New Guy, Question Maybe You All Could Help With

[breckenridge55]

Posted: 7/23/04 at 5:08pm

Hey everyone,

I just came across this website browsing for Broadway music and songs and it seemed like a great community so I signed up and was hoping someone could give me a great suggestion.

I'm a high school student going to local county competition in a couple of weeks in South Florida and was in desperate need of ideas of some pieces to perform. I'm only allowed to do three, and generally I like to do a solo musical, a duet musical, and a small group musical (3-6 people). My biggest problem is that I've only really gotten into broadway in the last year... so I don't know of many shows to get songs from. I am also in the bass/low baritone range which makes things tough as well since most musical pieces are too high for my range.

I like the more humorous pieces, as an example, as a duet I am planning on doing A Stud and a Babe from I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change with a girl who fits the part very well. I can act the part very well, the singing is iffy because it strains my voice a little but I think I can get that down. As a solo the only song I have thought about doing is Mama Says from Footloose just because I like the song and have a slight country accent. It too is also somewhat high though.

No clue yet on any small groups. I was hoping to be the baritone in a group that needs one for the Opening to a New World from Songs for a New World but I can't do it. So I have to start from scratch there.

Any suggestions for any songs that you think would help me or if you would just like to talk about them would be great! The only rule I can think of is that it has to be under 5 minutes in length give or take a couple seconds. With the equipment I have at school I can edit it somehwat, but not TOO much. I'd love to talk to anyone who is interested. I don't think I will have time to be visiting these message boards a whole lot... but I will try to check back on this thread. It's easier to reach me via email or AOL Instant Messanger so try there if at all possible. Again thanks in advance for all the help guys, nice to find a Broadway community that's active!

Brett Brecheisen
email: [e-mail]
AOL IM: breckenridge55

[zbigner]

Posted: 7/23/04 at 5:31pm

I don't know a lot about vocal ranges and arrangements, so some of the following suggestions might be off-base. At least they will give you a few ideas.

For groups: Brotherhood of Man from How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying, Fugue for Tinhorns and Sit Down You're Rockin' the Boat from Guys and Dolls. Big-Ass Rock from The Full Monty might work musically but might not be appropriate for high school because it's about suicide. I happen to think it's a brilliant treatment of the subject, but your teachers/judges may not agree.

For a duet: You're Nothing without Me from City of Angels.

For a solo: All the Wasted Time from Parade, Try to Remember from The Fantasticks, and Marry Me from The Rink.

Good luck at your competition.

Zack

[ponine24601]

Posted: 7/23/04 at 5:53pm

i have heard of (and own the soprano version) of the Singer's Musical Theatre Anthology series. They have several books in every range of the voice. It has the sheet music of songs in that range from various musicals. Some are duets and some or solos.

Updated On: 7/23/04 at 05:53 PM

[MusicPos2]

Posted: 7/23/04 at 6:16pm

They have a whole Singer's Musical Theatre Anthology book for duets. Get the one for baritone, it's also good for tenors that have range issues. Whatever you do, don't strain! If you're straining, find a voice teacher fast!

[JakeB]

Posted: 7/23/04 at 6:39pm

For the groups you should do Everyone's a Little Bit Racist from Avenue Q. You'd win the competition for sure!

[breckenridge55]

Posted: 7/23/04 at 8:44pm

Actually, Everybody's a Little Bit Racist was my first choice for a group. Big Ass Rock we were also going to try... but we didn't have enough males with the talent and the personalities to try it so I didn't bother. I thought about Everybody's a Little Bit Racist and its still my first choice if I can find the surrounding people to attempt it with. That song is very funny and also very enjoyable. Thanks for the suggestions, if anyone has any more they're much appreciated! As for the book, can I find it at any regular bookstore? Or would I have to try a music store for it...?

By the way, we are allowed to do questionable material pieces, they're marked in our event with an asterisk so that everyone knows that it's of questionable or offensive material and can exit if they wanted to. Many pieces of asterisk material though have gone on to much higher levels.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/23/04 at 8:57pm

"Me" from Beauty and the Beast (solo)
--He sings it to Belle, and makes a few remarks during the song, but you can probably cut that out.

I also think a part of "Primma Donna" from Phantom of the Opera has some group male voices in it.

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 7/23/04 at 9:54pm

Are you involved in the FL Thespian competiion? Me too
But to answer one of your questions, yes, you would have to get Singer's Musical Theatre Anthology at a sheet music store. Have fun!

[zbigner]

Posted: 7/24/04 at 11:08am

Two more group possibilities I just remembered are Good Morning, Good Day and Sounds While Selling from She Loves Me.

Zack