Larger than Life (From "My Favorite Year"): Piano/Vocal/Chords

This collection gathers Flaherty's most vocally rewarding material across multiple theatrical styles, from intimate character moments to showstopping numbers. Singers benefit from studying his compositional approach to melody: how he constructs memorable, singable lines that sit beautifully in the voice while serving the emotional arc of the character and scene.

Flaherty's music balances theatrical emotion with vocal accessibility. These songs invite singers to inhabit fully realized characters while working within a compositional framework that rewards legit technique and honest storytelling. The accompaniments are substantial enough to ground a performance yet transparent enough to showcase the voice.

This collection serves singers preparing auditions for Broadway and musical theatre roles, as well as vocalists building a performance repertoire of contemporary musical theatre standards. It is equally valuable for students studying composition and arrangement, as Flaherty's work demonstrates sophisticated approaches to vocal writing across different character types and dramatic situations.

• Listen to the original cast recordings for each song to understand how Flaherty intended the melody to sit rhythmically and how the harmonic accompaniment supports your phrasing choices.
• Pay attention to the storytelling function of each piece; Flaherty writes accompaniments that underscore character development, so let the piano part inform your interpretation rather than compete with it.
• Study the chord symbols alongside the melody to understand the harmonic language of each song, which will help you land on important chord tones and shape your legit singing technique.

Build an audition set drawing from multiple songs in this collection to demonstrate vocal range and dramatic versatility across different character types and theatrical styles. For recital programming, pair Flaherty's work with songs from other contemporary composers to create a cohesive set exploring a particular musical theatre era or theme.

• Interpreting character-driven melodic phrasing in contemporary musical theatre idioms
• Understanding harmonic function through chord symbols and vocal line relationships
• Applying legit singing technique to emotionally complex material
• Preparing audition material using original vocal scores and professional standards