to transpose it, then convert the MIDI in the new key to a WAV and use that accompaniment CD at the audition.

I also don't know if anyone just transposes to a specific key-- to transpose the song is to move it into a comfortable key for your voice, not whatever key you like singing in (I don't know anyone who has 'a key').

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 8/20/04 at 3:27pm

I can sing the song find in the key the sheet music is in. But since the composer never actually finished the work on the song, it was cut, i just thought it sounded a ton better in a different key.

And I was just more curious as to what the rest of you do, and not partuiculary looking for advice. Thanks, though.