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Arthemius

Bring him home: which key?

Hi

I have learned Bring Him Home from an audition book: here the key is F.
I got Colm Wilkinson's cd "Stage heroes", here it's in Ab.
Finally my teacher has a sheet where it's in A.

What's the original key? And should I pick the key I can sing most comfortably (probably G) or stick with the original for audition purposes?

thanks!
Orestes Fasting

In the actual show it's sung in A. I think even the school edition has it in A, though there might be an optional version in F. And I rather doubt the sheet music is available in G; only the A version in the actual score and the F version in the piano/vocal selections.
Joe Valjean

Stick with whatever key is most comfortable - i'm doing it in a concert next month and i've put it up a semi-tone from the original to Bb as thats where it lies best for me.

If you're a tenor like i am the falsetto parts are a bit low in the usual key and i find it easier up a bit - but if you're a baritone and wanting to do it the proper way (the right bits in falsetto/half voice) A should be fine - i've heard alot of people do it in F - and i don't really like it!

if you downlaod it from www.sheetmusicdirect.com you can transpose it to whateevr key you want!
Arthemius

Hi guys Smile

thank you for the advice.
Yes, I have purchased sheet music online, where you can transpose the key so it suits you.

I will try it in different keys. I am a tenor, so Ab or A should do the trick.

Isn't this song your absolute favorite one (especially for the male singers?)?
I looove the "Confrontation", "Who am I" and "Empty chairs at empty tables" as well. A pity they all probably are way overdone in audition context, since they're such great tunes. Currently I'm learning the tunes in Martin Guerre, great ones in that one as well.
Fantine

On a sidenote, I have sheet music in different keys for IDAD too Confused
Joe Valjean

I think in general you should put things in the key to suit you - as long as it's not too low!!!

Things are written in the key that enables someone to sing it in the correct kind of voice in the correct kind of way. Alot of the time though, as these songs are written for pros with big ranges, alot of people can't hit the notes.

A mistake is to put it too low (like Bring Him Home in F). It completely takes away the tenderness of the song. The gentle falsetto is replaced by a chest voice and you just lose the whole effect - think about this when transpoing a song!
WayfarinStrangr

Don't be too quick to judge different styles of the song. I recently performed as Valjean for my high school's production, and the vocal director told me that he wanted me to sing the entire thing with chest voice, and save the falsetto for the very end. At first, I was skeptical, but it ended up sounding really good, and many people liked it better than how it's usually done. It depends on the singer, and how you want the song to play out.
Buff Daddy

Fantine wrote:
On a sidenote, I have sheet music in different keys for IDAD too Confused


I've just finished a run in a community theatre production and the score included 2 different keys for "I dreamed a Dream" and "Empty Chairs at Empty tables".

Buff Very Happy
jcstar

WayfarinStrangr wrote:
Don't be too quick to judge different styles of the song. I recently performed as Valjean for my high school's production, and the vocal director told me that he wanted me to sing the entire thing with chest voice, and save the falsetto for the very end. At first, I was skeptical, but it ended up sounding really good, and many people liked it better than how it's usually done. It depends on the singer, and how you want the song to play out.


I did it that way, too.

Andy.
music is my life!!!

In the vocal score for the show, Bring him home is in A Major, and I Dreamed a Dream starts in Eb Major Smile
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