A Songbook for 75 Cents
Major
Music Theatre
Submission Type
Oral Presentation
Area of Study or Work
Humanities, Music, Theatre Arts, Women's and Gender Studies
Faculty Advisor
Justin Brill
Location
CNS E101
Start Date
4-11-2026 11:15 AM
End Date
4-11-2026 12:15 PM
Abstract
In the early to mid-20th century, songbooks were sold with collections of the most popular songs from the stage. An intriguing pair of books called the Showtime Choral Collection: Three Part Women’s Voices Vol. 1 & 2, posed quite a mystery. Why were these popular music theatre songs, which were written by men, arranged for three women, and what is significant about the printing of these books? The context of the use of these books as well as how they came to be can be found using the hints from the songbooks like composers, copyright dates, and themes within the songs. The songbooks also encouraged a deep dive into the history of women’s influence on music theatre. The historical significance of influential women through the stage and screen is highlighted by the arrangement of a more commercial sound in the music (upbeat tunes with comedic lyrics and tight harmonies as well as swooning love songs). Personally, the songbooks hold an important insight into how families pass down music. My grandmother handed these down to me, and they sparked a research rabbit hole! As a woman in theatre, this topic is very inspiring. Women have had an expansive yet tense role in music theatre. Oftentimes women were overshadowed by the men in the field until artists like Mary Martin, Ethel Merman, The Andrews Sisters, and many more brought women to the forefront of theatre. There is not only historical, but cultural impact of the songs, composers, and arrangements included in these books. Even today, the female performers and creatives of the Music Theatre world are performing roles written and cultivated by men. The historical significance and personal attachment to the songbooks cost much more than 75 cents.
A Songbook for 75 Cents
CNS E101
In the early to mid-20th century, songbooks were sold with collections of the most popular songs from the stage. An intriguing pair of books called the Showtime Choral Collection: Three Part Women’s Voices Vol. 1 & 2, posed quite a mystery. Why were these popular music theatre songs, which were written by men, arranged for three women, and what is significant about the printing of these books? The context of the use of these books as well as how they came to be can be found using the hints from the songbooks like composers, copyright dates, and themes within the songs. The songbooks also encouraged a deep dive into the history of women’s influence on music theatre. The historical significance of influential women through the stage and screen is highlighted by the arrangement of a more commercial sound in the music (upbeat tunes with comedic lyrics and tight harmonies as well as swooning love songs). Personally, the songbooks hold an important insight into how families pass down music. My grandmother handed these down to me, and they sparked a research rabbit hole! As a woman in theatre, this topic is very inspiring. Women have had an expansive yet tense role in music theatre. Oftentimes women were overshadowed by the men in the field until artists like Mary Martin, Ethel Merman, The Andrews Sisters, and many more brought women to the forefront of theatre. There is not only historical, but cultural impact of the songs, composers, and arrangements included in these books. Even today, the female performers and creatives of the Music Theatre world are performing roles written and cultivated by men. The historical significance and personal attachment to the songbooks cost much more than 75 cents.