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"Accustomed": Spoke-sung or not? 
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Post "Accustomed": Spoke-sung or not?
Would "I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face" (or all of Higgins' songs, really) necessarily have to be spoke-sung? My guess would be "no", seeing as Higgins' songs were written for Rex Harrison, who was not a trained singer. My question is, could Higgins' songs be rearranged to suit a trained singer?

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Wed Mar 19, 2008 5:11 pm
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Yes they can be sung, they were sung in the most recent West End production of My Fair Lady. I don't think it matters whether they are sung or spoke sung, what matters is that you get the character right and give it your own personal interpretation paying careful attention to the lyrics and the intentions at every single moment of your performance. What matters most is - making it real.

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Thu Mar 20, 2008 4:35 am
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it should NOT be sung! ever.

the rythyms and tempois of the song are such that the spoke-sung approach is the only legit way to do any of higgins songs.

Jane, I tihnk you mean in the recent london production the actors (i.e. pryce and andrews) sung more notes on purpose than harrison or ricxhardson did..but it was still spoke-sung.

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Thu Mar 20, 2008 10:46 am
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Yes I didn't mean singing in the style of Brent Barrett. :lol: Just a tad more...legit than just spoken. ;)

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Thu Mar 20, 2008 4:24 pm
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Frederick Loewe wrote Higgens' songs to be spoke-sung with natural dips in the voice at the end of phrases.

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Sat Mar 22, 2008 8:12 am
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at lerner's request you mean.[/b]

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Mon Mar 24, 2008 8:49 am
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I insist again, upon hearing this, that the only good Higgins left who hasn't played Higgins would be John Lithgow, as his work as Lawrence in DRS is incredibly Higgins-esque, and he makes the transitions between speak-singing and just singing effortlessly in his songs.

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Sun Apr 20, 2008 9:44 am
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Lithgow played Higgins a few seasons ago in los Angeles. Melissa Errico was his Liza.

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Mon Apr 21, 2008 1:15 pm
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It might be a bit of a stretch, but I could see John Cleese as Higgins, especially now. He wasn't the best singer in Monty Python, so the Higgins songs might be his speed.


Sun Aug 03, 2008 12:59 am
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except he's a good 20-25 years too old to play the role.

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Sun Aug 03, 2008 5:46 am
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I was just in a production of My Fair Lady and played Alfred Doolittle. I think that all of the songs should be sung properly. The only person in my opinion who could get away with speaking most of it is Rex Harrison =P other than that it should be sung. imo.

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Tue Mar 24, 2009 12:27 pm
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sorry you are wrong. Jermey Irons, Ian Richardson,John lithgow..etc. .all spoke sung the role..and did it well. becasuse thats how it should be done!

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