Transcript Music in Musicals and Film

Music in
Musical Theatre
and Film
Music in Musical Theatre and Film:
Musical Theatre
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Drama and music have existed as independent
expressions of art for thousands of years. It
was not until the seventeenth century that the
two art forms blended to create a new art form,
opera. Opera continued to evolve over the
next three centuries, resulting in another new
art form: musical theatre. From its American
roots, musical theatre has gained popularity
around the world. Its unique and accessible
blend of drama and music continue to attract
new fans today.
Music in Musical Theatre and Film:
An Introduction to Musical Theatre
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During the 1800s, opera as an art form
continued to evolve, but in two entirely opposite
directions. In Germany, composers like Richard
Wagner wrote lengthy “heroic” operas that took
as many as six hours to perform. Meanwhile, in
Paris and Vienna, a lighter, more sentimental
form of comic opera was finding favor with
opera-goers. These “light operas,” or
operettas, were actually stage plays with songs
and dance interspersed with spoken lines.
Music in Musical Theatre and Film:
The Birth of the Broadway Musical
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Toward the end of the century, the operetta crossed the
Atlantic, where it underwent a transformation. Ultimately it
evolved into a dramatic stage form that combines the art of
acting and singing. The Broadway musical had been born.
Like jazz, the Broadway musical – or simply “musical” – is a
uniquely American invention. Its forerunners included not only
operettas but minstrel shows and vaudeville. Vaudeville was
an early staged variety show that included songs, dances and
comedy skits.
One of the first composers of Broadway musicals was George
M. Cohan. His first show was Little Johnny Jones (1904).
“Give My Regards to Broadway,” a song Cohan wrote for the
show, became a classic in its own right. More importantly, the
song contained the first-ever reference to Broadway as a
synonym for “musical theatre.”
Music in Musical Theatre and Film:
The Classic Broadway Musical
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In the 1920s, the Broadway musical underwent some refinements. Although
the emphasis was still on music, the stories began to assume more of the
characteristics of actual drama. These included richer plotlines and carefully
scripted dialogue, the spoken lines of a play or musical show. During this
era, composers such as George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, and Cole Porter
emerged on the scene. Among their legendary contributions to musical
theatre were Lady Be Good, Show Boat, and Anything Goes.
After World War II, composers and lyricists further developed the musical.
The period saw the creation of beloved musicals including My Fair Lady
(Frederick Loewe and Alan Jay Lerner), The Sound of Music (Richard
Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II), and West Side Story (Leonard
Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim). Such musicals added many
unforgettable show tunes such as “Maria,” “Edelweiss,” and “Somewhere” to
pop singers’ repertoires. A repertoire is an inventory of compositions
mastered and performed by a musician.
Prior to World War II, musicals by and large reflected optimism – the belief
that goodness will triumph over evil. During the latter part of the twentieth
century, however, writers of musicals began addressing darker, more
serious themes in their musicals. Examples of this trend include John
Kander and Fred Ebb’s dark comedies Chicago and Cabaret.
Music in Musical Theatre and Film:
From Broadway to Hollywood
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The fact that classic musicals continue to be revived
on Broadway today attests to the popularity of this art
form. In addition, many Broadway musicals have
been adapted into successful films. Several of these
became Hollywood hits that earned numerous
Academy Awards. These include
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West Side Story (1961) – ten Oscars, including Best Picture
My Fair Lady (1964) – eight Oscars,
including Best Picture
The Sound of Music (1965) – five Oscars,
including Best Picture
Cabaret (1972) – eight Oscars
Chicago (2002) – six Oscars, including
Best Picture
Music in Musical Theatre and Film:
An International Trend
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By the early 1970s, British and French creative teams
were making important contributions of musical
theatre. In the decades following, they have become
a dominant force in this art form. London native
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s creations include Cats, Evita,
and The Phantom of the Opera. Elton John, also of
Great Britain, collaborated with Tim Rice to create
shows such as The Lion King and Aida. French
composers Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain
Boublil created such blockbuster hits as Les
Miserables and Miss Saigon.
Music in Musical Theatre and Film:
Musical Theatre Today
After a century’s history, Broadway musicals
still flourish today. Classics are revived in
innovative ways even as composers and
lyricists push the envelope of this art form. On
Broadway, it is common to see traditional
productions playing side by side with
contemporary rock musicals.
 New stars continue to rise on the Broadway
stage. As in the past, the allure of the
Broadway stage will continue to attract and
produce great singing and acting talents.
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Music in Musical Theatre and Film:
Musical Theatre Terms
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Operettas – stage plays with songs and dance
interspersed with spoken lines
Broadway musical – a dramatic stage form that
combines the arts of acting and singing
Vaudeville – an early staged variety show that
included songs, dances, and comedy skits
Dialogue – the spoken lines of a play or musical
show
Repertoire – an inventory of compositions mastered
and performed by a musician
Monologue – a dramatic speech or song delivered
by one character in a play
Music in Musical Theatre and Film:
Composers – Stephen Sondheim
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Stephen Sondheim (b. 1930) is an American
stage musical and film composer and lyricist, one
of the few people to win an Academy Award,
multiple Tony Awards (seven, more than any
other composer), multiple Grammy Awards, and
a Pultizer Prize. His most famous scores include
(as composer/lyricist) Company, A Little Night
Music, Sweeney Todd, and Into the Woods as
well as the lyrics for West Side Story and Gypsy.
Music in Musical Theatre and Film:
Musicals – Into the Woods
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Into the Woods
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Music:
Lyrics:
Book:
Plot:
Stephen Sondheim
Stephen Sondheim
James Lapine
Into the Woods intertwines the plots of several
Brothers Grimm fairy tales and follows them further
to explore the consequences of the characters’
wishes and quests. The main characters are taken
from the stories of Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and
the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, and Cinderella, tied
together by an original story involving a Baker and
his wife and their quest to begin a family, and
including references to several other well-known
tales.
Questions
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Other than musicals or Broadway tunes, what other genre
could the music of Into the Woods be included in? Give
specific examples throughout the musical to support your
answer.
Vocally, which character exhibited the greatest range and
level difficulty?
Describe the difference of vocal timbre in the Witch and
Cinderella.
What male character could be considered a tenor? Explain
your decision.
What would you say was the “defining moment” of the entire
musical, the peak? Why?
Music in Musical Theatre and Film:
Musicals – West Side Story
Do you know anything about Shakespeare’s
play “Romeo and Juliet”?
 Can you quote some lines from the play?
 When was “Romeo and Juliet” written?
 Shakespeare wrote the play over 400 years
ago.
 Why do you think a play written over 400
years ago is still popular and well known
today?
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Music in Musical Theatre and Film:
Musicals – West Side Story
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Brainstorm a list of words, terms, names, and ideas
associated with “Romeo and Juliet.”
Has “Romeo and Juliet” ever been adapted into
other forms of art or performance?
Yes! It has been adapted into other art forms many,
many, many times, including opera, ballet, and more
than 40 movies.
In the mid-20th century, a team of theater
professionals in New York City decided to adapt
“Romeo and Juliet” into a musical.
Do you know what that musical is?
Music in Musical Theatre and Film:
Musicals – West Side Story
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While you watch, identify what choreographer
Jerome Robbins thought would make the “Romeo
and Juliet” story come alive for him.
Setting the story in the present day is one reason.
More specifically, the creators of “West Side Story”
decided to set it amid the warring gangs of New
York City.
“West Side Story” has not only become a legendary
musical, it has also influenced popular culture.
Listen and determine what director Julie Taymore
sees “West Side Story” as a forerunner of.
Taymore saw “West Side Story” as a forerunner for
all of MTV and music videos.
Music in Musical Theatre and Film:
Musicals – West Side Story
“West Side Story” was an important milestone in
theater history, and led the way for many musicals
that followed.
 Listen again and determine why “West Side Story”
was such an important milestone in the history of
musical theater.
 Because it introduced serious, contemporary
subject matter into musicals, including murder and
rape; it established the primacy of the
director/choreographer; and it ushered in the ear of
“triple threat” performers, who could sing, dance,
and act.
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Music in Musical Theatre and Film:
Musicals – West Side Story
Did the footage you saw of “West Side Story” look or sound
like a Shakespearean play written over 400 years ago?
 Why not?
 Did you recognize any images in the footage and photographs
of “West Side Story” that were similar to “Romeo and Juliet”?
 Are you aware of any other musicals that have been based on
preexisting works of literature?
 The creators of musicals based on preexisting literature must
accomplish a variety of tasks, including: streamlining the plot
and characters into a manageable length for the stage;
creating music and lyrics that match the tone and feel of the
original work; addressing technical demands that may not be
possible on stage, etc.
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Music in Musical Theatre and Film:
Musicals – West Side Story
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West Side Story
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Music:
Lyrics:
Book:
Plot:
Leonard Bernstein
Stephen Sondheim
Arthur Laurents
In 1949, Jerome Robbins called Leonard Bernstein about a
new idea he had for a musical: a modern update of “Romeo
and Juliet,” only the star-crossed lovers would be Catholic and
Jewish, and it would take place on the Lower East Side.
During this time, the papers were filled with stories of juvenile
gang warfare among the growing Hispanic populations of Los
Angeles and Spanish Harlem. Now, the idea finally seemed
vibrant and timely.
Following Shakespeare’s model, the team constructed a story
of star-crossed lovers caught between rival gangs – this time
Puerto Ricans (Sharks) and white ethnics (Jets) on New York
City’s Upper West Side. Tony (former leader of the Jets) falls
in love with Maria (sister of the leader of the Sharks) at a high
school dance, despite the tragic impossibility of their situation.
Music in Musical Theatre and Film:
Composers – Leonard Bernstein
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Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) was a Jewish
American conductor, composer, author, music
lecturer and pianist. He wrote three symphonies,
two operas, five musicals, and numerous other
pieces. He is best known for writing the music for
West Side Story. Bernstein was the first classical
music conductor to make numerous television
appearances, all between 1954 and 1989. He
was “one of the most prodigally talented and
successful musicians in American history.”
Music in Musical Theatre and Film:
Lyricist – Stephen Sondheim
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Stephen Sondheim (b. 1930) is an American
stage musical and film composer and lyricist, one
of the few people to win an Academy Award,
multiple Tony Awards (seven, more than any
other composer), multiple Grammy Awards, and
a Pultizer Prize. His most famous scores include
(as composer/lyricist) Company, A Little Night
Music, Sweeney Todd, and Into the Woods as
well as the lyrics for West Side Story and Gypsy.
Perceptive Listening
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Number your paper 1-9. Listen to each excerpt. Write the name of the
song that is playing next to the correct number.
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A Boy Like That
I Feel Pretty
Maria
Cool
Tonight
America
Mambo
Somewhere
One Hand, One Heart
ANSWERS:
1. I Feel Pretty
2. Mambo
3. Maria
4. Tonight
5. America
6. Cool
7. A Boy Like That
8. One Hand, One Heart
9. Somewhere