Favorite orchestral harmonies in shows- Page 2

[Josh Freilich]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 9:51am

Love the piano on "Henry Ford" and the trumpets on "Fire in the City".

Love it.

[JustChillin8908]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 2:28pm

I love the orchestration to No Good Deed from Wicked.

In fact almost every song from Wicked is well done.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 8:54pm

Sorry Josh, I'm a woodwind girl

[Josh Freilich]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 9:02pm

Well, wickedrentq, Evita, Cats, Phantom, Les Miz, Cabaret, and Ragtime do have their share of brass. Just thought you might want to know.

I also love all the orchestrations to ASSASSINS!

[MTQ]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 9:11pm

In "This Nearly Was Mine" (South Pacific) when the orchestra plays the melody of "Some Enchanted Evening".

Similarly, in "Being Alive" (Company) when the orchestra plays the melody of "Someone is Waiting".

Both of these moments really get me.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 9:21pm

Overture Delle Donne....the vocal harmonies are astounding

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 2:03am

Umm...I meant I play the woodwinds. Well listen to them a bit more maybe, but not trying to say that I don't care at all for brass...

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 2:30am

Josh, you look too young to miss those old movies ;P Really though, this is a great thread. I'm having a hard time thinking of anything because I'm already listening to music but I'll come back to this tomorrow. Here's some random ones I can think of:

"Beautiful" from Sunday in the Park with George, when George is singing, and the counter melodies play. That just kills me. Really, the whole score is very intricate and so heartbreaking and moving...
All of Light in the Piazza, of course.
All of Floyd Collins. I can't believe this one hasn't been mentioned yet! Particularly "How Glory Goes" of course, a song that could probably make me cry without the vocal line. I love the tension in the song and the slow build of emotion and everything. I'm listening to it now :) I think I've worn this CD to pieces.
MTQ, I put "This Nearly Was Mine" on to listen for that. I've never noticed that, it's so subtle! I nearly died! That's HEARTBREAKING.
There's a lot of texture in Follies that I really get into.
The vocal writing in Nine is amazing, I agree. Have you heard "The Germans at the Spa"?

[Eastwickian]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 4:48am

The entire brass section in the London Guys and Dolls orchestra are amazing, helped by some stunning new arrangements

The original Martin Guerre prologue, with that first simple theme being passed around the orchestra.

And all of Piazza

[Enjolras77]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 9:51am

The 1996 London cast recording of Boublil & Schonberg's Martin Guerre has an amazing orchestral score. Especially on the song "All I Know". Too bad this show never could get it together completely, the music is fantastic.

[Josh Freilich]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 9:52am

That's what I hear... they're by one of my favorite orchestrators, Doug Besterman. He always writes some great stuff and I can't wait to hear his charts for "Tarzan!"

[Kevinoes]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 9:59am

Light in the Piazza - a lot there, but one that strikes me especially is the openiong of "Say it Somehow" with the strings. Gorgeous!

Wicked - there ARE some nice orchestrations here especially during the chorus of "Defying Gravity" and those minor chords. And that repetetive right hand rhythm. Chills!

Ditto on WEST SIDE STORY

[Wicked Lovin' Guy]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 10:11am

I have to agree and say that Light in the Piazza...I mean you can't pick out just one number, they are all beautifully orchestrated...

also, I will have to say Wicked's orchestrations I think may be underrated by some...they are quite good...

but of all time, I would have to say Sweeney Todd has orchestra harmonies second to none.

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 10:40am

The orchestrations to "A Chorus Line" are pretty brilliant... and they contain NO string instruments (or keyboard likenesses). Amazing when you think about how rich they are, even without strings.

I particularly love all the nuances in the "Hello, Twelve" montage(s).

Updated On: 2/20/06 at 10:40 AM

[Josh Freilich]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 11:14am

I should know. I played them.

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 11:21am

Is that a comment about my post... or are you just bragging?

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 5:23pm

I think it's bragging ;p

[MarkCohen]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 5:53pm

Speaking of brass harmony, the beginning of "No Place Like London" needs mentioning.

Also, just sitting down and listening to the piano part for Send in the Clowns is chilling. Also the clarinet solo of the the same song is great.

[Josh Freilich]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 7:53pm

I WASN'T BRAGGING!
That was a comment on your post. And yes, I did play keyboard II in "A Chorus Line". But the downside is, I played it on synth because they couldn't find another organ or stuff like that. Sorry.

[JLSatUD]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 8:12pm

I like the orchestration in the middle part of "Fantasies Come True" from Avenue Q. When I first got the CD we referred to that part as the "Sunset Blvd" section of the show.

[Josh Freilich]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 8:17pm

The one where the alto sax starts the melody, and then a flourish from the piano and then the electric guitar takes it up and then the piano starts going all melodramatic and then "You and me..." that one?

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 9:34pm

Oh sorry dude. Can't speak for best12 but I was just joking wit'cha.

[ALWrules]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 10:15pm

In I'll Know from Guys and Dolls, the French horn does this little counter melody when Sky comes in and I think it is absolutely gorgeous.

[MarkCohen]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 10:20pm

Eek, how could we miss the french horn in SITPWG.

[Josh Freilich]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 1:51pm

Oh yeah, the French Horn in "Sunday".
I love it so much.

I also like the orchestrations to "L5Y" (try to imagine playing those charts with a symphony-size orchestra, that way the violin SECTION would play the part written for solo violin - just sounds beautiful with 14 violinists, and the cello section splits the parts into two for the two cello parts, that would be cool).

I also love the brassy orchestrations in "FOSSE," "HAIRSPRAY," "DREAMGIRLS," "DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS," and "LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS '03".