Vocal Selection note changes?

[Ledge2]

Posted: 11/28/20 at 3:13am

Do vocal selections typically change the notes a bunch? I’m pretty new to the scene and my music reading might be off, but everything I’ve read online says Burr’s highest note is an A4, yet the vocal selections says he has quite a few notes above the grand staff in Wait For It? My voice teach also said the Rent vocal selections had One Song Glory higher than it originally was performed, so is this just normal?

[MattieIce2018]

Posted: 11/28/20 at 11:26am

It’s been a while since I looked at the score but I’m pretty sure Wait For It goes up to an Ab4. The A natural is the final note in Room Where it Happens. Keep in mind too that men read the grand staff an octave down so that A above the staff is read as an A4, not A5.

[DooWahDiddy]

Posted: 11/28/20 at 3:52pm

I don't know about Hamilton, but yes, the Rent thing is true. One Song Glory is printed in G, whereas the official score has it in G-flat (a half-step lower). And yes, unfortunately that is common; publishers of vocal selections want the average person to be able to play what's inside it, so they often publish songs in easier keys.