an annoyance

[some_stars]

So my choir, for our big spring performance, is doing a mix of pop songs and Broadway-type stuff, and one of the pop songs is "Breakaway." I have been known to sing along to this on the radio, and it's pretty much exactly within my range--at least the verses are, and only the verses are solos in the arrangement we're using. So I wanted to try out for a solo, and I'm going to, but I don't expect to get it because whenever I sing this arrangement it's a tiny bit too high for me...because it was moved up two notes. For NO REASON, just, you know--hey, the solo in this song isn't a soprano part! Let's correct this error, or someone might have to listen to a moderately low female voice! And we all know no one wants that. (Except for...everyone who bought the original song?)

I just, ugh, it's so minor and so pervasive. Most of the songs we sing already have soprano melody lines, and alto solos are super rare, and apparently even when they exist they're not allowed to exist. It's just so weird and annoying. Also weird and annoying: the majority of our music is SSA, rather than SSAA (or even--and I have never seen this ever in my life--SAA). Which I think may account for why it's often just less interesting to listen to than the men's songs; our stuff sometimes just melts into a blur of high notes and head voice, because the lowest part of our range doesn't get used.

Comments

[petra]

Based on my skientific memories of my chorus's music collection, it's at least 40% SSAA, 20% three part treble, 20% SATB, 10% SSA, and maaaybe 10% SAA or wtf why do we even have something TTBB. Not counting the ones that are just solo pieces, most of which were recently recycled.

So, you know, if you want music recommendations, I have access to a whole lot of relevant material.

[some_stars]

ah, well, I don't have the energy to make a fuss over it--and our choir director is extremely sensitive and likes to make drama, so a fuss would probably ensue, at least enough of one to put me off (granted I have a very low threshold). But thank you for the offer :)

[thingswithwings]

ugh that sucks. As a mezzo-soprano myself, I feel your pain! Back when I used to do choirs they'd stick me in soprano or alto as needs arose, and I never felt comfortable in the range I was asked to sing.

[aris_tgd]

That sucks, a lot. I haven't been in a choir for a while, but I was an alto--well, alto and then bumped into the second soprano slot for three-parterr. I have a suspicion that our choir director moved people around based on who could hold onto the harmonies, rather than strictly on voice.