The Patter Song

From Wikipedia:

"The patter song is characterised by a moderately fast to very fast tempo with a rapid succession of rhythmic patterns in which each syllable of text corresponds to one note.[1] It is a staple of comic opera, especially Gilbert and Sullivan, but it has also been used in musicals and elsewhere.[2]"

The Music Man opened on Broadway on December 19th, 1957. It includes the patter song "Piano Lesson". Listen to the song and answer the questions that follow.

  1. How does the song advance the plot?

  2. How does the song advance our undertsanding of each character?

  3. What are the conflicts that animate the song?

  4. How does this song reflect the ways in which musical theater advanced from the opening of The Mikado in 1885?

Other examples of patter songs:

From The Pirates of Penzance

From Camelot

From Damn Yankees

From Company