My Favorite Ensemble Numbers From Musicals

Ensemble songs are beautiful. So here are my favorites from musicals. 

8) "Finale," The Little Mermaid

Ariel, played by seasoned Broadway actress Sierra Boggess, gets her happily ever after with her Prince in the surface world. The entire cast of The Little Mermaid sings as the Princess of the Sea and the human Prince Eric are wed on a huge ship and sail off on their honeymoon. 

7) "America," West Side Story

Anita, the girlfriend of Shark leader Bernardo, sings about the American Dream and how great things are in the US  in this ensemble number, despite Bernardo's pessimistic skepticism.

 I do get a little annoyed during this song, especially at the line "Organized crime in America." Bernado and the other guys sing it which is why I get annoyed at it.  Don't complain about the existence of organized crime here in the States when you're one of the groups causing it, hypocrites (Bernado and the other Latino men in this song and dance number are part of a gang. Gang activity is organized crime). 

But other than that, it's a good song. How can I not like a song that's partially enthusiastic about the American Dream? 

6) "Finale," Anastasia

The whole cast of Anastasia sings a beautiful reprise of "Once Upon A December," after the Dowager Empress and Gleb, the musical's Bolshevik antagonist, tell the press that the Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov was nothing but a beautiful dream to protect her privacy. 

5) "Get Me To The Church On Time," My Fair Lady

Eliza Doolittle's father is getting married in a few hours and so in this song number, he spends the last few hours before marrying a well-bred lady drinking at pubs all over London, but he urges everyone around him to make sure he gets to the church on time for his wedding. It's a very catchy and upbeat ensemble piece. 

4) "Getting To Know You," The King and I

Performed by Anna Leonowns and her students, the King of Siam's children, this song number is a very catchy one and it's also very endearing, especially since it's sung during Anna and the children's first class together. 

3) "So Long, Farewell," The Sound of Music

This light-hearted and endearing ensemble number is sung by Captain Von Trapp's seven children as a "goodnight" to the guests at a gala.  

2) "One Day More," Les Mis

This number is one heck of an ensemble piece. Multiple characters sing over each other and they're all dreading or anticipating the next day for various reasons. Enjolras, Valjean, and Javert are usually vocal powerhouses during this song.