Seven by Porter: Medium High Voice CD

Mark Hayes understands how to honor a song while making it his own. These arrangements respect Porter's melodic genius while introducing harmonic color and structural surprises that keep singers engaged and audiences leaning forward. The recorded accompaniment with Hayes at the piano sets a standard for what these songs can sound like, giving vocalists a touchstone for phrasing and style.

These arrangements sparkle. There's sophistication in the harmony, warmth in the melodic writing, and a sense of theatrical ease that makes singing feel natural and conversational. You'll find moments of unexpected harmonic color alongside the familiar melodic contours that make Porter's songs so beloved, creating an experience that feels both timeless and fresh.

This collection serves vocalists who have developed foundational technique and are ready to explore the American songbook with nuance and style. Whether you're preparing audition material, building a recital program, or deepening your connection to standard repertoire, these seven Porter classics offer immediate performance opportunities with professional-quality accompaniment.

• Study the recorded accompaniment multiple times before the first rehearsal. Hayes' interpretive choices affect rubato, dynamic shaping, and the emotional arc of each song. Your phrasing will naturally align with his when you know what to expect.
• Pay attention to the arrangement's harmonic movement, especially in sections where Hayes extends or reharmonizes the original melody. These moments often need slight vocal adjustments to sit comfortably over the piano part.
• Balance sophistication with storytelling. Porter's lyrics carry personality and wit; these arrangements give you musical space to deliver both the humor and the sentiment without oversinging.
• Mark the spots where the accompaniment steps back or features a solo passage. These moments invite you to shape the melody with more freedom and to make direct contact with the audience.

Program one or two of these pieces in a recital focused on American standards or musical theater repertoire. Their range of moods (from the exuberance of 'Anything Goes' to the romantic introspection of 'Night and Day') means you can shape a complete arc within a single program. Consider pairing them with other jazz-era or contemporary vocal literature that shares similar harmonic sophistication.

• Interpreting rubato and phrasing within a fixed accompaniment
• Navigating extended or reharmonized harmonic progressions
• Projecting character and wit through vocal delivery
• Balancing melodic freedom with rhythmic precision
• Connecting text to musical shape in songs with sophisticated lyrics