Vocal Range for Glinda

[Soaring29]

Posted: 8/29/15 at 10:49am

Hey, does anyone know the written vocal range for Glinda? I know there are some alternate notes at the end of Thank Goodness and the finale which I'm pretty sure are high F's, but what is the written vocal range for her? 

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 8/29/15 at 12:15pm

Don't they just have someone off stage singing her high note at the end of "Thank Goodness?"

[DontTellPaul2]

Posted: 8/29/15 at 2:59pm

As written, Glinda sings up to a high C, which is at the end of "Thank Goodness."

CATSNYrevival -- That was the case for Kendra Kassebaum, but all other Glindas have sung it themselves, with varying degrees of success.

Updated On: 8/29/15 at 02:59 PM

[mailhandler777]

Posted: 8/29/15 at 3:28pm

CATSNYrevival said: "Don't they just have someone off stage singing her high note at the end of "Thank Goodness?""

No. Most Glindas can hit it with the exception of a few. Kendra Kassebaum, Jenni Barber and Patti Murin couldn't hit it and usually a Glinda understudy that is onstage in her own track sings it instead. 

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/29/15 at 4:17pm

Out of curiosity...why cast someone in the role if they cannot hit all the notes? Granted, I know it is just one note - is this common practice?

 

I'm aware that Phantom's title song is a pre-recorded track, but from my understanding that has to do with where the actors are on stage...I could be wrong?

Updated On: 8/29/15 at 04:17 PM

[JBroadway]

Posted: 8/29/15 at 5:25pm

"why cast someone in the role if they cannot hit all the notes?"

 

Well, Kendra Kassebaum was amazing as Glinda, so that's one huge reason to cast her (and I thought Patti Murin was quite good too). Also, it's just that one note. Literally ONE super high note that was written for Kristin Chenoweth soprano voice. So if they are able to find a quick fix for the problem, which they did, why not cast them? 

 

Also, just speculating here, but it could also be an endurance issue. It's possible that Kendra COULD hit the note, and maybe she used to do it when she started playing Glinda in 2005 (?), but that it became too damaging over time, since she's not a true soprano. 

Updated On: 8/29/15 at 05:25 PM

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 8/29/15 at 5:27pm

But why not make the understudies the lead since they can actually hit the note?

[JBroadway]

Posted: 8/29/15 at 5:31pm

Call_me_jorge said: "But why not make the understudies the lead since they can actually hit the note?"

 

Well, again, because there is much more to playing a part than hitting literally ONE note during a group number. Kendra Kassebaum was great as Glinda. Her acting was fantastic and her singing was also fantastic. Why not make the understudy the lead? Because the understudy was a dancer/actor in the ensemble and that's what her job was. In addition to that, she was the understudy for Glinda. 

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 8/29/15 at 5:32pm

^^^^^ Because the powers-that-be don't consider that one note particularly important.

[Mike Costa]

Posted: 8/29/15 at 5:43pm

Well said, JBroadway.  There is so much more to playing a character on Broadway than hitting a high note. 

[Soaring29]

Posted: 8/29/15 at 6:57pm

Glinda's one of the only roles that require such a legit voice, but also skills in musical theatre techniques such as belting and also with a touch of pop since Wicked does have some pop aspects to it. I'd say it's harder then Elphaba, at least to cast since there are few singers that can tackle the role so well. 

[candydog2]

Posted: 8/29/15 at 8:32pm

The high notes at the end of "No One Mourns the Wicked" and "Thank Goodness" are optional as far as I'm aware, and it would be silly not to cast an actress who plays the role perfectly in every other way just because she cannot hit a ridiculously high note that isn't particularly important to the overall show eight times each week.

[gypsy101]

Posted: 8/29/15 at 8:59pm

Does the role really require a "legit" voice? Sure, there's some stuff in Mourns that is kind of legit that she sings over the chorus singing "goodness knows we know what goodness is," but I feel like most good singers could fake that stuff. Other than that, I can't think of anything else a regular non-soprano belter couldn't sing.

Updated On: 8/29/15 at 08:59 PM

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 8/29/15 at 9:04pm

Fake legit singing?

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 8/29/15 at 9:57pm

Soaring29 said: "I'd say it's harder than Elphaba"

 

I would strongly disagree. 

[mailhandler777]

Posted: 8/29/15 at 11:13pm

candydog2 said: "The high notes at the end of "No One Mourns the Wicked" and "Thank Goodness" are optional as far as I'm aware, and it would be silly not to cast an actress who plays the role perfectly in every other way just because she cannot hit a ridiculously high note that isn't particularly important to the overall show eight times each week."

The ladies I mentioned couldn't hit the regular note they are supposed to sing. Only a handful can hit the crazy high note. I've heard Annaleigh Ashford, Cassie Okenka and Alli Mauzey hit that before. 

[ohjustjake]

Posted: 8/29/15 at 11:48pm

The two super high notes are optional for Glinda. They're not even notated. No One Mourns the Wicked has Glinda on a High B, which some actresses have optioned up to the E. In Good News, it's a High A. Some have gone to the C, and then to F above that after. It's only notated as an A. 

 

Source - Conductors Score.

 

/endnerdpost

[Soaring29]

Posted: 8/30/15 at 10:53am

BroadwayConcierge: I am aware that Elphaba is  an extremely demanding role vocally, all I meant is that I think it's a little harder to find the perfect Glinda because of the range of styles that Glinda has to sing in the show.