Choosing A Concert Programme
By Lisa Mills, Artistic and Musical Director for Jesus Christ Superstar, April 2006
I am often asked, "how do you decide what to include in a programme? How do you get your ideas for the concerts?"
A lot of people think that a programme is just thrown together with songs you like to sing, but there is a great deal of consideration that goes into choosing the right numbers for a programme.
First, the idea – the concept. What is the theme? How will you be dressed to incorporate that theme? Props? Setting? Stage Dressing? Staging? Choreography?
Secondly, the music – the content. Choosing the right songs is a difficult decision. Organising the programme around the voices you have, their strengths and abilities and also getting that fine balance of different keys, tonalities and tempos. After all, we'd all love to do a programme full of great show ballads, but that's very boring for the audience to listen to. Considering your audience is also an important feature of the programme, afterall, they are the ones paying to listen to you. Its important to incorporate well known items as well as introduce them to less familiar pieces.
Songs with differing speeds is essential – lively chorus numbers interchanged with slower solo items. Happy pieces followed by slower sad styles, then a jovial or comical number, then back to a classic 4 part ensemble number, another solo, maybe a duet or quartet, a soloist leading the ensemble: Its a fine balance that takes a great deal of consideration.
Finally, the performance – the reality. Do you use a band? What instruments would best suit your accompanying arrangements? Backing tracks? Mixed Media? Again, lots to consider to get that perfect harmony between the concept, the content and the reality of your concert programme.
