In Memory of Tim Curry: A Life Worth Singing
CCSD Celebrates Tim Curry's extraordinary career through the music he helped make unforgettable
When we lose an artist who has given us so much joy, one of the most meaningful ways we can remember them is through the music they leave behind. Today, we remember Tim Curry, who died at age 80. A singular performer with an unmistakable voice, extraordinary theatrical presence, and a career spanning stage, film, television, music, and voice acting, Curry left an indelible mark on popular culture.
For many, he will forever be Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show. However, Curry's musical career reached far beyond that iconic role. He began his professional career on the London stage in Hair and went on to originate Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show. He later earned three Tony Award nominations for Amadeus, My Favorite Year, and Spamalot, where he played King Arthur. On screen, he brought his musical theater background to films including Annie and Muppet Treasure Island, while his unmistakable voice became familiar to generations through animation and television. Curry also recorded several solo albums and had a genuine career as a rock singer, including the 1978 album Read My Lips and the 1979 album Fearless.
So what better way to celebrate Tim Curry than by exploring some of the CHORAL music connected to his extraordinary career?
Let's Explore Tim Curry's Choral Catalogue
Always Look on the Bright Side of Life
From Monty Python's Spamalot
Tim Curry brought his considerable comedic and musical talents to Broadway and London's West End as King Arthur in Spamalot, earning his THIRD Tony Award nomination for the role.
The show's irreverent “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” is a perfect example of the kind of theatrical humor Curry did so well.
The Mac Huff choral arrangement is available for SATB, SAB, and TTB and includes the song's signature whistling and a playful kick-line ending. (JW Pepper)
Choral arrangement:
J.W. Pepper – Always Look on the Bright Side of Life
The Time Warp
From The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Is there any more obvious place to begin?
“The Time Warp” is one of the most recognizable songs in musical theater and pop culture. Written by Richard O'Brien, the song became synonymous with Curry's performance as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
This energetic choral arrangement by Andy Beck is available for SATB, three-part mixed, and two-part/SSA voices. It even includes opportunities for choreography, making it a natural choice for Halloween concerts, pop programs, and community choirs. (JW Pepper)
“The Time Warp” choral arrangement:
J.W. Pepper – The Time Warp
Science Fiction / Double Feature
From The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Before the Time Warp even begins, Rocky Horror opens with the wonderfully theatrical “Science Fiction / Double Feature.”
This song is a love letter to the classic science-fiction and horror movies that inspired Rocky Horror. While Curry does not perform this opening number in the film, it belongs to the musical world that made Frank-N-Furter and Rocky Horror cultural icons.
And it makes a fantastic choral selection. Arrangements are available for both SATB and SSA, with added harmonies and gospel-inspired chords that give the piece a distinctly choral sound. (Sheet Music Plus)
SATB choral arrangement:
Sheet Music Plus – Science Fiction / Double Feature
Purchase the SSA arrangement:
Sheet Music Plus – Science Fiction / Double Feature SSA
Annie: Choral Highlights
From Annie
Tim Curry's musical theater talents also made their way onto the big screen in the 1982 film adaptation of Annie, where he played the wonderfully villainous Rooster Hannigan.
The choral medley Annie: Choral Highlights includes several songs from the musical, including “It's the Hard-Knock Life,” “Maybe,” “You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile,” “I Don't Need Anything But You,” and “Tomorrow.”
It's a particularly fun choice for choirs looking to celebrate Curry's film career while introducing audiences to the music of one of Broadway's most beloved musicals. (JW Pepper)
A Professional Pirate
From Muppet Treasure Island
For a younger audience, or simply for anyone who grew up loving the Muppets, Tim Curry's performance as Long John Silver in Muppet Treasure Island is impossible to forget.
Curry gets one of the film's great musical numbers with “A Professional Pirate,” a comic, swashbuckling celebration of the pirate life performed with the Muppets.
And yes, you can actually sing it with your choir.
A four-part TTBB arrangement is available as a digital choral download, arranged in a barbershop style and designed for equal voices. (Sheet Music Plus)
Purchase the TTBB choral arrangement:
Sheet Music Plus – A Professional Pirate
A Bonus for the Halloween Choir!
Tales from the Crypt Theme
Tim Curry became one of the defining voices and faces of horror and cult television, including his memorable appearance in Tales from the Crypt.
The series' instantly recognizable theme was composed by Danny Elfman. While it isn't currently available as a choral arrangement, sheet music does exist for the theme in piano/guitar and lead-sheet formats. For a creative choir director, however, this could be an irresistible opportunity to create your own spooky vocal arrangement.
Explore the available sheet music:
Musicnotes – Tales from the Crypt Theme
The Music We Share
We celebrate through song. We grieve through song. We remember through song. We honor the people who have shaped us by taking the music they gave us and giving it a new voice.
Tim Curry gave us an extraordinary collection of characters, performances, songs, and unforgettable moments. From Frank-N-Furter to King Arthur, Rooster Hannigan, to Long John Silver, he understood the power of theatrical storytelling and the joy of a truly memorable performance.
Thank you, Tim Curry, for the characters, the music, and the mischief!
Explore more choral music and find a choir in San Diego:
Choral Consortium of San Diego – sdsings.org