In Hat Box, Stephen Sondheim presents his complete collected lyrics from the acclaimed Finishing the Hat and Look, I Made a Hat. This box set includes lyrics from Sondheim’s most popular shows like West Side Story, Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George, and Into the Woods, richly annotated with anecdotes, pointed observations, and invaluable advice from one of the greatest songwriters of our time. This handsomely designed package is essential reading for any fan of the theater or this living legend’s work.
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About the Author
Stephen Sondheim has written award-winning music and lyrics for theater, film and television. He is also the coauthor of the film The Last of Sheila and the play Getting Away with Murder. Sondheim is on the council of the Dramatists Guild of America, having served as its president from 1973 to 1981. He lives in New York City.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Some of us became aware of Stephen Sondheim for the genuis that he is in the early 70's. As a professor of music and theatre I've been teaching Sondheim's music and lyrics for 26 years. I've found that there is no subject about which must be taught that Stephen Sondheim has not written a song (or indeed and entire show) about. Starting in 1976 I began to tout praise for Sondheim's work with his musical "Pacific Overtures." When "Cats" took the Tony award over "Sunday In The Park With George" I told everyone, "Just wait and see." Six months later "Sunday" became the fifth musical in history to win The Pulitzer Pr5ize. When "Merrily We Roll Along" closed after 17 performances I said, "The audience is too stupid to understand it." The TV show "Lost" taught the public about time travel in storytelling and now "Merrily" has enjoyed a renaissance.
It reminded me of how, as a college student, I worked at the Harvard Coop and I overheard someone say to her friend, in that Boston accent, "I don't want Aht; I want postuhs." Well "Cats" is a big poster and it's taken until the 21st century but at last the theatre community (such that it is) and the public are finally recognizing the genuis that is Sondheim's words and music.
J.S. Bach wasn't known as a composer until fifty years after his death. Byt that time an estimated 50% of his music was lost.
Sondheim, from age 79 to 82 has written two massive books that match. The first is called "Finishing The Hat" and the second is called "Look, I Made a Hat" The titles are references to one of his finest songs from the score "Sunday In The Park With George" in which an artists is explaining how he is driven to work. Will his lover be waiting in the bed when the grass, the hat and the parasol have finally found their way?... Read more ›
It reminded me of how, as a college student, I worked at the Harvard Coop and I overheard someone say to her friend, in that Boston accent, "I don't want Aht; I want postuhs." Well "Cats" is a big poster and it's taken until the 21st century but at last the theatre community (such that it is) and the public are finally recognizing the genuis that is Sondheim's words and music.
J.S. Bach wasn't known as a composer until fifty years after his death. Byt that time an estimated 50% of his music was lost.
Sondheim, from age 79 to 82 has written two massive books that match. The first is called "Finishing The Hat" and the second is called "Look, I Made a Hat" The titles are references to one of his finest songs from the score "Sunday In The Park With George" in which an artists is explaining how he is driven to work. Will his lover be waiting in the bed when the grass, the hat and the parasol have finally found their way?... Read more ›
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Doc
Format:Hardcover
The collected lyrics of the most brilliant lyricist in the Musical Theater. One would be grateful for the lyrics alone, but Sondheim has provided a running commentary on the art of lyric writing, pointing out both his successes and failures, with lucid explanations eschewing both shame and false modesty.
Almost as important are the interspersed essays on the work of other lyricists, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses. Though there are some anecdotes that make one devoutly wish for a Memoir direct from Sondheim to supplement or replace the "authorized" biography by Secrest, these essays focus on craft, and provide a master-class at the highest level.
Almost as important are the interspersed essays on the work of other lyricists, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses. Though there are some anecdotes that make one devoutly wish for a Memoir direct from Sondheim to supplement or replace the "authorized" biography by Secrest, these essays focus on craft, and provide a master-class at the highest level.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By -pvt idaho
Format:Hardcover
My dad loves Sondheim,and he loved this gift! It has great archival photos, and lyrics of course. Perfect for any theatre lover!
24 of 35 people found the following review helpful
By ShopsALot
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
The is a nice boxed set of the two Sondheim Hat books. However, I thought there was a 3rd book, the yellow book, that was somehow a synopsis of the other 2 books. However, the yellow is just the cover of the box that the 2 books come in. In retrospect I realize that I should have understood this, but none-the-less it confused me.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Jaime
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Whether you are a Sondheim completist, or simply curious about the writing process, history and the man's own personal thoughts about his work, this box set is provides an invaluable inside peek to the whole breadth of his written works. Songs that were excised (and in some cases reinserted) from each of his major projects are here presented in their entirety, often with notes relating to their original context and reasons for deletion. The black & white reproductions of production photos and Sondheim's own written notes wonderfully accent the main text.
It should be noted that Sondheim focuses mainly on the lyrics in this collection, for a deeper look into the process behind music and lyrics Mark Eden Horowitz's "Sondheim on Music: Minor Details and Major Decisions" (ISBN: 978-0810874367) is a better volume.
It should be noted that Sondheim focuses mainly on the lyrics in this collection, for a deeper look into the process behind music and lyrics Mark Eden Horowitz's "Sondheim on Music: Minor Details and Major Decisions" (ISBN: 978-0810874367) is a better volume.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
The product was very well physically and the books are awesome. If you are into theater or expect to make it professionally like me, order these, they are very useful, specially if you want to learn from someone legendary like Stephen Sondheim.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Anyone interested in Musical theatre will love this gift item! It comes packaged beautifully and the books are a treasure.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Sandra A
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
My daughter, a musical theatre major who loves Sondheim, loves these books that explain his lyrics. She specifically requested them for Christmas.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing material
It's like taking a master class from Sondheim himself. There's so much insight into his work here. It's such a fantastic collection.
Published 3 months ago by Shawn Holman
5.0 out of 5 stars
This collection is enlightening.
Sondheim provides a clear view of the craft and art of lyric writing. Very enjoyable read. Only disappointment: It is harder to read some of the lyrics for shows of which I am... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Eric Ligon
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stephen Sondheim lyrics
I purchased this as a gift and the recipient was extremely well pleased to receive it and has stated she enjoys it very much.
Published 4 months ago by Arlene D. Kemnitz
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great price but...
This was a great price for this set of books. It also was shipped and arrived super fast. My only minor complaint is that they shipped it in a box slightly larger without shoring... Read more
Published 5 months ago by camalaki
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Good Look!
Informative an highly entertaining! Purchased it to give as a gift and after a few pages realized I needed a copy for myself!
Published 5 months ago by James Butler
5.0 out of 5 stars
gives insight into SS art & craft & mind
Here is a summation of Sondheim's career in the theatre with a pretty accurate view of the man's personality. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Beverley R. Enright
5.0 out of 5 stars
Priceless for the behind-the-scenes memories
I read both volumes with delight, not only for the funny and insightful stories of Mr. Sondheim, but for his description of the often backbreaking process to bring a piece to the... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Frank McKown
4.0 out of 5 stars
Why a hat?
As a song writing teacher, I have used many quotes and tidbits from this book to juice up my lectures. It has lots of fun anecdotes and words of advise for lyricists. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Yvette S. Ungricht
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