soundtrack – Page 29

Hosanna (from “Jesus Christ Superstar”)

“Hosanna” from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar (1970) won a 2017 Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival. The modulation is at 2:20.

Soul of a Man (from “Kinky Boots”)

Featuring some contemporary Broadway today with “Soul of a Man” from Kinky Boots (2013). Key change around 2:18.

Marian McPartland | Send In the Clowns

Here is Marian McPartland’s beautiful arrangement of Sondheim’s “Send In The Clowns” (1978), originally written for the 1973 musical A Little Night Music. There’s a dramatic key change at 3:13.

Arabian Nights (from “Aladdin”)

“Arabian Nights” is the opening number from the Broadway musical Aladdin (2014). There are a few internal modulations, but the big one is at 5:28.

Whitney Houston + Mariah Carey | When You Believe (from “The Prince of Egypt”)

Here’s the Whitney Houston/Mariah Carey duet “When You Believe” from The Prince of Egypt (1998). The whole song is definitely worth a listen, but pay particular attention around 3:43.

AJ Rafael (feat. Deedee Lynn Magno Hall) | Only Us (from “Dear Evan Hansen”)

Singer/songwriter AJ Rafael covers “Only Us” (2017) from the musical Dear Evan Hansen, featuring Deedee Lynn Magno Hall. The first modulation (1:43) somehow sneaks up on the listener gradually, while the second (2:55) clearly announces itself.

Stephen Soundheim (feat. Marin Mazzie) | Losing My Mind (from “Follies”)

Here’s the inimitable, much-missed Marin Mazzie singing “Losing My Mind” from Sondheim’s Follies (1970). This performance is just exquisite, and the key change at about 3:00 is a highlight.

Stefon Harris + Blackout | Until

A beautiful jazz waltz featuring the vibraphone of rising star Stefon Harris. This 2007 tune was originally written by Sting for the Kate & Leopold soundtrack. Modulation at 1:29.

Harris has said, according to All About Jazz: “For me, as an African-American, it’s part of the reason I get up. Jazz is not just fun for me. This is my cultural heritage. When I look at the great Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, John Coltrane, as we go down the line, I feel a great deal of pressure, and honor, to be striving to be a part of this legacy.”

Second Hand White Baby Grand (from “Smash”)

From TV show Smash comes “Second Hand White Baby Grand” (2013), performed by Megan Hilty. This is a great demonstration of modulations that are dramatically motivated. The first is around 1:10, and then we return to the original key around 2:32.

So Close (from “Enchanted”)

We close the week with Alan Menken’s “So Close” from the movie Enchanted (2007). I have always been fascinated by the chord progressions and overall form of this song, given that it doesn’t really adhere to the traditional verse/chorus format. There are actually three modulations in this song — the first at 1:54, the second in the instrumental interlude at 2:37 (up a minor third!), and then back down at 2:50 before the vocal returns.