Applause! - The Music of Charles Strouse: SATB Choral Octavo
By Lee Adams / By Charles Strouse / Arranged by Mark Brymer
Item: 35-DS00137903
Digital Download
$2.99
Minimum order quantity: 10 copies
Please note: Under U.S. copyright law, you must purchase the exact number of copies needed for your ensemble. Printing, duplicating or sharing additional copies is strictly prohibited.
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Description
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Lee Adams was a lyricist and composer who shaped the sound of mid-century American musical theater. His partnership with Charles Strouse produced some of Broadway's most enduring scores, including those for Bye Bye Birdie, Annie, and Applause. Adams brought wit, clarity, and emotional directness to his lyrics, making stories accessible without sacrificing sophistication.
Why we love this
Mark Brymer's arrangement captures the theatrical energy of Strouse and Adams' songwriting while keeping the vocal writing singable and the harmonic texture fresh. The 23-page set gives your choir genuine Broadway material without the complexity that can bog down singers who need to focus on musical theater style and phrasing.
What to expect
Sophisticated and buoyant. Strouse's melodies soar with the confidence of Broadway's golden age while maintaining the kind of craftsmanship that rewards careful musical preparation. There's elegance here alongside accessibility.
Who it's for
Concert choirs and festival ensembles looking for Broadway repertoire that plays well in formal settings. This arrangement works for groups that want recognizable material with theatrical appeal but need scores that respect classical choral technique.
How to get the most out of it
Bring out the rhythmic precision in the accompaniment; Broadway writing depends on clean, confident articulation from your singers to land the comedy and drama.
Balance the melody against the inner voices, which often carry countermelodies or rhythmic figures that define the song's character.
Lean into the legit vocal production Strouse's melodies demand; these are written for singers with real technique, not belters.
How to use it
Pair this with other sophisticated pop or musical theater arrangements in a concert focused on American songwriting. It also serves well as a showstopper in a mixed repertoire festival set where your choir can demonstrate both classical training and stylistic flexibility.
Skills your students will build
Broadway phrasing and rhythmic precision
Layered texture singing with countermelodies
Legit vocal production and sustained tone
Interpreting theatrical language and emotional arc
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