Under the Rug (from "The Mysteries of Harris Burdick"): Piano/Vocal/Chords

The piece carries the intimate, slightly unsettling quality its title suggests. The music balances lightness with an undercurrent of tension, creating space for a singer to inhabit a character working through something unspoken or complicated. It feels like contemporary storytelling rendered in song.

Singers with a good sense of contemporary theater repertoire and pianists who want to expand beyond traditional musical theater standards. This works for high school advanced singers, community theater performers, and anyone exploring modern interpretations of narrative-driven musical material.

• Balance the vocal line so it sits on top of the piano texture without requiring the singer to force. The accompaniment is designed to support, not compete.
• Pay attention to the lyrical phrasing and conversational rhythm. This is storytelling first; let the music serve the narrative rather than impose operatic shaping.
• Use the chord symbols to explore jazz-influenced comping if you're adding instrumental accompaniment beyond piano. These voicings suggest flexibility in orchestration.

This pairs well in a set exploring modern American musical theater or contemporary concert programming that moves away from golden age standards. It also works as a solo for singers building a diverse audition portfolio. The single-song format makes it flexible for student recitals or small ensemble concerts.

• Contemporary vocal phrasing and character work through pop-influenced melodic material
• Reading and interpreting chord symbols in a jazz-influenced harmonic context
• Piano accompaniment that balances support with musical independence
• Narrative delivery in musical theater without relying on conventional theatrical vocal technique