Theatre songs that reflect transcendentalism?

[Boq101]

Posted: 2/5/08 at 8:49pm

im doing a project for school where we bring in something modern that has the ideals of Emerson and Thoreau and all of that to do with Transcendentalism for an english class. The teacher said we could do CD mixes of songs and that we would get points for originality.

Do any of you know of any songs which this could relate to? The newer the show the better, but I'm not picky.

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 2/5/08 at 8:51pm

Updated On: 5/8/09 at 08:51 PM

[alterego]

Posted: 2/5/08 at 8:53pm

Goodness, such a deep thread. Updated On: 2/5/08 at 08:53 PM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/5/08 at 8:58pm

Why is the newer the show the better?

[Boq101]

Posted: 2/5/08 at 9:00pm

she wants modern stuff, although considering trascendentalism is pretty old, most theatre stuff would be fine. By newer I mean 60's onward.

This is just for suggestions, I already have a few songs myself. The songs I picked mostly have to do with man's connection to nature and self-reliance.

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 2/5/08 at 9:00pm

Probably because he knows newer shows better. (Sorry if that seems rude, but I'm guessing)

Not a song, but have you looked at the play "The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail"?

I really can't think of any songs right off the top of my head.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 2/5/08 at 9:06pm

I think How Glory Goes from Floyd Collins should be considered. In a way.

[Boq101]

Posted: 2/5/08 at 9:10pm

theaterkid1015, pretty much that, too!

I've heard of the play, I migh use it for a later project on something for extra credit she's giving out.

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 2/5/08 at 9:14pm

InfiniteTheatreFrenzy read my mind, but I thought it might be too much of a stretch.

[Boq101]

Posted: 2/5/08 at 9:45pm

I'll look into it, thanks!
Any others?

I used "My Own Best Friend" from Chicago and "What A Piece of Work is Man" from Hair, to give a few examples.

[george95]

Posted: 2/5/08 at 9:59pm

How about "I have confidence" and "Edelweiss" from the Sound of Music movie soundtrack? Well Edelweiss is in the stage show too.
And maybe "Purpose" from Avenue Q.

"Many a New Day" from Oklahoma!

Updated On: 2/5/08 at 09:59 PM

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 2/5/08 at 10:05pm

Anything from Good Vibrations lol

[JKlock]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 12:26am

Sondheim's "If you can find me, I'm here". The lyrics remind me of Thoreau's Walden when he leaves society to live by the pond for two years.

[LadyRosecoe]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 1:52am

"Central Park" from See What I Wanna See might meet your standards. It definitely sounds like the perfect match in my opinion.

[insertclevernamehere]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 1:55am

Maybe also something from Candide?

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 1:38pm

"Make Our Garden Grow" from Candide is a great one. Also "Look Around" from The Will Rogers Follies.
Updated On: 2/6/08 at 01:38 PM

[BkCollector]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 1:46pm

Are you looking at musical trascendentalism as well as simply lyrical?