Shaina Taub is a composer and lyricist whose work spans musical theater, opera, and concert music. Her gift for creating emotionally resonant melodies paired with sophisticated orchestration has established her as a distinctive voice in contemporary theater. She won the Tony Award for Best Original Score for Stereophonic, and her work frequently appears in educational and professional settings alike.
Why we love this
Taub's songs sit at the intersection of contemporary theater writing and genuine singability, making them rewarding for both performers discovering their voice and experienced singers seeking material with real depth. This piece carries the literary intelligence of its Shakespeare source while remaining melodically direct and emotionally accessible.
What to expect
The piece carries a quality of quiet revelation. It has the grace of someone speaking a truth they've held close, set to music that feels both modern and timeless. There's tenderness here without sentimentality, and honesty without harshness.
Who it's for
This score works for classically trained singers, music theater students, and any vocalist comfortable with contemporary theatrical music. High school and college programs will find it accessible for solo recitals, concerts, or as part of a Shakespearean-themed showcase.
How to get the most out of it
Honor the conversational phrasing embedded in the lyric. The piano score provides harmonic support, but your phrasing choices determine whether the song lands as intimate or performed.
Balance vocal dynamics with the piano part. Even when the accompaniment grows fuller, maintain the lyrical quality that makes this song connect.
Explore the relationship between the written melody and the harmonic shifts underneath. Taub often uses chromatic or unexpected changes in the piano to color the emotional content.
Take time with any fermata or held notes. They typically signal moments where the character's vulnerability or intention becomes visible.
How to use it
This works beautifully in a Shakespeare or literary adaptation concert, paired with instrumental selections or other vocal adaptations of the playwright's texts. It also suits an evening of contemporary theater music, standing alongside work by other modern composers. For advanced high school or college recitals, it provides substantive solo material that demonstrates musical maturity.
Skills your students will build
Phrasing contemporary theatrical music with literary precision
Executing dynamic control in intimate vocal writing
Interpreting harmonic color and chromatic movement in accompaniment
Managing rubato and breath placement in longer phrase lines
Building character interpretation from text and melody interaction
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