Martirio (from "Bernarda Alba"): Piano/Vocal/Chords

This collection captures what makes LaChisua's writing so compelling for singers: songs built on conversational, character-driven lyrics paired with music that respects dramatic nuance while remaining singable and dramatically purposeful. "Martirio" itself reveals his gift for setting text with precision, making this resource invaluable for singers and coaches exploring contemporary musical theatre composition.

LaChisua's songs inhabit psychological realism; they capture moments of private reckoning, social friction, and emotional complexity with music that is by turns lyrical, rhythmically angular, and deceptively intimate. "Martirio" carries the weight of its source play's themes of family constraint and female agency, rendered in music both beautiful and unsettling.

This collection serves singers preparing audition repertoire, coaches and pianists building contemporary musical theatre libraries, and voice students exploring sophisticated, character-driven song literature. Directors and music theatre faculty will find it essential for programming diverse, intelligent contemporary work that challenges performers vocally and dramatically.

• Attend closely to the composer's rhythmic notation and text underlay; LaChisua's prosody is deliberate, and rushing through his phrasing will flatten the character work.
• Explore the harmonic movement underneath the melody; understanding the chordal architecture helps inform where to shape phrases and find emotional weight.
• Balance the dramatic intensity of the lyric with vocal sustainability; these songs demand both vulnerability and technical control across a wide range.
• Use the piano part as a scene partner rather than mere accompaniment; LaChisua writes interdependence between voice and keyboard that shapes interpretation.

Pair these songs in a concert devoted to contemporary musical theatre, grouping them thematically or by source show to illuminate character arcs. This collection works equally well in a master class setting where singers and coaches dissect how LaChisua's harmonic language and text setting create dramatic specificity.

• Interpreting contemporary musical theatre text with harmonic sophistication
• Navigating irregular phrase lengths and rhythmic specificity
• Building character through precise vocal phrasing and dynamic control
• Reading and performing music that prioritizes dramatic truth over melodic simplicity
• Collaborating with pianists to realize interdependent voice-and-piano writing