Revitalising Your Repertoire - Legit Audition Songs
This week we thought we would discuss some repertoire useful for the more ‘legit’ type voices that would be great in auditions. But remember, anyone can and should learn these songs. This style requires great control, colour, breath and of course diction. Musically they require a line and control that is generally not found in more modern music.
"Ah, Leave Me Not To Pine Alone" from the Pirates of Penzance
This beautiful song can be treated in many ways, from full classical to more of a modern ‘crossover’ sound; but it really is for the true sopranos and tenors. Again, difficult to sing and phrase. To spot the contrast, compare this version from the University of Georgia:
To this one by Linda Ronstandt. (Song starts 20 seconds in- and yes it's in the same key!)
“Goodbye Old Girl” from Damn Yankees
One for the blokes, this beautiful wistful song has a certain charm and longing, and is almost never sung. Typical of all these songs, phrasing is imperative and rather difficult. Here's Robert Shafer from the movie version of Damn Yankees.
“I Could Write a Book” from Pal Joey
Here is a middle tempo charming tune for a lighter tenor, but a quick glance through uTube will show you that it’s almost a standard that has been recorded by major artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett and Harry Connick Jnr to name a few. But if it’s sung with a lilt, it can come under the ‘up tempo’ umbrella, which is rare in this category. It’s also sung by both males and females. Take a listen to this version from the cast recording.
“My Lord and Master” from The King And I
This rather short and sweet song is hardly ever heard. It has a marvellous journey and a rather sad sweet tale to it, as the character singing, a slave, confesses to the audience that she has a secret love.
In the film it was sung by Rita Moreno, in an alto key. When they rerecorded the film soundtrack in a lavish production with Julie Andrews and Ben Kingsley, it was sung by Lea Salonga. Check her out here- the song starts at 3 mins 20 in the clip, and if you wait it out you can see Lea getting notes on her breathing from the musical director!
And don't forget to always warm up before you start a practice session. You'll find that the longer excercises in the "Extending the Range" and "Tuned Up" categories are really helpful for preparing to sing this repertoire. If you haven't downloaded Warm Me Up for smartphone yet, click here for iPhone, and here for Android