Little Shop of Horrors Cover Image

Little Shop of Horrors: SoundTrax Digital Audio Download

$27.99 USD
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Little Shop of Horrors Cover Image

Little Shop of Horrors: SoundTrax Digital Audio Download

From the musical Little Shop of Horrors

Words by Howard Ashman, music by Alan Menken / arr. Jay Althouse

Item: 00-A-00015304

$27.99
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Additional Details
Series: Alfred Pop Choral Series
Publisher: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-A-00015304

More about this title

About the Composer: Howard Ashman

Howard Ashman (1950-1991) reshaped American musical theater by writing lyrics and libretti that balanced sharp wit with genuine emotional depth. His collaborations with composer Alan Menken produced some of Broadway's most durable scores, from Little Shop of Horrors to The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. Ashman's gift for character-driven storytelling and his ability to embed humor and heart into song lyrics made his work immediately singable for performers and deeply resonant for audiences.

As a lyricist and book writer, Ashman elevated the pop musical into something both accessible and artistically serious. His influence on music education extends far beyond Broadway: his songs appear in countless school and community productions precisely because they reward strong singing while remaining genuinely fun to perform. Directors and students return to his work again and again because the music serves the story and the characters with clarity and specificity.

Why we love this

This recording captures the darkly comedic energy and infectious melodies that make Little Shop of Horrors a perennial crowd favorite for choirs. The SoundTrax arrangement preserves the show's theatrical personality while keeping vocal lines accessible for ensemble singing, giving your singers the confidence to deliver both the humor and the heart. You get a professionally produced accompaniment that sounds like a real band, freeing your singers to focus on character and ensemble cohesion rather than fighting thin or synthetic backing.

What to expect

The music pulses with the dark, campy energy of a B-movie monster tale told with affection rather than mockery. Every melody digs in quickly and stays with you; the rhythm section grooves throughout, and the harmonic language sits comfortably between pop simplicity and musical theater sophistication. There's genuine tenderness underneath the comedy, especially in moments built on Ashman's lyrical wit and Menken's gift for memorable, singable hooks.

Who it's for

This is for any director programming Little Shop of Horrors with a choir, whether in a school musical production, a pop choral concert, or a theater arts program. It works equally well for intermediate to advanced high school choirs and community theater ensembles that want solid vocal writing without overly demanding ranges or part separation. The recorded accompaniment makes it feasible to open this score to singers who may not read music with complete fluency, since the backing track provides clear harmonic and rhythmic scaffolding.

How to get the most out of it

  • Let the recorded accompaniment set the groove and tempo for you during rehearsal; your singers will lock into the style more naturally if they're hearing the instrumental color from day one rather than learning with only piano.
  • Attend closely to the comedic timing throughout, especially in ensemble moments and underscore passages where a half-beat of hesitation or a quick breath can land a joke far more effectively than rushing through.
  • Encourage your singers to track the character voices and personality cues in the recording; this is a show with distinct vocal characters, and mirroring the recorded tone (even as an ensemble) gives the music its theatrical authenticity.
  • Balance clarity in the lyrics with the recorded accompaniment's fullness; make sure diction cuts through the instruments without requiring your singers to shout, particularly in faster passages.

How to use it

Program this as the centerpiece of a pop or musical theater concert, surrounding it with other show music or contemporary choral pop that shares its theatrical flair. You can also use it as the foundation for a full or partial Little Shop of Horrors production, since the choral arrangement serves both ensemble and principal number contexts. Its broad audience appeal and humor make it an excellent choice for community concert seasons where you want to showcase your singers' personality and showmanship alongside their vocal ability.

Skills your students will build

  • Rhythmic precision in a contemporary pop style with syncopation and groove
  • Articulation and diction at faster tempos while maintaining character
  • Responding to a recorded accompaniment with independence and ensemble blend
  • Interpretation of comedic and dramatic subtext within choral lines
  • Sectional and full-ensemble balance when parts double or interweave

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