Singing Exam General Knowledge

Ribbons Down My Back

Show: Hello, Dolly - based on Thomson Wilder’s The Merchant of Yonder

Character: Irene Malloy - widow, beauty, hat maker in NYC who longs for romance.

Composer: Jerry Herman - American 20th century “Follies” “La Cage Aux Folle”, Tony Award Winner

Context: Dolly Levi is a matchmaker who wants to marry her client Horace. Horace wishes to marry Irene, but Dolly sabotages it. In the song, Irene talks about what she’s going to do to find a man.

Key: D minor (Bb)

Form: Ternery (ABA)

Brace: Played together

Cut common time: 2/2 2 minum beats per bar

Anything Goes

Key: F# minor (F# C# G#) (A major) Changes to F major

Show: Anything Goes

Character: Reno Sweeney, cruise ship entertainer

Form: ABCB = Rondo

Context: Reno Sweeny is an old friend to Bill, and attempts to seduce Hope’s fiance Evylen, which leads to him kissing her. She sings the song Anything Goes, talking about how love moves quickly.

Brief Synopsis: Billy Crocker decides to stow away on the SS American in a plan to woo his long lost, and wealthy love, Hope Harcourt, only to discover that she is engaged to a Lord. Billy, and some friends he makes on the cruise ship, scheme to break Hope’s engagement.

Composer: Cole Porter - American 20th century composer and song writer, broadway, hollyway “Kiss me kate”, “I get a kick out of you” “i’ve got you under my skin”

Note head: rhythm not pitch

x = double sharp raise by 2 semitones

v = staccatissimo

— : tenuto hold the note for its full value

I Miss The Mountains

Show: Next to Normal

Character: Diana Goodman

Context: Diana has been trialing medication for her mental illness, and her doctor has settled on one that dulls her emotions.

Show synopsis: Family dealing with complex mental illness and trauma. Bipolar, rock musical, Tony awards won 2008

Composer: Tom Kitt - American composer, orchestrator, conductor. Pulitzer prize for drama “If/then” “spongebob squarepants” “hell’s kitchen” “jagged little pill”

Lyricist: Brian Yorkey - pulitzer prize, playwrite. Known for exploring dark and complex materials.

Key: C major - Ab major - C - D major

rall. : rallentaneto - to become slower

// : ceswa (chesoawa) to completely stop

accacciacatura: to crush

Form: ABCA