The Light In The Piazza (Choral Highlights) (arr. John Purifoy): Choral Instrumental Pak
By Adam Guettel / Arranged by John Purifoy
Item: 35-PK00091109
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Description
Adam Guettel's "The Light in the Piazza" has been described as "a shimmering pearl," and with its soaring melodies and passionate, romantic lyrics, the Tony Award-winning musical richly deserves the accolades it has received. This 11-minute medley features well-crafted vocal parts and the orchestration captures the magic of the original Broadway production. Ideal for high school and community choirs, it includes: "The Beauty Is," "The Light in the Piazza," "Passeggiata," "Say It Somehow," "Statues and Stories." Duration: ca. 11:30
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00091109
More about this title
About the Composer: Adam Guettel
Adam Guettel stands among Broadway's most distinctive compositional voices, bringing operatic sophistication and harmonic depth to musical theater. A Pulitzer Prize finalist and Tony Award winner, Guettel has built a career on emotionally intricate scores that demand serious musicianship from performers and listeners alike.
Why we love this
Purifoy's medley extracts five pivotal moments from Guettel's score without reducing them to plot summary. The arrangement respects the original's lush harmonic language while remaining accessible to high school and community choirs, and the orchestration choices genuinely elevate the vocal writing rather than competing with it.
What to expect
Stepping into a moonlit Italian piazza where romance blooms in unexpected moments. The music combines lyrical warmth with sophisticated harmonies, creating an atmosphere that feels both intimate and grandly theatrical at once.
Who it's for
High school choirs seeking contemporary Broadway repertoire with musical substance and community choirs looking for material that satisfies both singers and audiences. This medley works especially well for programs that want to showcase emotional maturity and harmonic awareness without requiring extensive ensemble experience.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the romantic sweep of "The Beauty Is" against its delicate instrumental moments; the choir should support rather than overshadow the string arrangements.
- Shape the harmonic progressions deliberately in the title song, where unexpected chords create emotional weight. Rehearse chord changes sectionally to ensure accuracy and ownership.
- Let "Passeggiata" breathe with its Italian sensibility. Treat the rhythmic energy as dance-like rather than relentless, with particular attention to syllable clarity in the Italian text.
- Prepare singers for the sustained vocal lines in "Say It Somehow." Build stamina in rehearsal by practicing long phrases with minimal breath, then mark breaths strategically during performances.
How to use it
This 11.5-minute medley fits naturally as a second-half anchor on a concert program, particularly when paired with lighter spring or pops repertoire. It also serves well as a standalone feature for a Broadway-focused concert or a thematic program exploring contemporary musical theater composition.
Skills your students will build
- Singing sustained phrases with consistent tone in romantic balladic style
- Navigating chromatic and unexpected harmonic progressions
- Executing clear diction in Italian text
- Balancing vocal blend against orchestral accompaniment
- Shaping musical phrases across multiple verses with textual variation