Masterclass Monday: Broadway-Based Hip Hop Courtesy Of The Music Man


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Good Masterclass Monday Morning to all of you! It’s been a while, hasn’t it? But have I got something for you!

Below, you will be treated to an excellent performance of “Trouble” by Robert Preston from the movie version of Meredith Willson’s “The Music Man”.

I have also included the opening scene from this show, “Rock Island”.

And as I was watching these videos, it dawned on me that Hip Hop and Rap artists should take special note of this and other similar numbers in this classic musical.

The verbal bantering synchronized to an underlying harmonic and rhythmic structure is very similar to what we see and hear from our current Rap and Hip Hop artists.

This song definitely encompasses a more retro feel in content and, of course, the genre is very much Broadway.

However, what I did appreciate about The Music Man numbers was the clarity of the words – one thing that suffers so much when some of our Rap or Hip Hop artists perform.

I would absolutely love to hear a Rap/Hip Hop artist cover this number. How cool would that be?

And it would cross to a genre that is the polar opposite of what has become the norm in the pop industry.


TROUBLE


ROCK ISLAND

About Masterclass Lady

Rosanne (Giallonardo) Simunovic began her musical career in Timmins, Ontario. She studied piano with Anne Pizzale and later, at an advanced level, with Soeur Anita Vaugeois (Sister Cecile of Les Soeurs De L’Assomption in Timmins). Her vocal and accompaniment skills were nurtured by her aunt, the late Dorothea Mascioli. When Rosanne graduated from O’Gorman High School, she moved on to the University of Toronto where she continued her piano and vocal studies while attaining a Bachelor of Arts Degree. She was hired as a piano accompanist for several musical companies, most notably, the National Ballet Of Canada. She presently holds an A.R.C.T. Teacher’s Diploma in Voice from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. Rosanne has studied choral conducting with numerous well known Canadian Conductors, including Wayne Riddell of Montreal, Quebec and the internationally renowned Dr. Elmer Iseler. She has been a founding member of numerous community-based arts organizations: the Timmins Arts Council, later known as Arts & Culture Timmins, the Timmins Symphony Orchestra, and, the Timmins Youth Singers…as well as the TYS Alumnus choir, the Timmins Concert Singers. In 1987, she was also selected to be the conductor of the Timmins Board Of Education Choir, comprised of talented students from Grades 5 to 8. In 1988, she was elected to the Board Of Directors of the Ontario Choral Federation (now known as Choirs Ontario), where she served as Chair of the Festivals Committee for six consecutive seasons. In 1996, in honour of the Ontario Choral Federation’s 25th Anniversary, Rosanne was selected as one of 25 recipients of the OCF’s Distinguished Service Award for outstanding contribution to the choral art. The ceremony was presided by Lieutenant Governor, Hal Jackman. In November 1997, Rosanne Simunovic was selected by the Rotary Club Of Timmins to receive the prestigious Paul Harris Award for her years of dedication to the artistic development of young musical talent in Timmins. In August of 2002, Rosanne Simunovic was selected by the Board Of Directors of Choirs Ontario to serve as Conductor of both the Provincial Junior and Teen Choir Camps, now renamed in honour of the Camp Benefactors, Don and Lillian Wright. In November 2002, Rosanne was the one of the recipients of the Commemorative Medal for the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, honouring her work in the development of the arts in Timmins. Under Rosanne Simunovic’s direction, the Timmins Youth Singers and the Timmins Concert Singers have been featured in numerous choral festivals and performing opportunities outside of Timmins. In 1985, they were selected to partici

4 Responses to “Masterclass Monday: Broadway-Based Hip Hop Courtesy Of The Music Man”

  1. Oh, I love that–both “Trouble” and the linking of the patter song to Rap and Hip Hop! I wonder how many how perform and/or listen to those genres realize the connection?

    And to carry back the tradition a bit farther, here’s “A Modern Major General” from The Pirates of Penzance (the Delacorte Theater production with Kevin Kline and Linda Ronstadt):

    (In case it doesn’t embed, it’s here.)

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  2. Yes Rachel. I forgot about the Gilbert and Sullivan. Thanks for adding the link. I love G&S. It would be innovative if a current rap/hip hop artist updated these classics.

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  3. It definitely would be!

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