My experience with the instrumental accompaniment of the musical Urinetown was surprisingly enhanced as I listened attentively to the musical value of the comedic performance. Of course, each musical performance was supported by vocals from the individual actors. But, the comedic nature of the film is undoubtedly facilitated by the background instrumental music. The instrumental music is quite simple, rarely polyphonic in texture, and focused on exaggerating moments of comedy or suspense. Instruments such as the bass, piano, trumpet usually combine with the vocals, but sometimes play alone as the actors dance theatrically.
My general feeling towards the musical was amused yet enchanted by the cerographical impressiveness of the play. In order to effectively utilize the dynamic versatility of instrumental accompaniment, the musical had to of been prepared to perfection with every beat. Every piano stroke had to be in perfect coordination with the actors. Furthermore, the actors and musicians must have an equal interpretation of beat and meter. If not, the instruments would lose value, and the music would lose continuity. Regarding genres such as the concerto, or symphony, all musical parts of the performance are able to focus on the conductor in order to achieve an exact tempo. In the case of a musical, actors must be fixated on the audience, which makes attaining a uniform tempo a difficult task.
Regarding my dislikes of the play, I found the simplicity of the instrumental accompaniment slightly disappointing. Although the vocals of each actor were impressive, I felt as if the orchestra could have been more elaborate. Moreover, the vocals were powerful, but often monotonous as the play never focused on the ability of one actor. This may be common for musicals, but after a semester of Music History I sought a more impactful experience from the music in the play.
Interestingly, musicals are intended to provide the audience with a theatrical experience facilitated by written music. This intention can be compared to the genre or the opera. Metaphorically, musicals contain an operatic recitative as the vocals follow an exact script, but the instrumentals often provide the musical freedom of the recitative. The audience can anticipate what the actor will provide, but instruments provide the variation necessary to keep the audience attentive. To conclude, the musical offers a unique genre of live performance with theatrical value similar to that of opera. Exhibiting distinction yet coordination between the vocalists and instruments is an intricate process that produces significant emotional value.