Our Great Mikado Virtuous Man

This is not only a show I have not performed in, but one that I want to sing its adaptation in the Japanese language.  Yes, there is, in fact, a Japanese rendition of the operetta, The Mikado.

In this song, Pish-Tush, a noble lord of the town of Titipu, explains to Nanki-Poo that not long ago, the lord of Japan, the Mikado, decreed that flirting, unless married, was a crime punishable by death.  The tailor, Ko-Ko, was accused and subsequently jailed.  The other lords, knowing how fatal this could be, considering human nature, subverted the law by appointing Ko-Ko as the Lord High Executioner. Since he was next to be executed, no others could be until he had done it himself, and since Ko-Ko's not the type to do himself in, the town of Titipu was spared until the Mikado would eventually himself come to Titipu.

Thankfully, the Mikado has more than a few bass roles, which makes any prospect of joining a production all the better, since I know 'As Someday it may happen', sung by Ko-Ko and am learning 'A More Humane Mikado', sung by the Mikado himself and 'I am So Proud' sung by Ko-Ko, Pish-tush, and Poo-Bah.

When a Felon's Not Engaged in His Employment

Sung by the Sargent during the Second Act of The Pirates of Penzance, he laments that the lot of a police man often is not a happy one.  Which is understandable, considering many police in story are often portrayed as either incompetent or corrupt. 

The Sargent notes that while felons, such as the Pirates of Penzance, are in fact, villains, they are not completely consumed by their need to commit crimes and is evidenced by the innocent acts of enjoyment they pursue. 

While I can understand how baritone and tenor are capable of singing this song, I feel it just doesn't have the same effect as a bass.  Especially so at the end of the chorus, where the Sargent and his men repeat 'Happy One' an additional octave lower.  Besides, there are enough tenors in the cast supplied by Fredrick and that's good enough for me. 

O Isis Und Osiris

Another one of the Magic Flute pieces I was to sing back in the day.  But alas, the aforementioned cold prevented me from seeking the blessings of the gods, Isis and Osirus, upon Tamino and Pamina as they venture forth in their journey to join the Order of Wisdom.

While, I have seen productions of this which show the Order as Egyptian, it's not necessarily so in the liner notes.   All it says that Tamino is a prince of a 'distant land'.  Take that for what you will.  However, the principles that Sarastro is known to sing for are in reference to the fact that Mozart's Freemasonry, which is in short; a brotherhood of sorts of worker class peoples, but even then, there's much to it than that and not entirely relevant to this post.

The deep and almost humble tone of this song has personal meaning to me, being a practicing Christian, and feel that song is almost a form of worship to the heavens itself.