I've Come to Wive It Wealthily in Padua: Piano/Vocal/Chords

Kiss Me, Kate showcases Porter at his absolute peak, with a score that gives singers and pianists genuine musical meat to sink their teeth into. The collection includes nineteen songs spanning nearly every theatrical moment: charm songs, comedy numbers, hot jazz numbers, and soaring romantic ballads. This songbook is valuable precisely because it assembles the full theatrical experience between two covers, letting singers access both the famous standards and the character-driven numbers that make the show complete.

Kiss Me, Kate captures the witty banter and romantic tension of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew filtered through Porter's cosmopolitan sensibility. The score moves from rollicking opening numbers and sharp comedic songs into moments of genuine tenderness and sophisticated jazz-inflected beauty. It's sophisticated without being precious, funny without sacrificing musicality, and deeply romantic without losing its theatrical edge.

This collection serves singers learning Porter's style and pianists accompanying them in studio or recital. It's equally useful for theatre music programs teaching the American songbook canon and for performers building audition repertoire from a score with genuine theatrical substance.

• Study the harmonic language carefully. Porter's chords move with chromatic sophistication; nail the voice-leading and harmonic rhythm before worrying about tempo.
• Pay attention to lyrical rhythm and placement. Porter's words sit on the beat with intention, especially in the comedy numbers; rushing or dragging the lyric will flatten the humor.
• Use the illustrative context provided by the show history and memorabilia to inform character choices. Understanding the scenes these songs inhabit shapes phrasing and emotional arc.
• Balance the range of moods. Moving from a comedy number like 'I Hate Men' to a tender moment like 'Were Thine That Special Face' requires clear tonal and textual contrast.

Consider programming excerpts alongside other American songbook standards or assembling a thematic concert around Porter's theatrical genius. For voice students, these songs develop interpretive skills across multiple song types within a single coherent score. Theatre programs might use selections to build a unit on mid-century Broadway style and composition.

• Singing jazz-inflected harmonies and chromatic voice-leading
• Handling sophisticated lyrical rhythms and comic timing through music
• Accompanying singers with complex harmonic progressions and walking piano textures
• Interpreting character and emotional range across diverse song types within one show
• Understanding the conventions of mid-century Broadway orchestration and style through vocal score reduction