Page 11 - Classical Singer magazine Spring Issue 2020

The bridge is where the rising action really picks up, the character becomes more impassioned, and the bridge leads us into the climax as the third verse begins.
If there is a fourth verse or a coda, it often takes the arc of the story back down and provides us with a denouement.
So, from a storytelling perspective, often a great 90-second cut includes the first or second verse (depending on which lyrics
you prefer), the bridge, and the third verse. For a 60-second cut you may only be able
to include the bridge and the third verse, but you may want to reinterpret this cut to start out quieter and less impassioned so that you make the same kind of emotional journey but it happens faster and in less time. Then you still are able to show several different colors of your singing and acting.
You should always check the lyrics to make sure that the cuts you are making still tell a clear story and each section feels like it leads into the next. Also, know that the verse-bridge-verse formula is not the only option. You should tell the story the way that you
want to tell it, and there may be other ways of sewing together the different sections of the song. The important things to include are a storytelling arc, a variety of vocal and emotional colors, and the climax
of the song, which is also usually the most virtuosic part of the song.
Musicianship and Composition
Now let’s look at cutting a song from the music perspective. Sewing together the lyrics is simple
“It will be much more effective to start with something more subdued
or subtle and then build to the climax. This way, the auditioners don’t feel like all you did was scream at them and they will see that you have different dynamics and colors.”
B.A. in
Vocal Performance
WAGNER COLLEGE • NEW YORK CITY
• Individualized vocal training
• Well-rounded college curriculum
• Beautiful campus
• Diverse performance opportunities
wagner.edu/music
www.csmusic.net 11