How Sondheim Found his Sound. By Steve Swayne. pp. xvi + 320. (University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, 2005, $30. ISBN 0-472-11497-2.)
2006; Oxford University Press; Volume: 87; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1093/ml/gcl016
ISSN1477-4631
Autores Tópico(s)Musicology and Musical Analysis
ResumoSteve Swayne proposes a thorough examination of the sources for Stephen Sondheim’s ‘sound’, which the author does not limit to ‘considering music alone. . . . We must draw upon music, theater, and film to begin to enter Sondheim’s sound world’ (p. 3). The author is as good as his word. There are two chapters on musical influences, ‘Sondheim the Classicist’ and ‘Sondheim the Tunesmith’. ‘Sondheim the Dramaphile’ explores the composer’s foundational theatre experiences and ‘Sondheim the Cinéaste’ his immersion in serious film. Mixed in are two chapters that analyse a little of Sondheim’s music: ‘Pulling It Apart’, a detailed analysis of ‘What Can You Lose?’ from the film Dick Tracy, and ‘Putting It Together’, a criticism of an extended sequence of the same name from the musical play Sunday in the Park with George. Included also are a very useful chronology of Sondheim’s works, an appendix discussing the origin of the term ‘concept musical’, substantial notes, and a bibliography.
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