Favorite Numbers with Counterpoint

[sephyr]

Posted: 1/6/15 at 12:21am

What are some of your favorite musical theatre songs that use counterpoint in melody/lyrics (i.e. singers singing different melodies at the same time)? Mine would be Hello 12, Hello 13 (with the quirky discord of the ensemble that gradually becomes lush and warm) and Soon (Now/Soon/Later all going at the same time), Phantom's "Prima Donna," "For Good" (Wicked) and many others. I love when musicals use this device and find it to be unique and refreshing.

[mamaleh]

Posted: 1/6/15 at 12:28am

"You're Just in Love" (CALL ME MADAM) comes quickly to mind.
Does GUYS & DOLLS' "Fugue for Tinhorns" qualify?

[sephyr]

Posted: 1/6/15 at 12:44am

I think Fugue definitely qualifies. I forgot how fun that song is!!

[Sally Durant Plummer]

Posted: 1/6/15 at 12:48am

"You're Gonna Love Tomorrow / Love Will See Us Through" from Follies.
"Now / Later / Soon" from A Little Night Music
Kiss Me Quartet from Sweeney Todd
Not nessesarily counterpoint, but the finale reprise of "I Wish I Could Forget You" from Passion gives me chills.

[Lovinbroadway2]

Posted: 1/6/15 at 12:53am

Tonight Quintet in West Side Story is stunning.
Also One from Chorus Line

[Lovinbroadway2]

Posted: 1/6/15 at 12:56am

Oh, forgot about Johanna Quartet in Sweeney Todd. And yeah, Prima Donna.

[rcwr]

Posted: 1/6/15 at 1:43am

Lily's Eyes from Secret Garden

[After Eight]

Posted: 1/6/15 at 3:12am

The Tea Party (Dear World)
An Old-Fashioned Wedding (Annie Get Your Gun)
Coney Island Boat/In the Good Old Summertime (By the Beautiful Sea)
Pine Cones and Holly Berries/It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas (Here's Love)
When You're Far Away Frim New York Town (Jennie)
Love Let Me Know (Let It Ride)
Playing Croquet/Swinging/How Do You Do? (Little Mary Sunshine)

[Fan123]

Posted: 1/6/15 at 3:19am

There are some good ones mentioned in the old thread linked below. I'd also add 'If Only' (The Little Mermaid) and 'All The Things You Are' (Very Warm For May).
Old thread

[Fantod]

Posted: 1/6/15 at 9:41am

I can't remember my music theory. Is counterpoint just numbers where two or more things are sung on top of each other? If so, then some stuff in Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, like When the Buds are Blossoming in Ruddigore.

[JRybka]

Posted: 1/6/15 at 10:15am

One Day More from "Les Miserables"

Also it is not from a cast recording but there is an arrangement of
I Dreamed a Dream that Julia McKenzie did on her Broadway Album and the violin counter medley/counter point is stunning. Gets me every time.

Posted: 1/6/15 at 10:19am

Model of Decorum and Tranquility- CHESS

[imeldasturn]

Posted: 1/6/15 at 10:20am

Oh, my favourite are "By Strauss" from Nice Work if you can Get it, Prima Donna from Phantom, Johanna Quarter from Sweeney, Soon from a ALNM, Another Winter in a summer town from Grey Gardens

Updated On: 1/6/15 at 10:20 AM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 1/6/15 at 10:36am

"I Still Believe" from MISS SAIGON is one that stands out for me.

Posted: 1/6/15 at 11:21am

The beautiful Love Changes Everything, I Do't Know How to Love Him, Unexpected Song Medley by Audra MacDonald, Judy Kuhn and Marin Mazzie for Women of Braodway at Carnegie Hall https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hViI7ioC-5c

[bwayobsessed]

Posted: 1/6/15 at 11:48am

Esmeralda from "The Hunchback of Notre Dame"

this recording is from the Berlin Production
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7x_zUnM2uAM

[ErinDillyFan]

Posted: 1/6/15 at 12:18pm

"You're Just in Love" from Call Me Madam is probably my favorite
"Tonight" quintet from West Side Story
"Pick-a-little, Talk-a-little/Good Night Ladies" from The Music Man
"Goodnight My Someone/76 trombones" from The Music Man
"All for the Best" from Godspell
"In The Same Boat" from Curtains
"An Old Fashion Weddin" from Annie Get Your Gun

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/6/15 at 1:22pm

Life is Happiness Indeed and Act I Quartet Finale from Candide
Two's Company and The Goldfarb Variations from The Magic Show

[dtzumbrunnen]

Posted: 1/6/15 at 2:59pm

I love what the Now. Here. This. team does, especially in More Life. 9 People's Favorite Thing has it as well in [Title of Show].
Around 1:40 here

[Fantod]

Posted: 1/6/15 at 3:04pm

I also love Old Fashioned Wedding from Annie Get Your Gun as well as 76 Trombones/Goodnight My Someone from Music Man.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 1/6/15 at 5:28pm

In point of fact ""Goodnight My Someone/76 Trombones" are NOT sung in counterpoint In THE MUSIC MAN. Instead, Harold and Marian alternate lines in the second act reprise (each singing lines from the other's song).

Now, obviously, the two songs were written to be performed as counterpoint, but there was so much counterpoint in the show--in addition to "Pick a Little"/Good Night Ladies", there is "Lida Rose"/"Will I Ever Tell You"--it was decided to not perform "Someone"/"Trombones" as originally intended.

Updated On: 1/6/15 at 05:28 PM

[Michael Kras]

Posted: 1/6/15 at 10:06pm

Songs with counterpoint are total ear porn to me. Here are some favourites:

It All Comes Back - Fun Home
Parade of Souls - Eastland
On My Way - Violet
Hey Good Lookin' - Dogfight
Hundred Story City- Ordinary Days
Rooftop Duet - Ordinary Days
That's What He Said - Parade
Where Will You Stand When the Flood Comes? - Parade
The Party - Adding Machine
Blackout - In the Heights
Into the Night - A Minister's Wife

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 1/6/15 at 10:16pm

So much counterpoint in PARADE.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 1/6/15 at 10:18pm

The Confrontation from Les Miz.

[AHLiebross]

Posted: 1/6/15 at 10:33pm

In addition to "Prima Donna," Phantom has other contrapuntal pieces. The song in the cemetery has two or three melodies, depending on whether Raoul joins in early (as in the West End) or later in the song (as on Broadway, except since Norm Lewis has been playing the Phantom.) Additionally, the final lair scene has a contrapuntal section, where Raoul is asking for Christine's forgiveness (for what reason, I've never figured out -- maybe for failing to rescue her) and Christine is singing that the Phantom is her false friend and fallen idol. Since my brain is currently fried, I can't remember whether the Phantom is singing at the same time -- I think he is.

Audrey