LaChiusa music?

[Ariel03]

Posted: 8/6/03 at 3:14pm

Aside from Wild Party, Hello Again, and Marie Christine, is there anything else out there that I could grab a solo from? Single songs? I'm an alto looking for something else he's written.

[robbiej]

Posted: 8/6/03 at 3:19pm

Try his 'First Lady Suite' and 'Little Fish'. The latter may be tough to find but 'First Lady Suite' just came out on CD.

Also, track 11 of Audra McDonald's Happy Songs is one damn fine LaChiusa song 'I See What I Wanna See'.

Posted: 8/6/03 at 3:57pm

Don't forget Jon and Jen with Carolee Carmello. It's a two person show, and it's wonderful, has some wonderful solos and duets. It's being re-released on cd soon, with no extras.

[Ariel03]

Posted: 8/6/03 at 4:04pm

Any ideas where I could track down sheet music for any of these? "See what I wanna see" sounds interesting.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 8/6/03 at 4:07pm

'Jon and Jen' was composed by Andrew Lippa.

Posted: 8/6/03 at 4:13pm

o crap, soooo my bad, lol.

[broadwayguy86]

Posted: 8/6/03 at 9:52pm

Isn't THE WILD PARTY written solely by Andrew Lippa? How is LaChiusa associated with it?

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 8/6/03 at 9:54pm

There are two versions of The Wild Party, one was composed by Lippa, one by LaChiusa.

[MusicMan]

Posted: 8/7/03 at 5:36pm

And both "Parties," along with every other title mentioned on this thread, are just plain awful. Do yourself and your auditors a favor and avoid this kind of inaccessible material at auditions (unless specifically requested or auditioning for the show)---it won't do a thing for you. Trust me---I'm a conductor/vocal coach and know from whence I speak. Updated On: 8/7/03 at 05:36 PM

[Songsstresss]

Posted: 8/7/03 at 8:05pm

Ariel, not everyone shares Music Mans distaste for these works. Personally, I LOVE the Lippa Wild Party and there are some killer solos in it for alto/belters! For auditions, just make sure you choose a piece that will showcase YOUR strengths and don't limit yourself because some people don't like the music. If you do that, you'll never be able to choose a song because EVERYONE has different tastes.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 8/7/03 at 9:56pm

Well, at least we agree on SOME things, MusicMan!

Posted: 8/7/03 at 10:45pm

Surprise JohnPopa, all 3 of us agree on this one! LOL

Yours for a better Broadway!

[MusicMan]

Posted: 8/7/03 at 10:56pm

" We are the musketeers,
Bold, dashing musketeers..."

[King Stevos]

Posted: 8/8/03 at 4:00am

I think that the main problem with singing La chuisa or Lippa woudl be the complications with the difficulty of the accompiament. I have music director friends who want to kill people when they lay down Lippa, La Chuisa, or JR Brown, not to mention Sondheim. Music Man should have elaborated on this, which is where his comment about specifically asking for most likely comes from.

John and Jen, is a great score, but its hard to gain access to. I have one song from it, I love it, but it isn't the nicest piece for pianists.

STEVOS

[Albin]

Posted: 8/8/03 at 8:32am

LaChiusa music=pretentious crap.

[Ariel03]

Posted: 8/8/03 at 10:27am

I'd like to elaborate -- the request for a LaChiusa song was because he's doing a master class out here in Nebraska in September and I'd like to sing something other than "Tom". I don't necessarily enjoy every single piece he's composed/written, but I believe some of them are incredible pieces for belters like myself. To call it all "pretentious crap" is to make a blanket statement for the sake of making a point.

[MusicMan]

Posted: 8/8/03 at 10:53am

King Stevos, your supposition is incorrect. Though difficult accompaniments are certainly liabilities in the audition hall, these songs are generally unsuitable audition material because their dense, prosaic (as opposed to poetic) and complicated lyric-writing make it needlessly difficult for the performer to activate and make any sense of them. In addition, the song's CONTEXT is usually not universal but so specific to the show for which it was written that the actor MUST assume that character, which is pretty much pointless, unless one is auditioning for that role in particular or one very much like it. The end result is that the SONG instead of the performer winds up being front-'n-center.
Updated On: 8/8/03 at 10:53 AM

[MusicMan]

Posted: 8/8/03 at 11:01am

The idea of LaChiusa, who has yet to write a score or show of any significance or appeal, hosting a master class is in itself pretentious.

[Ariel03]

Posted: 8/8/03 at 12:32pm

Sorry you feel that way, but spewing forth your apparent dislike for the man doesn't really do any good. It doesn't change the fact that I happen to enjoy some of his music and look forward to possibly performing for a composer whose music I happen to perform on a regular basis.

All you have done is let it be known that you're a close minded individual who manages to insult other people for liking something you don't. Way to support the musical theatre community.

[MusicMan]

Posted: 8/8/03 at 12:49pm

Since neither of my posts addressed you or your tastes, Ariel03, your charge is unfounded. And one of the best ways to support the musical theatre community is by refusing to applaud pretension and mediocrity. 'Nuff said.

[Ariel03]

Posted: 8/8/03 at 1:03pm

"The idea of LaChiusa, who has yet to write a score or show of any significance or appeal, hosting a master class is in itself pretentious."

"And both "Parties," along with every other title mentioned on this thread, are just plain awful."

Yes, it was an insult to my taste. Read what you wrote. Then, leave people alone for enjoying something you don't. I'm sure there is something you happen to enjoy/respect that I don't. I was simply making an inquiry into some different song titles. You are the one who decided to start the insults.

Thanks to everyone who had valid suggestions.

[MusicMan]

Posted: 8/8/03 at 3:49pm

First off, dearie, there were other posts I was responding to besides yours. Secondly, my opinions were made about the SONGS, not on your character for liking them. But it's apparent you're just a little too full of yourself and way too s-s-s-sensitive. Take that as an insult, if you must.