What are some key characteristics of music that make music sound like musical theatre?

[finite epoch]

I’ve been wanting to compose for musical theatre for a while now and I finally got an opportunity to do so! I’ve already made good progress on the second number (which is a very lyrical based number), but I was asked by the writer to work on the opening number. Unfortunately, I’m not super familiar with how musical theatre sounds like musical theatre.

I’ve done a bunch of research on characteristics within musical theatre, and I am aware of some of the details such as accenting the off-beats, chug chords, key changes, and cakewalks. Unfortunately, I still don’t know what makes musical theatre sounds like musical theatre.

If anyone could help, that would be awesome!! 🤙🤙

[stiff charm]

The thing about musical theatre is it isn't really truly a style unto itself, it's very much an amalgam of various popular styles throughout history. The key is to first identify what musical style you actually want to be writing in - Early like Rogers and Hammerstein? Jazz infused? ALW megamusical? Grand orchestral thing? 80s rock musical?

Ultimately musical numbers are very much to serve the narrative - so start by what you are trying to communicate in the number - for an opening number we're probably setting up our setting, maybe some main characters, so think about how the song will flow to clearly incorporate those elements and set the tone for the whole show

[fervent lion]

Hi hi, I would recommend listening to musical theatre songs you like/want to get the style of and do listening analyses

I have a sheet somewhere with the kind of things you should be thinking about

[topaz summit]

In the Golden Age musical theatre style (the best style) A very important thing is lots of secondary dominants, modal interchange. Use very interesting harmony.

[finite epoch]

What are some examples of Golden Age music theatre?

[finite epoch]

Thanks! I think that’s a much better way of looking at it than how I’ve been

[finite epoch]

Could you share it?

If you still have active to it of course

[fervent lion]

Ping me this eve or tomorrow, I forgot yesterday and I'm out all day today 😭

[topaz summit]

Golden age musical theatre is ones like Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Sound of Music, Singing in the Rain, Slipper and the Rose, Oklahoma, etc.

[finite epoch]

I’ve been on a trip for the past couple days, so sorry I didnt see this

Whenever you’re free if you could send it, that would be great

[finite epoch]

Thanks! I’ll rewatch a bunch of these

[fervent lion]

Lmao dw so have I rather spontaneously

[fervent lion]

TWENTY YEARS LATER