<p>I am going to audition at NYU this fall and I am not sure if Panis Angelicus counts as a classical song</p>
<p>You NEED to be working with your voice teacher on audition rep. And no, you should not sing Panis Angelicus; it’s not considered suitable for college auditions.</p>
<p>Mezzo mom is correct in that you should ask your teacher. I don’t know anything about voice other then it is as or more competitive then instrumental admissions, but I know from instrumental music that reading the websites only gives you a general idea (for example, almost any violin program will require music from the classical, romantic and modern eras, plus generally unaccompanied bach, but some concertos and show pieces and sonatas are acceptable, others aren’t). More importantly, teachers tend to know the kind of pieces that show off a students abilities and also will show what auditioners generally look for.</p>
<p>Why wouldn’t Panis Angelicus be appropriate for college auditions. It’s an art song, classical, and in a foreign language. Sure, it’s not a difficult song, but you should sing something that fits your voice well. Better to sing something simple than to try to audition with an aria that you’re not ready to sing yet.</p>
<p>leobaylor, you are correct in that it is better to sing something that is appropriate for your abilities and voice, but there are things that school’s require and pieces that are not among those they choose to hear. It’s important to match the piece to the school and often, you’re not allowed to venture into other territory. There are plenty of Art Songs, Folk Songs and easier pieces easily found which are acceptable.
Yes, Panis Angelicus- written by Saint Thomas Aquinas- is a performance piece but it is considered 'sacred music" and is classed as a hymn. It is not an Art Song and it’s in Latin, which will get you no points at an audition. Schools are almost always quite specific in their requirements. The Ave Maria, in contrast, was written as a song (to the Lady of the Lake) and was later adapted into the sacred repertoire, Other pieces may be part of oratorios, which are often permitted in auditions (again, check the school’s requirements).
If, by chance, a singer is auditioning for a degree in VP/Sacred Music, then, of course, it is appropriate to choose rep from the sacred side.
It’s necessary to cover the 4 “basic” singing languages - Italian, English, German and French- before branching off, and the selections required for school auditions will call for 2-4 of those. The one exception could be if you speak another language at home (such as Russian, Spanish, Hungarian, etc), and you have listed this on your application: then you may be asked to sing something in your native language and should have a folk song or Art Song prepared, or an aria, if appropriate to your level.</p>
<p>I believe that Mezzo’sMama is speaking of the Schubert Ave Maria in particular. The original words for that were a translation into German of part of Walter Scott’s “The Lady of the Lake” known as Ellen’s Third Song.</p>
<p>There are many other pieces titled “Ave Maria,” most of which are settings of a much older text that is drawn from sacred tradition. These days, it is much more common to hear an arrangement done long after Schubert’s death that uses a version of the sacred text in Latin rather awkwardly altered to fit the music than it is to hear Schubert’s version. Those wishing to use the so-called Schubert Ave Maria in Latin rather than the original German for an audition should check to see whether the school considers that a valid piece.</p>
<p>Agree with Mezzo’sMama. Panis Angelicus is not considered an art song for auditions, it is considered sacred music. </p>
<p>NYU requires “Three (3) Songs: At least one of your songs must be in English and one must be in a foreign language – Italian, German, or French.” If you are looking for ideas, the list of suggestions here for the NFAA competition is a good place to start. [Apply</a> | YoungArts](<a href=“http://www.youngarts.org/voice-requirements]Apply”>http://www.youngarts.org/voice-requirements)</p>
<p>Although you might be able to use the Panis Angelicus as your 3rd song, you probably won’t be singing it. You usually sing 2, one you choose and one they choose. They want to hear English and either French, German, or Italian. If you offer the Latin as your choice you are not complying with their request. </p>
<p>Are you working with a teacher who has gotten students into programs similar to where you want to audition? DD’s teacher guided her with the song selections that would showcase her voice and comply with the audition requirements. Going into her senior year they had about 5 selections she was working on and recorded in October. They chose which ones she would present to each school depending on the circumstances of the school and her performances of the songs at that time. Her teacher was a college professor and knew what they were looking for. If you do not have that help, now is the time to locate it. Her teacher did take some students on in their senior year for auditions, but it is much harder.</p>