Awards

• Winner of ASCAP Deems Taylor Special Recognition Award 2004.

Overview

From his early work as lyricist for West Side Story to acclaimed creations such as A Little Night Music, Sunday in the Park with George, and Sweeney Todd, Stephen Sondheim is widely regarded as the most important figure in musical theater since the second half of the 20th century. Who better to discuss this prolific artist’s work than the master himself? Sondheim on Music: Minor Details and Major Decisions is a collection of interviews conducted by Mark Eden Horowitz, senior music specialist in the music division of the Library of Congress. In these guided conversations, Sondheim expounds in great depth and detail on his craft. As a natural teacher, thoughtful and opinionated, Sondheim discusses the art of musical composition, lyric writing, the collaborative process of musical theater, and how he thinks about his own work. The entire scope of Sondheim’s career is covered here, in which Sondheim’s greatest works are discussed—from Passion, Assassins, Into the Woods, Sunday in the Park with George, Sweeney Todd, and Pacific Overtures to A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Merrily We Roll Along, Company, Follies, Anyone Can Whistle, and A Little Night Music. Sondheim even provides thoughts about the film adaptations of his works, such as Sweeney Todd. The book also features an entire chapter on Bounce, the previous incarnation of his latest musical, Road Show. Preserving the essential elements of the previous volumes, this edition includes all of the interviews—verbatim—and features a revised introduction and a postlude with an additional conversation. Finally in paperback, Sondheim on Music: Minor Details and Major Decisions, The Less Is More Edition is a must-have for fans of these creative genius.

Full Product Details

9781538125502

Table of Contents

Reviews

I've learned so much from the work of Stephen Sondheim, and in this book, others interested in the craft of musical theatre composition, whether as professionals or fans, will find a myriad of lessons and inspirations. -- Stephen Schwartz, composer/lyricist, Wicked; Godspell Indispensable for any student, writer, or ardent fan of drama and musical theater. It puts the reader in the room with one of our greatest American masters. -- Jeanine Tesori, composer of Caroline, or Change and Fun Home Mr. Sondheim was interviewed on stage by Mark Eden Horowitz, whose essential book, Sondheim on Music, offers in-depth discussions with the composer. * The New York Times *

Author Information

Mark Eden Horowitz is a senior music specialist in the music division of the Library of Congress. He has been the archivist for collections of Leonard Bernstein, Richard Rodgers, Marvin Hamlisch, Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern, Jonathan Larson, Frederick Loewe, Cole Porter, and Hal Prince, among others. Horowitz has taught musical theater history at Georgetown and Catholic universities and has guest-lectured at Harvard, Johns Hopkins, and Princeton. For ten years he was the Contributing editor for The Sondheim Review, and wrote the liner notes for: Hugh Martin: Hidden Treasures, Anthony De Mare: Liaisons: Re-Imagining Sondheim from the Piano, and Stephen Sondheim: The Story So Far… Horowitz has also authored chapters for the books A Cole Porter Companion and The Oxford Handbook of Musical Theatre Adaptations.

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