Musical theatre – music

Musical theatre can be defined as telling a story through song.

It is can be characterised by many key elements:

• popular and theatrical music

• storytelling through the song lyrics and the orchestral score

• spoken dialogue included in the songs

• repetition within the lyrics and musical score

• use of solo, duet and ensemble performance

• singing and dancing combinations

• orchestral accompaniment

• instrumental dance sequences

• fresh and inventive use of language for song lyrics, including rhyme

• music conventions used to establish dramatic meaning.

Musical theatre history has seen the transformation of classic musicals through the creation of sequels, prequels and various stylistic adaptations over the years.

• Identify the songs in this Wizard of Oz video collection from Schools Spectacular 2019 and research the musicals they are from.

• Are these musicals sequels, prequels or stylistic adaptations?

Music in theatre has the function of storytelling by advancing the narrative through song, as well as revealing the internal thoughts of the different characters.

• How do these songs effectively tell aspects of the story or reveal the various types of characters through the lyrics?

• Identify the central characters from each of the musicals in this collection and how they overlap in each transformation of the original musical.

Musicals often include a ‘realisation’ song that can be categorised as a showstopper. It is a big triumphant style of song that can bring the characters together at a celebration moment in the narrative.

• How does the final song A Brand New Day fit into this category of a realisation showstopper?

Theatre music always has a variety of songs that are performed by ensembles, duets or as solo numbers.

The songs can be performed with the inclusion of spoken dialogue to continue to tell the story through the characters' interactions.

• Discuss how the collection of songs including 'Do-Re-Mi', 'Favourite Things' and 'The Lonely Goatherd' are effectively performed as an ensemble with the character of Maria and the Von Trapp children.

• How is the combination of spoken dialogue with the music in these songs effective as a musical theatre convention to tell the story?

Ballad style songs are common in many musicals as inspirational songs surrounding a character's struggle within the narrative.

• Describe the elements of a ballad in the duet of 'Climb Ev'ry Mountain'.

Musical theatre has proved to have longevity as a style of music throughout the years. This segment at the Schools Spectacular 2015 was a celebration of the 50-year anniversary of 'The Sound of Music'.

• What elements of musical theatre make it popular and ensure its longevity?

Watch the Musical Greats segment from Schools Spectacular 2018.

As the style of theatre music moved into the 21st century, there has been a strong emergence from a classic style to a new and modern style of music.

• Compare the stylistic differences between the 1952 song 'Singin' in the Rain' and 'My Shot' from the 2015 musical 'Hamilton'.

Strong male and female lead roles are common in many musicals. As a style, it requires these roles to be skilled in acting, singing and dancing. An instrumental dance break is a key characteristic of both classic and modern musicals.

• How does the combination of the singing and dancing of the lead characters contribute to the overall impact of the performance?

The orchestral score in theatre music also plays a vital role in storytelling and character progression. The instruments are used to create the context, environment and characters.

The orchestra often plays an instrumental overture at the beginning of the musical to establish and build the dramatic context.

• Identify the various orchestral sounds that describe the actions in the songs 'Singin' in the Rain' and 'My Shot' and which instruments are used to create them.

When a character comes to a realisation or makes a key decision or the narrative reaches a climax, it is often established through a grand solo ballad. The lyrics often use repetition to reinforce the important moment for the character or story. There are also melodic, instrumental and dynamic features which create the sense of climax at this point in the narrative.

• Discuss how the song 'Never Enough' from 'The Greatest Showman' meets these key elements of a musical theatre song.

Theatre music song lyrics can, at times, experiment with a fresh way of using language through repetition, rhyme, and also surprising and new word arrangements.

Watch the 'Mary Poppins' song Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious from Schools Spectacular 2011.

• Observe how the song uses a new unusual word that is now part of our language.

Analyse the song Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious relating to the musical concept – structure.

• Identify the structural sections or points of difference.

Extension question

• Can these structural sections be organised into standard (for example, binary, ternary, rondo, verse-chorus) or non-standard forms?