A "Piazza" Observation...

[Mattio98]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 12:44pm

Many people, critics and theatregoers alike, have criticized the score to Piazza saying that there is no melody. I beg to differ. I think that the melodies to most of the music of Piazza lie in the instrumentals as opposed to the vocal lines. Does anyone else hear this?

[BroadwayGal1220]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 12:46pm

I agree!

Just listen to the overture. It's beautiful.

[apdarcey]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 12:46pm

no. i think there are gorgeous vocal line melodies and that's that.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 12:47pm

I think people, mainly reviewers, get melody and hummable confused.
Updated On: 6/23/05 at 12:47 PM

[Thenardier]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 12:47pm

I think many reviewers are, pardon in my English, idiots.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 12:49pm

Absolutely. I found myself humming the predominant melody of the overture after the first time I heard the CD - then felt "at home" when I saw the show performed - so many of the songs stay with me all day - especially certain passages - like the part in The Beauty Is, when Clara sings of "...wanting something, this is praying for it, this is holding breath and keeping fingers crossed"...that section stays with me throughout most of my days lately - among many other fine moments from the show (my new favorite).

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 12:50pm

And most reviewers have no musical background. Modern musicals will always get picked apart.

In 10 or 20 years, the same reviewers will call it a masterpiece. Just like Assassins.

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 1:07pm

If they think Piazza has no melodies, they must be utterly BAFFLED by most Sondheim scores!

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 1:09pm

Again, I think they are trying to say that it's not the kind of score you run out of the theatre singing. I mean, all of us do, but the general public wouldn't. Basically, not Oklahoma!

[musicnmath]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 1:17pm

"like the part in The Beauty Is, when Clara sings of "...wanting something, this is praying for it, this is holding breath and keeping fingers crossed"..."

Absolutely!!! I've not seen the show (YET!), but have listened to the first 1/2 of the CD. I'd planned not to listen to it at all until I saw it, but I got sucked in by my curiosity after the Tonys. That melody from The Beauty Is often runs through my head. That and "the place that I know...la passeggiata".

[Mattio98]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 1:22pm

I agree. There are SOME melodies in the vocal line that are so clear and memorable such as the one that Redhot mentioned. Also, "The Light In The Piazza" has a very clear melody that I can't get out of my head....not that I want to. And just to clarify, I don't think that having the melody in the instrumentals is a bad thing. I think that the score is stunningly beautiful.

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 1:25pm

The melody line of Guettels' music is often distributed into instrumental lines and "harmonic" lines. That's why listening repeatedly is such a pleasure, but to the ear that isn't accustomed to listening for it in such places the melody appears to come and go. I guess I don't have a problem engaging with a piece to find that reward, but some do. That's their right, I suppose, but they sure are missing out.
Updated On: 6/23/05 at 01:25 PM

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 1:25pm

I'm so glad people are finding this show and loving it. I think it speaks to our hearts as well as our minds...not only as a beautiful piece of artwork, but as an inspiration to live life to the fullest and love while you can. Such a beautiful way to approach this existence.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 1:32pm

Updated On: 7/22/05 at 01:32 PM

[Mattio98]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 3:30pm

I honestly don't know.

[Pinguin]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 3:34pm

I'm sure he's talking about chords and how the chords are harmonized...

[Mattio98]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 3:41pm

Well he tends to use a lot of chord clusters and very few, if any, simple chords. Maybe it has something to do with that?

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 3:59pm

I believe he creates a harmonic structure for the song, and draws his melody out of that. So rather than writing a melody and then accompanying it, like most of us novices do, he creates a full structure in which the melody is sometimes the tonic, other times a harmonic, etc. Then again, my music theory background is relatively slight.

[minimel8817]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 5:11pm

That melody is constantly in my head! "in the place that i know!!!!!!" lol, i can't get it out and Matt Morrisson delievers it so beautifully

[LittleFish8386]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 7:04pm

Here here BSO. I think Piazza is extremely memorable. When I first heard the score, I coulnd't help but walk around humming the tune from Passegiatia and others.

[Plum]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 8:25pm

Weird. I walked away from my first viewing of Caroline, or Change with tunes in my head. It only took me one listen to fall in love with Sunday in the Park With George. There is a distinct possibility I'm just not musically sophisticated enough for Piazza, but I didn't think the score was such a masterpiece. There was melody there, but sometimes the structure of the songs was just unsatisfactory somehow.

Posted: 6/23/05 at 8:47pm

I fell in love after hearing the first 10 seconds of Dividing Day and thought - "ohhh, what's this?" I listen to it every day now, and it starts my mornings with at least one listen through.

Some of my favorite moments:

Stories and Statues - "It's a new old world to me, it's a new old world and we are here."

Fable - everything - the more I listen the more I love it. But I especially love the transition from Margaret's opening lyrics into the main melody of Fable - "for a fable of love that WILL CARRY YOU to a moon, on a hill..."; "to a valley beyond the setting sun..."

Dividing Day - "suddenly you're out of love, does it go, creeping slowly, when was your..."

The title song is stunning, and Let's Walk has been growing on me...

I'm in love and these melodies will forever be associated with this time of my life. I feel very lucky indeed.

[Demitri2]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 9:36pm

Not trying to be a thread highjacker but I just listened to the CD recording and was mesmerized by the score. The funny thing is, I saw the show a couple of years ago in Seattle and wasn't particularly impressed with the music due to the fact that the orchestra consisted of a small number of instruments. I'm curious as to whether the orchestra on the recording has been augmented and how many members there are in the orchestra at the Mitzi Newhouse. Thanks!

[takehomeazak06]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 10:37pm

"If they think Piazza has no melodies, they must be utterly BAFFLED by most Sondheim scores!"

I completely agree with Mother's Younger Brother.

[lvpblues]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 11:08pm

On my first listen to the entire score on opening night I was floored. I was really swept up in the orchestrations and it made for a thrilling evening. I think there is sheer brilliance in the music and a uniqueness to the structure of the musical moments.

The first few glisses of the harp were the immediate call to attention and from then on the show had my attention. One of my favorite musical moments is the release on the final note of "Il Mondo Era Vuoto". Stunning chord progression. I also love the harps in the title song and the way Margaret sings "Here. She fell" in the "Beauty Is" reprise.