Collected Songs, Vol. 13 (1918): Mixed Voice, High/ Low., Collections, VS

This volume captures Kern's 1918 output in a single resource, making it straightforward to program music from two hit shows without hunting through scattered publications. The mixed voice format with high and low options gives you genuine flexibility across your ensemble, and Kern's vocal writing sits comfortably for a wide range of singers without requiring transposition gymnastics. These songs reward careful interpretation; they're simple enough for developing musicians to access yet sophisticated enough to sustain serious artistic work.

These songs carry the breezy optimism and melodic grace of the early Broadway era. Kern's harmonic language is warm and elegant without being overly complex; his melodies unfold with inevitability, feeling both sophisticated and immediately singable. There's a lightness of spirit throughout, tempered by genuine emotional moments in pieces like Mitzi's Lullaby.

This collection serves choral directors seeking accessible yet artistically substantial American song material, as well as voice teachers and private studio instructors building repertoire lists for intermediate to advanced singers. It appeals to musicians preparing for recital performances or concert programs centered on American musical theater and popular song.

• Shape the phrase line over the bar, letting the melody breathe naturally rather than landing heavily on each beat. Kern's melodies often move in longer arcs than the harmonic rhythm suggests.
• Attend to the relationship between voice and piano part. These arrangements offer genuine musical dialogue; the accompaniment is not merely supportive but sometimes carries melodic material worth highlighting.
• Balance legit vocal production with clarity of diction. The theatrical heritage of these songs demands that text be understood, so avoid oversinging at the expense of word clarity.

Kern's 1918 songs work beautifully in programs exploring the roots of American musical theater or celebrating the golden age of Broadway. Individual songs can anchor a concert of art song and theater repertoire, or you might pair multiple selections from this volume to create a thematic set. These pieces also serve well in a mixed voice concert where you need variety in mood and character without departing from familiar, engaging material.

• Singing through-composed phrases that extend beyond four-bar phrases
• Interpreting theatrical text with musical shape
• Balancing legit vocal technique with clear diction
• Understanding how piano accompaniments function as musical partners, not just support
• Reading and performing early 20th-century American song idiom