Writing the scores to top Broadway shows is an extremely challenging job, with pressure to always come up with new ideas and to meet deadlines when perhaps the inspiration just won’t come, but those with a real passion for music itself and for telling stories would fall right into the role. Though there is little job security and it’ll probably require a lucky break to get started, for some this really is the only career path worth pursuing. So few make it to the point where they are known for their writing talents, but now we’ll have a quick look at some of those who have and whose works continue to amaze audiences today, as well as what makes their work so iconic and influential to those composers and lyricists just starting in the business.
Some songwriters only like to write either the music or lyrics themselves, since these suit their talents and specific skill set, as well as being what they enjoy the most, and these songwriters tend to find a writing partner, who complements their own writing style. This is the case for Andrew Lloyd Webber, the esteemed composer, who for the beginning part of his career worked solely alongside Tim Rice, a well-known lyricist. The two as a pair are responsible for works such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Jesus Christ Superstar, as well as Evita. Together their work tended to be sung-through, with music lasting through the entirety of the performance. They also liked to take sources and translate them to fit into other musical styles, such as in the piece ‘One More Angel in Heaven’ from ‘Joseph’. This piece is sung with a country and western feel, though the piece is set at the time of the Old Testament, as well as the entirety of Jesus Christ Superstar which is performed through rock music. Now the duo have moved on to work with other collaborators, with Webber famous for ‘Phantom of the Opera’ and ‘Cats’, and Rice for ‘The Lion King’ and ‘Aida’. Other good song-writing partnerships include Kander and Ebb, Shaiman and Whittman, and George and Ira Gershwin.
Some songwriters prefer to write the entire score themselves, writing both the music and the lyrics. Perhaps the most famous to work in this way is Stephen Sondheim, who is definitely one of the most popular Broadway songwriters of all time. Starting as just a lyricist for ‘West-Side Story’, his work for the theatre is extensive, and varies greatly, with him basing shows on a range of different sources to create truly original pieces. He is best known for his witty and clever lyrics and his ability to characterise people in the story so well through their songs. Some of his most famous works include ‘Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street’, ‘Company’ and ‘A Little Night Music’. Another well-known piece for which he provided the score, ‘Into the Woods’, has a film adaptation soon to be released so though he has now stopped writing for the theatre he is kept busy with both film and new theatre adaptations of his shows always being released.
In this article, it was only possible to briefly look at three songwriters who have had an impact on the world of musical theatre, but there are so many great composers and lyricists out there so perhaps next time you’re listening to a great show soundtrack, or even just any album, have a look at the artist behind it and some of their other music. You just might find a whole list of amazing less well-known songs that you fall straight in love with.
Images from: http://d3rm69wky8vagu.cloudfront.net/photos/large/5.172103.jpg, http://img.timeinc.net/time/europe/magazine/2009/0518/360_sondheim_0518.jpg
0 Comment:
Be the first one to comment on this article.