IN PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

Ten Songs For Fun, from the Art of Belly Canto. A group of ten songs for medium voice and piano from the composer of the highly acclaimed, THEY SAID... In a program note on the title page Dr. Myers states, “Although the first six songs in IN PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS have to do with love and marriage, they should not be programmed in place of Schumann’s FRAUEN LIEBE UND LEBEN.” This and other such helpful advice is only to be expected from the Renaissance man who is currently working on his autobiography, HOW TO CULTIVATE YOUR VOICE WITHOUT PLOWING IT UNDER. A total listing of contents for IN PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS includes:

1. Things could be worse
2. Wanted: Good woman
3. Wedding song
4. Mills, thunder, hammers (Originally a four-part round by Peter Valton, transcribed by Dr. Myers into a song for solo voice)
5. Husband for sale
6. Emma, come on home
7. Ode from a secretary
8. The centipede
9. They tasted prickley
10. We have the best noses that be in our town

(Originally from “Wit and Mirth: or Pills to Purge Melancholy,” edited by Thomas D’Urfey in 1719-20. Dr. Myers has expanded the original melody of 104 notes into an arrangement containing 1,309 notes. While usually sung by a man, any woman equipped with a suitable and ample proboscis may wish to compete).

“...they will add spice to your programs; perfect for encores.”
Louise Lerch, The NATS Journal [Now Journal of Singing]

30 Pages Medium Range ca. 12:30 Minutes