Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II (Hardcover)

by Oscar Hammerstein (Author) "The sky was blue,..." (more)
Key Phrases: Bali Ha'i, Man River, Mister Snow (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This volume, edited by William Hammerstein, encompasses lyrics from Oscar HammersteinÕs entire canon; from the early "Indian Love Call" written in 1924 with Otto Harbach and Rudolph Friml, to his final song, "Edelweiss," written with his long-time collaborator Richard Rodgers in 1959. Oscar HammersteinÕs introduction, Notes on Lyrics, has been an acknowledged classic text for musical theatre enthusiasts since 1949 and remains a definitive work today. To say Oscar Hammerstein II made a significant contribution to the art of lyric-writing is understating the case. He, with his lyrics, and his collaborators, with their music, rewove the fabric of the musical theatre for all time.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 292 pages
• Publisher: Hal Leonard; Rev Sub edition (October 1, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881883794
• ISBN-13: 978-0881883794
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #830,520 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Gem, December 1, 2003

By A Customer

If you write lyrics (or just love reading them) this is a fascinating read. It's much more than a collection of lyrics, it is the author's commentary on how he went about creating them, plus his views on what makes good lyric-writing and what does not. A little gem, this book is.

5.0 out of 5 stars The definitive companion to music theatre writing, March 31, 2008

By	Jan H. Powell - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

LYRICS by Oscar Hammerstein II remains the definitive manual for anyone writing lyrics for the music theatre. This update with new lyrics and forward by the author and preface by Steven Sondheim is the classic companion to Lehman Engel's book on the making of a musical. And no matter how far we look there will never be a better source for what works in the theatre. Mr. Hammerstein's lyrics remain the quintessential guide to writers, young and old alike, writing for characters on the stage. God bless Oscar!

12 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars recommended, September 8, 1999

By A Customer

This is more than a collection of masterful song lyrics, the long introductions by Stephen Sondheim and Oscar Hammerstein make it something of a treatise on lyric-writing by two of the art's greatest practitioners.

Also recommended: "Pentatonic Scales for the Jazz Rock Keyboardist" by Jeff Burns.