The Broadway Song Companion [Hardcover]

David P. DeVenney (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0810833735 | ISBN-13: 978-0810833739 | Publication Date: March 12, 1998

The Broadway Song Companion is the first complete guide and access point to the vast literature of the Broadway musical for the solo performer. Designed with the working actor in mind, the volume lists every song from over 210 Broadway shows, giving the name of the character(s) who sing(s) the song, its exact vocal range, and categorizing each by song style (uptempo, narrative ballad, swing ballad, moderate character piece, etc.). A number of indexes to the volume list titles of songs, first lines, composer's and lyricist's names, and each song by voice type. For instance, a soprano looking for a ballad to sing will find every song in that category in the index. All solos, duets, and trios are indexed in this manner, with quartets and larger ensembles listed by voice type. Furthermore, the instant breakdowns (how many lead characters, who sings what song, and the range requirements of each character) will be a valuable resource to directors and producers.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Evolving out of a teacher's efforts to find appropriate recital pieces for his musical theater students, this volume lists more than 2,000 songs. Arrangement is alphabetical by show title, with songs listed in show order. For each song, DeVenney gives the voice, vocal range, and song style. Indexes are arranged by voice part. There are also indexes to composers and lyricists.

Review

This unique approach to the musical theatre's song repertoire will help solo performers and ensembles assemble programs suitable for their vocal talents and expressive of their interests. (Rettig On Reference )

...valuable for directors and producers. (Reference & Research Book News )

DeVenney undoubtedly has wide experience matching his performers with good music...handy indexes...for such a thin volume, the selection is intriguing...recommended for libraries supporting performing arts programs. (Choice )

...carefully researched...With coverage of musicals from the 1890s to 1990s, this work will not be quickly outdated. It is a well-organized and concise guide to the music literature of Broadway. (Arba )

...this volume lists more than 2,000 songs. Arrangement is alphabetical by show title, with songs listed in show order. For each song, DeVenney gives the voice, vocal range, and song style. Indexes are arranged by voice part. (Booklist/Rbb )

This volume is somewhat academically sub-titled...don't be put off by that, as I nearly was!...the book is in fact designed with the working actor in mind and the volume literally lists every song from nearly 210 Broadway shows...the cross-referencing is invaluable...each show is dealt with as an entity but the book also has a series of detailed indices...becomes a veritable casting bible for producers and directors of musicals on the one hand and an invaluable source for any individual voice to find all the songs in his or her range from the Broadway canon...very well structured...this is one reference book that no one interested in musical theatre should be without! (Amateur Stage )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 228 pages
• Publisher: Scarecrow Press (March 12, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810833735
• ISBN-13: 978-0810833739
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,363,826 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazingly Useful, October 7, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Broadway Song Companion (Hardcover)

This is an incredible book - organized by show, voice and song type. It includes the exact range of each song in each show, which is incredibly helpful for those of us who don't have the range that we'd like. The only thing I could find wrong with it is that it categorizes the songs by the voice type of the actor who originated the role, not necessarily by the range of the song itself (a song originally sung by a tenor is listed as a tenor song, even if it's in a baritone range). Other than that, it's amazing, and the most useful book I've found for musical theatre performers.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FANTASTIC RESOURCE!, September 25, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Broadway Song Companion (Hardcover)

This book is a fantastic resource for anyone interested in Musical Theatre. I use it to find solos, duets and ensemble musical theatre pieces for my students. Each song is listed by voice type and by show. In addition, the vocal range is included next to each song. This is the best [money] I've spent this year!

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Are you kidding me?, March 6, 2005

By 

Eddie (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Broadway Song Companion (Hardcover)

What an amazing idea for a book. If only the author had enough intelligence to actually learn what a musical was or perhaps look at at least one score before charging us forty dollars. For example, Audrey II, in "Little Shop of Horrors", is clearly a Bass yet we are told HE is a Soprano. The last song that Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II ever wrote together was "Edelweiss". However Mr. Devenney does not feel it necessary to include it with the other songs in "Sound of Music". Perhaps he needed room for "Cable hears Bali Ha'i" in "South Pacific", which is kind of funny because the song does not exist. We can chalk a few mistakes up to the editors... let's say 1...2...maybe even 3 but just based on a simple cover to cover reading, there were..... drumroll ......................47.