Sheet music

[singinswinga]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 10:31pm

I have some money to burn and I want to buy a songbook on Amazon. Can you guys recommend a book for an alto/belter whos range is from the low F or so to an A (above the treble staff)? Sorry I'm using the "high-school" terminology. Thanks!

[singinswinga]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 10:42pm

Anybody?

[JudasIscariot]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 10:48pm

...

Wicked

...

[singinswinga]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 10:51pm

I already have wicked and I'm buying Avenue Q. Should I get the "First Book of Broadway Solos: Mezzo-Soprano and Alto"? Or the "Singer's Musical Theater Anthology: Mezzo Soprano/Belter"? And which version? As you can tell, I am confused.

[Pinguin]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 11:10pm

I'd go for the Singer's Musical Theater Anthology.

[Joelbeans]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 11:15pm

There are three volumes of the Singers Anthologies. The third volume has the more recent shows, but not as recent as what is on Broadway. It depends on what type of songs you are thinking of learning. Are you going for the more modern musical theatre or the more classical musical theatre. There is a pretty wide range in each book, but I think that the third has more of the recent.

[singinswinga]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 11:20pm

I'd really like to develop my belt. Now it's between "The Musical Theater Anthology" (or whatever it is) volume 3 and the "Broadway Belter's Songbook." The latter is a few bucks cheaper, but... I just don't know!

[Joelbeans]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 11:25pm

Just looked at the songlist of the Broadway Belters song book, and that has more opf the classics. Some great songs and it would be a great start if you are working on your belt

[Jimmyojimmy]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 11:30pm

If you can belt high, Funny Girl has a lot of great high songs. Can you really belt above the staff? and youre an alto, damn. Also A Chorus Line and Millie Have great songs, Gimme Gimme only belts up to like a c or something at the end.

[singinswinga]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 11:35pm

Aw, thanks! I can belt higher than I can legit sing. So anyway, I decided on "The Singer's Musical Theatre Anthology Volume 3" because it has "As If We Never Said Goodybye" from Sunset Boulevard and "My New Philosophy" from You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown. And also because I could get free shipping on it. =)

[Jimmyojimmy]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 11:36pm

Oh cool, my grandman has that one cause shes an alto and i have the soprano book theyre good books.

[BwayStraightBoy]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 11:39pm

Aida is a pretty good alto-friendly show, isn't it?

[singinswinga]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 11:43pm

I don't know about Aida. I think it is alto-friendly but it kinda pisses me off. Anyway, I got Avenue Q because I THINK I can sing Kate Monster/Lucy the Slut's part. She doesn't sound like she goes so high, or at least not as high as Gary Coleman or Christmas Eve. And she goes awfully low in "Special," like I think that's an F or something in that last run. Do you know what I'm talking about?

[temms]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 11:44pm

Go with the "Singer's Musical Theatre Anthology." No question. The arrangements in the Belter's book are the standard, bad, simplified sheet music versions that are usually not in the show key. (Usually when sheet music is printed from a show, it's in whatever key is easiest to play on the piano and with little regard to what key works best for a singer.)

The SMTA volumes are excellent because they are reprinted directly from the show's vocal scores. This means that the songs are all in the correct keys in the show arrangement. They are a terrific series. The piano parts are harder to play, but that's because they're accurate.

[singinswinga]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 11:47pm

Y'know they have volume 4 coming out August 1? it has some songs from wicked. eh.