How Sondheim Found His Sound

The research is voluminous as is the artistry and perceptiveness. Swayne haslived richly within the world of Sondheims music.Richard Crawfordauthor of Americas ... » 

The research is voluminous as is the artistry and perceptiveness. Swayne haslived richly within the world of Sondheims music.Richard Crawfordauthor of Americas Musical Life A History Sondheims career and musichave never been so skillfully dissected examined and put in context. With itsfocus on his work as composer this book is surprising and welcome.Theodore S. Chapin President and Executive Director The Rodgers HammersteinOrganization What a fascinating book full of insights large and small. Animpressive analysis and summary of Sondheims many sources of inspiration. Allfans of the composer and lovers of Broadway in general will treasure andfrequently refer to Swaynes work.Tom Riis Joseph Negler Professor ofMusicology and Director of the American Music Research Center University ofColorado Stephen Sondheim has made it clear that he considers himself aplaywright in song. How he arrived at this unique appellation is the subjectof How Sondheim Found His Soundan absorbing study of the multitudinousinfluences on Sondheims work. Taking Sondheims own comments and music asa starting point author Steve Swayne offers a biography of the artists stylepulling aside the curtain on Sondheims creative universe to reveal the manyinfluencesfrom classical music to theater to filmthat have establishedSondheim as one of the greatest dramatic composers of the twentieth century.Sondheim has spoken often and freely about the music theater and films helikes and on occasion has made explicit references to how past works crop upin his own work. He has also freely acknowledged his eclecticism seeing initneither a curse nor a blessing but a fact of his creative life. Among themany forces influencing his work Sondheim has readily pointed to a wide fieldclassical music from 1850 to 1950 the songs of Tin Pan Alley Broadway andHollywood the theatrical innovations of «