Revitalising your repertoire: songs by Rodgers and Hammerstein
Here at Warm Me Up we absolutely adore Rodgers and Hammerstein. It is a joy to breathe new life into these timeless topics and classic melodies that still resonate with people today. There are rather a lot to choose from but here are a few:
“We Kiss In A Shadow” from The King And I
This is useful for male and female singers at all levels. The melody sits within an octave and one note, which means you must make sure you have the right key for your voice. Sung very slowly it can be an exercise in breathing and support, never letting the phrases get softer at the end. Sung a little quicker, it sounds a bit more conversational but still reveals line in your voice, and you don’t have to be a professional to make this song sound absolutely gorgeous.
Take a look at this lush concert version:
Or this version, which is closer to a modern production of the show.
And for contrast, these two are really fun to compare!
Sheet music available here.
“In My Own Little Corner” from Cinderella
If you are a singer under 20 years of age or a dancer who sings, this cute mid-tempo ballad could be of great use. It has a quirky chromatic melody that isn’t heard terribly often and also can be cut in half easily to make an audition cut. The lyrics lend themselves to the modern day brilliantly, this once meek Cinderella can be performed as the all empowered female who can do anything.
Here is the wonderful Laura Osnes from the Broadway adaptation, 2013.
And for a comparison in style, the 22 year-old Julie Andrews in the television production of 1957.
Sheet music is available here.
“Out Of My Dreams” from Oklahoma
Here is a wonderful challenge to make this unusual, slightly chromatic melody sound easy, modern and flowing. It’s a real exercise in support and evenness, as several of the phrases have a high note at the end of them… don’t let them get softer! You will definitely need your “Extending the Range” and “Tuned Up” categories in Warm Me Up before singing this.
Here is a basic piano version with a good pace.
And although this version features the ensemble (in the cut from the show), it’s great to see how the actresses place their voices, even if they just have one line. (In this clip, please admire poor Laurie… the director has asked her to start it sitting on the floor cross legged, without the support of her hands!)
Sheet music available here.
“The Man I Used To Be” from Pipe Dream
This is rarely performed but is a delight and very handy to have in an audition folder: it’s charming and up-tempo but still demonstrates the lovely even line in your voice and gives you a chance to show your acting chops. Arpeggios will be useful in preparing this song - Interval Jumps and Gilbert & Sullivan in the Extending the Range section of Warm Me Up will be your friends when warming up.
Here’s Will Chase giving a text book rendition with simple piano accompaniment
Sheet music is here.
A Cock-Eyed Optimist
If you really think you’re ‘non-legit’ and you need a legit song in your folder, this could be the perfect solution. It is short and sweet, and the phrases are short and clipped. The song still has plenty of appeal and is a study in simplicity. As it is text based, make sure you’re using the “Mouth Workout” function on your app beforehand!
Check out Tony winner Kelli O’Hara. (Song starts at 0:49).
And we can’t resist this version, for the orchestration alone!
Sheet music available here.
“Soliloquy” from Carousel
Now here’s a song that is not suitable for an audition, as it’s hard to trim… unless you take in the last minute alone. But say you were a baritone or low tenor and you had (ermmmmm…) time on your hands, perhaps all the theatres, cinemas and pubs were closed? Well it’s a perfect time to take the plunge into this 7-minute classic. You can really enjoy using your rich baritone in the first half, and then contrast your placement in the sweet second half (“My Little Girl”), before the all-out power of the finish. This song is really an exercise in sound, tone and phrasing. Can we remind you also, that this brave piece of theatre not only places our anti-hero on stage alone for 7 minutes at the end of Act One, but it also forwards the plot… and Carousel opened in 1945, weeks before the end of World War 2. These writers were truly ahead of their time!
Here’s a rich classical version. Listen hard for his adjustment in tone and colour for the different sections.
And a much more modern take from the recent Broadway revival, the pace is very different, but again note how the singer is placing the different sections, and his use of the text is keeping it more than interesting.
Sheet music is available here.
In conclusion, it's always handy to have a Rodgers and Hammerstein tune in your folder, and as always….
Warm up!