Most Difficult Musical Theatre Song

[LuvUrBatBoy]

Posted: 1/4/05 at 1:27am

So anyway yes there was probably a post like this within the past 2 years, but if there was...OH WELL!

Anyway, so yeah I used to think that Trouble from Music Man was the most difficult musical theatre song...the I discovered Company.

Not Getting Married....holy crap that is a hard-ass amazing song!

Any other difficult songs?

[pab]

Posted: 1/4/05 at 1:37am

I did not find "Trouble" to be that difficult a song to perform. A lot of words, mostly spoken to a rhythm, but not anywhere near as challenging as "Finishing the Hat" from SITPWG.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/4/05 at 1:42am

Sondheim mentioned "Someone Is Waiting" from Company as a song several actors (including Larry Kert) have told him they find very difficult to sing. He's said that there's something in the rhythm and the chord changes (he's not sure what) that several singers have told him are hard to perform absolutely accurately for some reason.

[Plum]

Posted: 1/4/05 at 1:43am

"Glitter and Be Gay" and "Getting Married Today" are quite difficult on a purely technical level. Something like "Rose's Turn" or "Lot's Wife" is difficult emotionally.

[divacathe]

Posted: 1/4/05 at 2:51am

"If You Hadn't But You Did" I don't know who wrote this masterpiece but to listen...get Kristen Chenoweth's CD. She sings a beautiful rendition...hard song.....

[pab]

Posted: 1/4/05 at 3:02am

"If You Hadn't But You Did" was from "Two on the Aisle" 1951 and the songs were composed by Jule Styne, with lyrics written by Betty Comden and Adolph Green.

[divacathe]

Posted: 1/4/05 at 3:10am

NICE!:)

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 1/4/05 at 3:18am

"Epiphany" from Sweeney Todd is really friggin' hard (how does one act it properly while singing it properly too?)

Man, if I'm going to keep on making Sweeney-based posts, I should at least change my icon so I don't look like I'm TOO obsessed...

[pab]

Posted: 1/4/05 at 3:27am

Keep the icon, there is nothing wrong with being obsessed with the greatness that is "Sweeney Todd". I agree "Epiphany" is very difficult. So is "Green Finch", "Kiss Me" and for a chorus, combined with the leads, "God That's Good".

[andyf]

Posted: 1/4/05 at 3:29am

Yeah, I have to disagree with "Getting Married Today."
Unless you're COMPLETELY retarded, it shouldn't take you more than a couple tries to get the lyrics down.

In all fairness to you, it does seem crazy the first time you hear it, but if you actually try to do it...it's really not that bad.

Updated On: 1/4/05 at 03:29 AM

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 1/4/05 at 3:38am

Well, check out the brain on Andy. Good thing he's not retarded.

[magic8ball]

Posted: 1/4/05 at 4:10am

"Pity the Child" from Chess is pretty damned difficult.

[wildcat]

Posted: 1/4/05 at 6:48am

Practically all the choral stuff in "Into the Woods"...the title song in its many forms, "So Happy", the second act opener,
"Ever After",the first act closer, "Your Fault"...they are an absolute nightmare to learn and perform. All the other Sondheim shows are a breeze in comparison.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 1/4/05 at 8:18am

"All the other Sondheim shows are a breeze in comparison."


I'd say all other Sondheim shows are a nightmare in compaison.

[paradox_error]

Posted: 1/4/05 at 8:49am

"Epiphany" from Sweeney is probably as difficult as it gets, alhough the whole score to Sweeney is very difficult. I think "The Letter" is another extremely difficult song, and in "City on Fire" it is very hard to master the lyrics.

"Sunday in the Park with George" is not an easy song to master.

"Getting Married Today" is also very difficult...

[wildcat]

Posted: 1/4/05 at 9:02am

Oh God, yes, I forgot City On Fire!!!

[paradox_error]

Posted: 1/4/05 at 9:11am

I'd say most Sondheim is a nightmare in comparison to other musical theatre...

[wildcat]

Posted: 1/4/05 at 9:15am

Oh, I don't know..have a listen to some Marc Blitzstein! Hey, I hear Ms. LuPone is going to do "Regina", his opera of "The Little Foxes" this year. Keep ears and eyes peeled.

[Marlothom]

Posted: 1/4/05 at 9:18am

Just from shows I've done:
Country House from Follies
A lot of the choral stuff in Assassins (We are Your Future Section), different groups come in a such different times and to try to keep count and stay in character is SO DIFF.

[broadwayalto01]

Posted: 1/4/05 at 9:22am

I would have to go with...

Sunday in the Park with George
Your Fault from Into the Woods
Two's Company from The Magic Show

[wildcat]

Posted: 1/4/05 at 9:22am

But if you get out of time you could just shoot the others and keep singing.

[paradox_error]

Posted: 1/4/05 at 9:32am

I'll have to try that sometime Wildcat...

[bjivie2]

Posted: 1/4/05 at 11:37am

Finishing The Hat from SITPWG.

[Switz78]

Posted: 1/4/05 at 11:48am

Wildcat you nailed it. Regina is a b****. I can't think of the name right now (think it's Regina's Aria) the song that starts "Do you wish we had wed years ago..." Had to learn that when I was just starting out for voice lessons. Very difficult intervals and transitions.

[~FloweryFriend~]

Posted: 1/4/05 at 12:17pm

"Green Finch and Linnet Bird"

Performers basically have to pull those notes straight out of the air.
The instrumental music has nothing in common with the melody.
It's insane.
And genius.