I don't know if there's a name for the song type, but I think I know what you mean. It's the one where at least three or four of the major characters, not necessarily all standing in the same literal space, but are all singing at once, in counterpoint, about what they think is going to happen next, and usually looking forward to it with keen anticipation.
Other examples that come quickly to my mind are the "Quartet" from Candide (Candide, Cunegonde, the Governor, and the Old Lady singing about what seems to be the upward turn in their fortunes, with ironic spoken commentary by Pangloss).
"What a Night This Is Going to Be" from Baker Street (Holmes, Watson, Irene Adler and her lady's maid Daisy singing about Holmes and Adler's upcoming meeting with Moriarty)
"A Weekend In the Country" from A Little Night Music
I think "Anything For Him" from Kiss of the Spider Woman kind of falls into this category, too, with Valentin, Molina, and the Spider Woman all foreseeing the next plot development, though with mixed emotions. |
