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I had a wonderful walk this morning. A beautiful day, though the sun does start to shine bright and hot even at 8:30 in the morning! And the music of the day running through my head was “Marian the Librarian” from The Music Man. We have been watching this musical in our home lately and the songs are just so much fun! This is definitely on the top of my list of great tunes to walk with. I love the cleverness of the song and the totally funny situation that happens: The Music Man (Prof. Harold Hill) is trying to cozy up to Marian, the librarian, while singing to her in the library.
Here’s more info if you’re interested: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Music_Man
I love this song for the music, but I also love this segment for the dancing and choreography. So smart and so much fun!! I’ve spent many years as a dancer with just this style of dancing. I have a very special place in my heart for song and dance just like this.
Ya know, I am almost ready to change my name to Marian because of how much I just LOVE this song!
Here it is:
I had an audition for a local opera company last Saturday. I feel it went fairly well. One can never know what the audience is thinking, or if the pannel of judges might be actually considering you for a role with their company. I’ve come to think of auditions more like farming. Most of the time I am the farmer, tilling the soil (working to get to an audition) and simply planting a seed (being heard). It might take a few weeks to see some outcome or sometimes it may take years. And the mysterious part is that you don’t get to plant the same seed every time you audition! Again, WHO KNOWS what your judges/audience/critics/artistic directors are thinking?!?! I’ve decided it’s not my place to know at all. It is only my job to be the farmer and plant my singing seeds and do my best for that day.
Sometimes (like last Saturday) I feel more like part of a group of cattle rather than the farmer planting seeds. Every soprano I saw on Saturday was auditioning for the same part. I heard 4 sopranos sing the very same aria I was planning on singing right before my audition! It’s almost laughable. In these situations you need to be able to stand out somehow. Some stand out by wearing cute shoes or a brightly colored dress. I’d rather standout with sincere acting and expressing the earnest desires of the character. Being a lyric soprano has it’s challenges, for sure. This is the most common voice type for sopranos. The role we were all auditioning for was Juliette of Romeo et Juliette by Charles Gounod. The role can be sung by a lyric coloratura, to a lyric soprano, to even a fuller soprano voice. AND THEN…Casting Juliette also depends on who will sing Romeo. UGH!
Auditioning is an art form in itself: how you greet your audience/audition panel, what you wear, how you prepare you music for the accompanist, how you walk, expressing confidence, performing accurately, showing your personality and artistry to a group of strangers–and maybe a video camera– in 5 minutes. Whew! That really is a lot put together all in one place. Fortunately, through training and years of practicing these things I feel confident with this part of the audition process. But then there is always the other pile of unknown variables: what does the room feel/sound like, how well does the accompanist follow my singing, are there any carpets or chords I could potentially fall over… OK–Maybe that’s not a common variable for all to worry about– but for me, a definite concern. I have tripped into a room so many times, it’s embarrassing!
Though it has it’s challenges, auditioning is the only way for one to be heard by a company. And though I am part of the large throng of sopranos competing for the same spots, we are strangely all in this audition mess together. So why don’t I just throw in the towel, stay at home and crochet all day? There’s a part of me that just needs to be a farmer and plant seeds. So bring on the Audition Season!
PS– Random: Ever listened to ‘A Bit of Earth’ from the musical The Secret Garden? One of my favorite Musical Theatre songs! I sing it practically every time I sit down to tend my own garden. check it out : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRQrfOS8Qig
Songbird Crochet 