Book Description
Sondheim on Music is primarily a transcript of a series of interviews with Stephen Sondheim, focusing on his work as a composer. During the interviews, he and the author look through Sondheim's manuscripts and sketches and discuss the creative process. The discussions focus on six shows: Passion, Assassins, Into the Woods, Sunday in the Park with George, Sweeney Todd, and Pacific Overtures, but every Sondheim score comes up in conversation. Among the topics discussed, are how Sondheim approaches musicalizing characters and dramatic moments, how motifs and thematic material are created and used, how harmony, melody, and rhythm reflect character, the structuring of a score, the use of pastiche, and the practical aspects of collaboration.

About the Author
"Mark Eden Horowitz is Senior Music Specialist at the Library of Congress where he has worked as archivist or co-archivist for the Library's collections of the manuscrips and papers of: Irving Berlin, Leonard Bernstein, Vernon Duke, Jascha Heifetz, Jerome Kern, Frederick Loewe, Cole Porter, Richard Rodgers, and Vincent Youmans."

FROM THE PUBLISHER

"Over a three-day period in 1997, Mark Eden Horowitz sat down with Stephen Sondheim in his Turtle Bay home and explored Sondheim's creative process. Beginning with a discussion of his latest work, Passion, and working back in time to Pacific Overtures, this collection of interviews details Sondheim's meticulous work as a composer. Among the topics discussed are Sondheim's approaches to dramatizing with music and lyrics; the creation and use of motifs and thematic material; the use of harmony, melody, and rhythm to reflect character; the structuring of a score; the use of pastiche; and the practical aspects of collaboration. The conversations also include amusing anecdotes about his shows, Sondheim's musings on art and musical theater, reflections on the evolution of theater music, and thoughts on the influences of those who came before him." In addition, the book includes Sondheim's list of "Songs I Wish I'd Written (At Least in Part)," his reasons behind some of those choices, and messages he received from composers and lyricists whose songs were included on the list. The work is complemented by a comprehensive listing of all of Sondheim's musical works - the most complete discography of Sondheim recordings to date - and publishing information for all his songs and scores, including vocal ranges.

SYNOPSIS