Does anyone know what show the song "A Bell Is No Bell" is from?

It's listed as a song in "Some Enchanted Evening" (i just got cast in the show)

It's from The Sound of Music. It's the verse that appears just before the reprise of "Sixteen Going on Seventeen".

Later days
David

Then why is the song called that and not Reprise of 16 oging on 17?

that's just confusing

Because it's just some sort of weird pre-tag to the reprise... just four little lines.

The revue you are doing possibly only uses the "A Bell is No Bell" section and not the reprise of "Sixteen going on Seventeen". In the score of The Sound of Music, the song is titled "Reprise: Sixteen going on Seventeen".

Later days
David

Actually, in the 1981 London Revival of The Sound of Music, there is a song called A Bell Is No Bell, which is sung in the beginning of Act One between The Mother Abbess and Maria...during the scene where Maria is told she is being sent to the Von Trapp house. The song is quite lovely and I don't know why any other productions of the show haven't used it. Well, I think the Danish revival (2004) used it, but entitled it as "A Bell" in Danish.

It's basically the same four lines, but it's been expanded musically. The song is about two minutes and eighteen seconds long.

A bell is no bell till you ring it
A song is no song till you sing it
And love in your heart wasn't put there to stay
Love isn't love till you give it away...

As stated above, leads into the reprise of Sixteen Going on Seventeen.

A bit of trivia: originally, it was supposed to be the lead in to Climb Every Mountain. Makes more sense in my opinion.

But -

■ The tone and choices of imagery suit Maria far better than the Mother Abbess;
■ In its actual position, it serves as a beat to show the development of Maria's character;and
■ Using this to lead into "Climb Every Mountain" would diminish the impact of that song.

So I don't see how it would make better sense to use it there at all.

Later days
David

Hey RainbowJude!

I know the lyrics does suit Maria, but I think it also works as a song sung to Maria.

Maria was confused about her love for the Captain and was contemplating forgetting about him and taking her vows. The Mother Abbess reassures her that the love of a man and woman is holy. She has to face life. Love should be given away, not kept hidden in the heart, hence "Love in your heart wasn't put there to stay...love isn't love till you give it away".

At least, that's what I think. I guess it works as a lead in to the reprise of Sixteen Going on Seventeen too. Maria has learned some lessons about life and tells Liesl she now knows how to spend her love.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trqFRa4b35M&feature=channel_page

Enjoy!