Sondheim on Music: Minor Details and Major Decisions [Hardcover]

Mark Eden Horowitz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 25, 2002

Sondheim on Music compiles a series of interviews the author conducted with Stephen Sondheim as they pored over Sondheim's manuscripts and sketches and discussed the creative process. Focusing primarily on six shows, Passion, Assassins, Into the Woods, Sunday in the Park with George, Sweeney Todd, and Pacific Overtures, Sondheim talks about his approaches to musicalizing characters and dramatic moments; how motifs and thematic material are created and used; how musical components like harmony, melody, and rhythm reflect character; the structuring of a score; the use of pastiche; and the practical aspects of collaboration.

In addition, the book includes Sondheim's list of "Songs I wish I'd Written," his reasons behind some of those choices, and the messages he received from composers and lyricists whose songs were included on the list. An exhaustive Songlisting and a Discography follow, cataloging commercial recordings of Sondheim songs, vocal ranges, and publishing information for his songs and scores.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...any with a curiosity about the musical theatre of the past half century or a passing interest in the creative process behind it will find gems here....The real meat of the book is in free-ranging discussions of Sondheim's choices, tastes, and reflections on music and theatre throughout and beyond his own career. I started to fold the edges of pages that had something juicy on them...and soon found I was folding nearly every page. (Rob Kendt Back Stage West )

For the Sondheim nut, and I count myself among them, it's hard to imagine a more intriguing read. (Bob Mondello )

A fascinating read for even a casual admirer of Sondheim's work. (The Sondheim Review )

Finally, Mark Horowitz's contribution to Sondheim studies...The interviews are top notch: Horowitz has managed to relax Sondheim into loquacity, technical generosity and humour far more than most, perhaps all, of his predecessors (and there are many)...An enormous amount of insight into Sondheim's motivations and aims can be gleaned from what he says in the pages. (Stephen Banfield Musical Times (Uk) )

Sondheim may be a brilliant subject, but the well-prepared interviewer, Mark Eden Horowitz, is himself smart, probing, and refreshingly self-effacing. All of which makes this book essential reading for those with any interest in musical theatre. (The Whole Note )

Sondheim devotees will be forever grateful to Library of Congress music specialist Mark Horowitz for the interviews he conducted with Sondheim in 1997, the most extensive about how the composer works and the basis of an upcoming book, Sondheim On Music: Minor Details and Major Decisions. (Brown, Chip Smithsonian Magazine )

In these remarkable dialogues Mark Horowitz has elicited cogent, illuminating insights into the creative process from Stephen Sondheim, the ever-astonishing titan of the musical stage. (Robert Kimball )

...a wonderful achievement....Horowitz's contribution to the conversation is astonishing in the questions he thinks to ask and the deep understanding of Sondheim's work, and musical theatre in general, that he brings to the table. (Card, Orson Scott Www.Hatrack.Com )

About the Author

Mark Eden Horowitz is Senior Music Specialist at the Library of Congress where he has worked as archivist or co-archivist for the Library's collections of the manuscripts and papers of Irving Berlin, Leonard Bernstein, Vernon Duke, Jascha Heifetz, Jerome Kern, Frederick Loewe, Cole Porter, Richard Rodgers, and Vincent Youmans.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Scarecrow Press (November 25, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810844370
• ISBN-13: 978-0810844377
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #499,103 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #23 in Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Theory, Composition & Performance > Sheet Music & Scores > Composers > Sondheim

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For anyone who wants more insight on Sondheim, July 8, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Sondheim on Music: Minor Details and Major Decisions (Hardcover)

This was a beautiful book, capturing every reason why Sondheim's music is so brilliant. This series of interviews explores several of his most celebrated works, and goes into everything from music theory, to lyric phrasing, to lyric choices, to what inspired him. If you really want to know what goes on in his head while he is composing his masterpieces then buy this book! Though it concentrates heavily on musical theory and sondheim's pieces from a composer's point of view, you do not need to be an expert in music theory to appreciate this book, because it is filled with exciting tidbits of everything you would ever want to know about his pieces. You also really get to know the man behind the music, and you get to see what his original manuscripts looked like! This is an exciting read for a Sondheim fan (or someone curious about what the big fuss is over him)...you will not be dissapointed!

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A treasure trove of knowledge if you have music theory background, January 11, 2007

By 

Kyle J. Parker - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sondheim on Music: Minor Details and Major Decisions (Hardcover)

I have a strong love of Sondheim's work. The genius lyrics, the engaging music, but most of all his attention to detail made me fall for him from "Attend the tale..." As someone who is exploring the world of composition I have looked to his works for encouragement and inspiration. When I heard that there was a book that housed interviews with the man himself I immediately put it on the top of my reading list. When I finally found it I was not dissapointed.

Mark Eden Horowitz has presented a series of interviews that delve into the mind of Broadway's leading composer. The insight that Mr. Horowitz has into Sondheim's works is clearly evident as he helps us see the creative process that went into masterworks such as Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods and Sunday in the Park with George. The discussion is broken up into a chapter for each show with each giving a focus on what concept was best exhibited in that musical. Certain works such as "A Little Night Music" and "The Frogs" are not discussed as their own chapter, but some of the works that weren't given their own chapter come up in conversation.

I should take this time to point out that if you don't have an understanding of music theory some of this book will be much harder to decipher. With a year of college theory under my belt I still had to consult my professor on a few passages. Mr. Horowitz assists the reader by printing the musical examples pertaining to the topic, but it still requires a certain level of theoretical knowledge. Most of this book delves into concepts of writing and therefore manages to stay accesible, but be warned that parts of the books will need to be read over a few times for full academic digestion.

My sole gripe with this book comes from the fact that it is a 401 page book and only 168 of these pages are devoted to the interview. The rest are filled with a list of songs that Sondheim wishes he had written (and the reply from the composers chosen) and a full discography. When I saw the size of the book initially I was overjoyed to think that every one of the pages was slathered with musical knowledge. When I read the interviews and found them stopping half way through the book I was crushed. With this I felt the need to shave a star off the rating of this book.

Whether you are an avid fan, an aspiring writer or someone who is interested in learning something new about music I would suggest investing in this book. It sheds a light on how this amazing writer brings order to his musical universe.

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sondheim on Music: Minor Details and Major Decisions, March 19, 2003

By 

Carolyn M. Dunne "stagelyric" (Henderson, Nevada United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sondheim on Music: Minor Details and Major Decisions (Hardcover)

This book gives us a view within the process of Stephen Sondheim as a creative genius. At the same time it is encouraging because he takes us into glimpses in his creations: methods, favorites, changes, mistakes and growth that illustrate how he actualized his dreams into reality. For anyone that has ever considered writing for an audience with a level that takes into consideration all the nuances of color, texture, overt and underlying meaning, this book is a must read. It is followed with lists of suggested material for review based on the personal influence they had for Sondheim.