Song List

A little more mascara

From La Cage Aux Folles

I chose this song to start off my recital because it shows the magic that drag possesses. The very forward-thinking musical La Cage Aux Folles it tells the story of a drag queen transforming from his regular life into his stage life as Madame Zaza. This piece is comedic yet still very stunning.

perineo

By Libby Larson

This song started my path upon finding queer choral music and ensuring it's remembered in history. It comes from the AIDs Quilt Songbook and was the first choral song I ever felt represented by. It combines all of my intersectionalities as a queer, Latino, person who is on the path to be a choral musician. It also is a very abstract piece with language changes, Spanish rhythms, and many dramatic moments.

What makes a man a man

By Charles Aznavour

Charles Aznavour was a straight man that was not afraid to speak up for things he thought were unjust. This piece asks the age-old question "What makes a man a man?" It tells the story of a queer man that has to face homophobia and how he is still a man even if he is feminine. This song was made in 1972 which makes it very daring because nobody so famous was so vocal about queer issues.

Not My Father's Son

From Kinky Boots

From the incredible musical Kinky Boots, this piece tells the story of two very different people bonding over the common ground that is their daddy issues. It explains what many queer people go through in their families and how it can affect their self-image as a child and even as an adult. A touching piece that is sure to connect to many people that struggle with familial ties.

Alchemy of healing

By Gilo

This hymn belongs to Hymns for the Holy Other, a hymn book published by the Hymn Society. The book was made to celebrate people othered by hateful Christians, and it reclaims the word others as holy others. The hymn tells a beautiful story of healing from the hate we have experienced in life and in the church as queer people.

Aids Bells

By Arthur and Ian Jones

I found this song through the help of the Queer Music Heritage website which is ran by the JD Doyle Archive. They specialize in music by, for, and or about queer people. This song tells the story of losing someone to AIDS. To have a loved one stripped from you by a disease that was so unknown back when it first started to spread in the US. it really captures the pain and confusion that many people went through during the AIDS Crisis.

I never knew

By Ricky Ian Gordon

Another song from the AIDS Quilt Songbook really made me fall in love with the idea of queer choral music. It shows what it was like to lose someone you loved. It shows the quick and devastating blow that AIDS had on the queer community in the 80's and 90's.

Walt Whitman in 1989

By Chris Deblasio

I truly believe that this piece should always be paired with "I Never Knew" because they complement eachother so well. I never knew talks about the pain of losing someone and this song talks about the acceptance of losing someone. This piece was also made for the AIDs Quilt Songbook and criticizes the treatment of AIDS patients during the height of the AIDS Crisis. Walt Whiteman was known to visit Civil War soldiers in the hospital so the song says what would he say if he visited hospitals in the 80's.

Spare change for a dying queen

By Jimmy Centola

This is a spoken word that is based on a monologue that Marsha P Johnson would say about her time at the Stone Wall Riots. It talks about what it was like to be queer back in the 60s and the mistreatment by police that queer people endured. It is also meant to educate people on how queer liberation was gained and to make sure everyone understands it and appreciates the rights that they have now.

I am what i am

From La Cage Aux Folles

This song has followed me through high school and now even through college now. Another song from la Cage Aux Folles this piece is meant to show people that being your most authentic self is the most beautiful thing a person can do. It is the perfect conclusion to my show because the biggest takeaway from this entire song list is to live life as open and proud as you can because life is only what you make of it.

Page updated

Report abuse