I’ve been thinking of doing a workshop with the theme “Stage to Cabaret” to discuss the ways cabaret artists can adapt stage material for their own use. I see the discussions revolving around performance clips showing examples of various themes.
Here’s the last episode in the series. (At least for the moment.)
When adapting a song from the theater, the cabaret artist (and arranger) has a number of tools available to customize the song for his/her own use. A few are:
- Changing a duet / group song into a solo
- Deciding the order of verses, intro to perform
- Deciding on changes to individual lyrics
- Deciding on what repeats to use
- Deciding initial tempo and subsequent tempo changes
- Deciding style of musical background and build of accompanying melody
- Deciding to sing the song straight or altering the vocal line
- Deciding on how to approach the ending
Even though the following Barbara Cook clip seems fairly straightforward, look at the complexity and brilliance of the decisions Cook and genius, genius Wally Harper have made.
Thank you so much to everyone who has participated and sent such great comments both online and to me personally!!!
November 7, 2008 at 12:10 pm |
spectacular! i’ve been listening to many live cabaret cd’s lately
…and for a while listened to a number of barbara cook’s cds in a row and was entralled by every single one. the cd’s i’ve listened to recently have all been terrific in their way (every person who gives so much of themselves by putting music together and putting on a show is inspiring to me in some wonderful way) but this reminded me of the absolute and unique brilliance of barabara cook (and wally harper). it’s like in rock and roll, there are the beatles…and then there’s everybody else. with this kind of concert/cabaret performing, there’s barbara cook…and then there’s everybody else.