Songbook > Sondheim > Sweeney Todd

A Look at the American Musical Theater

Richard C. Burke Ivanovo State University October 2013

The Great American Songbook

What is it?

Songs, mostly written between 1920 and 1960, that are still widely known, frequently recorded, and performed live.

What is it?

Songs, mostly written between 1920 and 1960, that are still widely known, frequently recorded, and performed live.

Songwriters

George and Ira Gershwin Irving Berlin Rodgers and Hammerstein Cole Porter Harold Arlen Jerome Kern

and several others

Songs

Someone to Watch Over Me How Deep Is the Ocean Over the Rainbow I Cant Give You Anything but Love What Is This Thing Called Love? My Funny Valentine Come Rain or Come Shine Somethings Gotta Give

Songs

Someone to Watch Over Me How Deep Is the Ocean Over the Rainbow I Cant Give You Anything but Love What Is This Thing Called Love? My Funny Valentine Come Rain or Come Shine Somethings Gotta Give

Lyrics
Although he may not be the man some Girls think of as handsome, To my heart he carries the key Your looks are laughable, Unphotographable, Yet you're my favorite work of art.

American Musical Theater

Origins

Minstrel Shows
1828-c.1900

The Black Crook, first block-buster musical

1866

made up of loosely connected songs and acts

Book Musical

Plot and songs work together, each adding to the other 1927: Show Boat, by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein IIfirst integrated musical

Famous Early Musicals

George and Ira Gershwin Of Thee I Sing, Porgy and Bess Irving Berlin Annie Get Your Gun Cole Porter Kiss Me Kate, Anything Goes Rodgers and Hart Pal Joey, Boys from Syracuse Rodgers and Hammerstein Oklahoma, South Pacific Frank Loesser Guys and Dolls, How To Succeed

Musical = Romance

Hairspray

Hairspray

Avenue Q

based on

Avenue Q

based on

In the Heights

In the Heights

Wicked

Wicked

Stephen Sondheim

Company Follies A Little Night Music Pacific Overtures Sweeney Todd Sunday in the Park with George

Into the Woods

Assassins

Company Follies A Little Night Music Pacific Overtures Sweeney Todd Sunday in the Park with George

Into the Woods

Assassins

Characteristics

Complex, sophisticated music Witty, intelligent lyrics Frequent emotional detachment Thorough integration of music and book Realistic, sometimes pessimistic view of life
All songwriters of musicals measure their songs against his.

Skill with Rhymes

Hello, I come with greetings from her majesty Victoria, Who hearing how youre trading now sings Halleluiah Gloria; And wishes to convey to you her positive euphoria, As well as little gifts from Britains various emporia.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Sweeney Todd

Songs Combine

humor bitterness passion longing political awareness madness pathos Brechtian commentary

The Ballad of Sweeney Todd

The Ballad of Sweeney Todd

At the Pie Shop

My Friends

My Friends

Pretty Women

Pretty Women

Epiphany

Epiphany

A Little Priest

A Little Priest

God, Thats Good!

God, Thats Good!

Final Sequence

Final Sequence