Stephen Sondheim

Musician of the Week: Stephen Sondheim

Monday: "I Feel Pretty" from Westside Story

Stephen Sondheim was a great American lyricist. A lyricist is someone who writes the words for the music.
Stephen Joshua Sondheim was born on March 22, 1930, in New York City. His parents, Herbert and Janet Sondheim, worked in New York's garment industry; his father was a dress manufacturer and his mother was a designer.

Sondheim began studying piano and organ at a young age, and he was already practicing songwriting as a student at the George School.

Today’s Listening Example is “I Feel Pretty” from the infamous West Side Story. Sondheim worked with Leonard Bernstein on the popular show, West Side Story. He wrote the lyrics to all the songs, and Bernstein wrote the notes. This is Sondheim’s least favorite song from the show. He said that he wrote it to show off his ability to rhyme, but after hearing it performed in front of an audience, he realized that the song did not fit the character of Maria, but rather just showcased his writing. From then on, Sondheim chose his words more wisely, and that made him an even greater success.

Tuesday: "Everything's Coming Up Roses" from Gypsy

In 1942, Stephen Sondheim moved to Pennsylvania, where he had a very famous neighbor by the name of Oscar Hammerstein. Hammerstein’s son and Sondheim became good friends, and Stephen would often ask the famous lyricist for advice. The two families became very close and Oscar Hammerstein became a father figure to Sondheim.

In his teens, Stephen wrote a musical about his school entitled “By George!” He took it to Hammerstein to see what he thought. Stephen just knew Hammerstein would fall instantly in love with it! He was not prepared for all the criticism he was given. He later admitted that Hammerstein’s criticism taught him much more than he recognized at the time.

Today’s Listening Example is from the musical “Gypsy”, written with Jule Styne. “Gypsy” is a story about a mom who gets a little crazy about making her daughters famous. “Gypsy” has won many awards and been performed in several places and made into a movie twice!

Wednesday: "Comedy Tonight" from A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum

Stephen Sondheim had proven he could write words that fit music other’s had written. So, if he only wrote words, why are we featuring him as a musician? After having worked with so many amazing musicians, Sondheim decided to try composing the music for the words he was so good at writing.

Sondheim’s first musical, that he wrote both the words and music for, was “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”, based on comedies by ancient playwright Plautus. It opened in 1962, ran for nearly 1,000 performances and won a Tony Award for best musical.

Today’s Listening Example is “Comedy Tonight” from “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”. The main character, you will see singing, was a servant who was trying to earn his freedom by helping his master fall in love with the girl next door.

Thursday: "Worse Pies in London" from Sweeney Todd

Today’s listening example is “Worst Pies in London” from Sondheim’s hit musical “Sweeney Todd” about a barber who cuts more than his clients’ hair. It is kind of a scary, or horror, type musical that was later made into a movie by Tim Burton, who is well known for his dark films.

After the success of “A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum”, Sondheim continued to write both lyrics and music for his own musicals. He wrote a musical based on one of our paintings of the week. “Sunday at the Park with George” was first performed in 1984, and was inspired by this painting. Can you remember the name of this painting by Georges Seurat?

Friday: "On the Steps of the Palace" from Into the Woods

Stephen Sondheim’s work is still performed around the world today, on various stages from high schools to Broadway. He even has his own theatre.
Sondheim has won many awards, including Tony Awards, for his musicals, and Grammy Awards, for his soundtracks. He shared the Pulitzer Prize for drama with his friend James Lapine, in 1985. In November of 2015, Sondheim was awarded the Presidential Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama.