Music & Theatre
Posts about music and theatre topics and performances
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In the Bulb There is a Flower
Happy Easter! Today’s #WeeklyWednesday is a song I sang for our Zoom church service last Sunday, and I hope you enjoy it! “In the Bulb” (1986) has words and music by Natalie Sleeth. Special thanks to our wonderful director of music, Dan Shore, for recording the accompaniment! And thank you, as always, for watching – I hope this finds you well, particularly during this challenging time for our world! ? #AshleyWagnerArts
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Artistic Philosophy, Background, and Goals
One of the most meaningful experiences I’ve had as a performer – one of the times in life I’ve felt most useful – was in the hospital room of a dying man, surrounded by his family, singing his favorite Gospel songs. I began singing and performing leading children’s roles in musical theatre as a very young child – initially because it was fun, interesting, and something I was good at (Annie was the first dream role I performed). While enjoyment is still a motivating factor, my passion for the work I do (and the way I try to live) stems more from a desire to influence people’s lives for the…
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I te vurria vasà
I’m so grateful for the experience of living in Napoli for almost 3 years and the wonderful friends I made there ??? I came to love Neapolitan songs through singing them with a local choir ☺️ ~ and when it came to my NYU Master’s Recital, I knew I wanted to include these very special pieces. Today’s #WeeklyWednesday is the last of four. “I’ te vurria vasà” has music by Eduardo di Capua and lyrics by Vincenzo Russo. I’ te vurria vasa (1900) Translation: Berny Devlin, Luca Schiano di Cola, and Ashley Wagner Special thanks to Luca Schiano di Cola for language help brushing up my Neapolitan!! Also to Hamlet’s…
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Dduje paravise
I’m so grateful for the experience of living in Napoli for almost 3 years and the wonderful friends I made there ??? This piece is one of my absolute favorites of all the Neapolitan songs I was introduced to; I have such fond memories singing it with my Neapolitan choir! “Dduje paravise” has music by E. A. Mario and lyrics by Ciro Parente, and is the third of four Neapolitan songs I included in my NYU Master’s Recital. Dduje Paravise – Two Heavens (1928) Translation: Berny Devlin, Luca Schiano di Cola, and Ashley Wagner Special thanks to Luca Schiano di Cola for language help brushing up my Neapolitan!! Also to…
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O’ paese d’ ‘o sole (canzone napoletana)
I’m so grateful for the experience of living in Napoli for almost 3 years ??? I became friends with some truly wonderful people there (Neapolitans and ex-pats alike) [penso spesso a voi tutti e spero che stiate bene, specialmente adesso…]. I came to love Neapolitan songs through singing them with a local choir ☺️ ~ and when it came to my NYU Master’s Recital, I knew I wanted to include these very special pieces. So, today’s #WeeklyWednesday is the second of four: “O’ paese d’ ‘o sole” with music by Vincenzo d’Annibale and lyrics by Libero Bovio. Special thanks to Luca Schiano di Cola for language help brushing up my Neapolitan!! Also…
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Passione (canzone napoletana)
I’m so grateful for the experience of living in Napoli for almost 3 years ??? I became friends with some truly wonderful people there (Neapolitans and ex-pats alike) [penso spesso a voi tutti e spero che stiate bene, specialmente adesso…]. I came to love Neapolitan songs through singing them with a local choir ☺️ ~ and when it came to my NYU Master’s Recital, I knew I wanted to include these very special pieces. So, today’s #WeeklyWednesday is the first of four: “Passione” with music by Ernesto Tagliaferri and Nicola Valente, and lyrics by Libero Bovio. Passione – Passion (1934) Translation: Natalia Chernega, Luca Schiano di Cola, and Ashley Wagner…
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“Bill” (Showboat) – NYU Master’s Recital
Hey friends ? Today’s #WeeklyWednesday is another favorite from my NYU Master’s Recital ?? I’m really grateful for that moment and for the incredibly gifted friends I’ve gotten to work with at NYU. Hoping for positive resolutions for those who’ve had their recitals postponed due to corona virus ? “Bill” was composed by Jerome Kern, with lyrics by P.G. Wodehouse. It was cut from an earlier show, but found a home in the revolutionary 1927 musical “Showboat.” Oscar Hammerstein revised some lyrics to suit the character of Julie LaVerne (originally played by speakeasy star Helen Morgan). I don’t remember hearing this piece before my first semester at #NYU, but I…
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“My Ship”
Today’s #WeeklyWednesday is one of the earliest pieces I worked on during my time at NYU (for our group Song Analysis class), and what means the most to me about visiting this song again in my Master’s Recital is the different and more hopeful way I was able to connect to it this time. “My Ship” was written for the 1941 musical “Lady in the Dark,” with music by Kurt Weill and lyrics by Ira Gershwin. The show is pretty obscure now, but was groundbreaking at the time, due to its focus on psychoanalysis and usage of music to further the plot/action and character development. My earlier recording (at home,…
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“I Have Confidence”
Today’s #WeeklyWednesday is the opening of my NYU Master’s recital! I can’t imagine a more fitting song to describe how I felt in that particular moment and about the future in general. The Sound of Music is possibly my favorite musical of all time (if you want to know more, check out this paper I wrote about it ?). “I Have Confidence” has music and lyrics by Richard Rodgers. It was written for the movie version of The Sound of Music, which was made after the death of the brilliant lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II, who collaborated with Rodgers on the rest of the work. This was the only piece in…
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What Makes Me Love Him?
Today’s #WeeklyWednesday is one of my favorite songs from my NYU Master’s recital… I’ve loved it since first hearing it probably 20 years ago on Sarah Brightman’s “The Songs That Got Away” album (which is great, if you haven’t heard it!). It was such a pleasure to perform it, and to sing it to the people who were there that night ? “What Makes Me Love Him?” is from the musical “The Apple Tree,” with music and lyrics by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick. In the show (from the biblical story of creation/Adam and Eve), Eve sings this about Adam at the end of her life. I hope you enjoy…
