The Singer's Musical Theatre Anthology - Volume 1: Mezzo-Soprano/Belter Book Only

This book is the best thing for the female actress/singer. It has a number of wonderful songs from all sorts of different musicals, and they're great for using in auditions or just to mess around and sing to when you're bored. The arrangements are *NOT* beginner level by any means, so an accompanist or a CD would be needed to play with you if you were to use it for something. It includes wonderful songs that are just perfect for the alto/mezzo-soprano range and give ample opportunity to try out your "belting" technique. I'm a singer/actress myself, and a future music teacher. This will most definitely come in handy when I'm teaching high school choir. :) Song List: Annie Get Your Gun -I Got the Sun in the Morning -Doin' What Comes Natur'lly Anyone Can Whistle -Anyone Can Whistle Babes in Arms -The Lady is a Tramp Cabaret -Don't Tell Mama -What Would You Do? -Cabaret Call Me Madam -The Hostess with the Mostes' on the Ball Cats -Memory Chicago -Funny Honey A Chorus Line -Dance: Ten; Looks: Three Cinderella -Stepsisters' Lament Evita -Don't Cry for Me Argentina Finian's Rainbow -How Are Things in Glocca Morra? -Look to the Rainbow Flower Drum Song -I Enjoy Being a Girl Follies -Broadway Baby -Could I Leave You -In Buddy's Eyes -Losing My Mind Gentlemen Prefer Blondes -Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend -Ain't There Anyone Here for Love? Godspell -Turn Back, O Man Guys and Dolls -Take Back Your Mink Gypsy -Some People How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying -Happy to Keep His Dinner Warm Kiss Me, Kate -Always True to You in My Fashion -Why Can't You Behave? A Little Night Music -The Miller's Son -Send in the Clowns Oklahoma! -I Cain't Say No On a Clear Day You Can See Forever -He Wasn't You -What Did I Have That I Don't Have? South Pacific -A Cockeyed Optimist -I'm in Love with a Wonderful Guy Sweeney Todd -By the Sea -Worst Pies in London Two By Two -An Old Man The Unsinkable Molly Brown -I Ain't Down Yet

This book has so many great songs. It has an even amount of fun songs ("I Can Cook Too" from On The Town), love songs ("I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Miz), funny songs ("I Hate Men" from Kiss Me, Kate), well known songs ("On My Own" from Les Miz), love songs ("Music That Makes Me Dance" from Funny Girl), high songs ("Feelings" from The Apple Tree), low songs ("Small World" from Gypsy) inspirational songs ("Hold On" from Secret Garden) classics ("I Get a Kick Out Of You," "Johnny One Note," "I Wish I Were In Love Again") new stuff ("I'd be Surprisingly Good For You" from Evita) and songs I've yet to learn ("My Husband Makes Movies"). There are so many songs in this book! It's absolutely worth getting. And you don't have to worry about it being in your range!

The Singer's Musical Theatre Anthologies have long been respected as a line of well-chosen solos, especially for higher voices. Reaching far into the depths of musical theatre history, Richard Walters assembles pieces for every possible occasion: from the well-known "Les Misérables" to the classic "Gypsy" and "Oliver!" to such new musicals as "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" and "The Secret Garden". The selections are not all designed for blasting, nor are they all love songs - Walters establishes a comfortable and interesting balance between the two extremes. Each of the volumes contains vocal/piano score in the original keys, however some editions contain condensed orchestral scores. I wholly recommend this entire series, if not for audition purposes, for just personal enjoyment!

This series of books is absolutely wonderful. It forces singers of all ages to break away from those two or three songs or musicals they know very well and perform these other songs in THEIR key (not some odd key from a collaboration book). This also makes songs easily accessible if you don't necessarily know any Sondheim, etc. I feel everyone should own one or more volumes of this collection (in their vocal range, of course). The only thing that stinks is the larger your range, the more money you end up spending!

My mom got this for me for Christmas last year and now it's the only book I use when I am auditioning for my highschool and community theatre. It's got so many great songs, and they're all in just the right range!