Composers that can't read sheet music

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Composers that can't read sheet music

Posted: 7/22/09 at 5:42pm

I remember hearing that the guy who wrote Oliver! couldn't read music and simply sang the music to someone and they would transfer it to sheet music. Is there any other broadway shows with composers like that?

EDIT: wickedfan you reminded me that it was Lionel Bart who couldn't read music. I must have gotten Annie and Oliver! mixed up. Two musicals about orphans, it's an easy mistake.

Updated On: 7/22/09 at 05:42 PM

re: Composers that can't read sheet music

Posted: 7/22/09 at 5:46pm

No. All other Broadway writers went to Juliard in composition, actually. Most studied with John Corigliano.

-Benjamin
--http://www.benjaminadgate.com/

re: Composers that can't read sheet music

Posted: 7/22/09 at 5:47pm

William Finn is one, isn't he? I always wondered if that's why all his music is so robotic and bland.

re: Composers that can't read sheet music

Posted: 7/22/09 at 5:47pm

Mel Brooks might count. But then, it's debatable whether he *truly* counts as a composer or not. I'll leave that particular can of worms to everyone else. XD

Notes from the Earlham Street Gutter

re: Composers that can't read sheet music

Posted: 7/22/09 at 5:47pm

Claude-Michele Schonberg.

"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

re: Composers that can't read sheet music

Posted: 7/22/09 at 5:48pm

I think Lionel Bart couldn't read music.

"Sing the words, Patti!!!!" Stephen Sondheim to Patti LuPone.

re: Composers that can't read sheet music

Posted: 7/22/09 at 5:49pm

I believe reading that Jerry Herman doesn't read music.

"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg." -- Thomas Jefferson

re: Composers that can't read sheet music

Posted: 7/22/09 at 5:49pm

Claude-Michele Schonberg

Really?

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re: Composers that can't read sheet music

Posted: 7/22/09 at 5:51pm

Dolly Parton does not read or write music. I believe she said she plays by ear and someone else transposes. I also remember in the documentary "Show Business" that the one dude who wrote Avenue Q said he doesn't read or write music and Lopez had to actually write the music down.

"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal "I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello

#10

re: Composers that can't read sheet music

Posted: 7/22/09 at 5:55pm

Yeah, Claude-Michel Schönberg talked about that in his downstage center interview.

#11

re: Composers that can't read sheet music

Posted: 7/22/09 at 5:56pm

Lionel Bart, the composer of "Oliver!" could not read or annotate music. He would hum the tune he conceived in his head to a pianist arranger who would then translate it and write it out as music annotation.

Irving Berlin could not read music very well and also used collaborators to get his wonderful songs in musical form on paper.

My Avatar is the amazing young singer, James Anest

#12

re: Composers that can't read sheet music

Posted: 7/22/09 at 6:17pm

John Bucchino can't read music. He plays on a keyboard and the computer writes it down.

Going to NYC for the 1st (real) time! Seeing Next to Normal, Wicked, and Jersey Boys. If anyone has a suggestion for rush Wednesday matinee (something not mainstream) please PM me! :D

#13

re: Composers that can't read sheet music

Posted: 7/22/09 at 6:20pm

Barbra Streisand can't read music.

#14

re: Composers that can't read sheet music

Posted: 7/22/09 at 6:29pm

wtffffff

I always assumed every established singer and at the very least every composer could read music. It almost seems pathetic.

Give me claws and a hunch, just away from this bunch.

#15

re: Composers that can't read sheet music

Posted: 7/22/09 at 6:31pm

Irving Berlin and Harvey Schmidt. Both learned to play by ear, and had copyists write down what they played.

Berlin could only play piano in the key of F sharp (or G flat). When he bewcmae rich, he had a cusom made piano with a lever that allowed him to change keys by moving the keyboard to the left or right.

#16

re: Composers that can't read sheet music

Posted: 7/22/09 at 6:52pm

I know a lot of people at least choose not to transcribe it straight away. If you look at music by JRB and Duncan Sheik from early in the writing/rehearsal process. It's just a melody line with chords (lead sheet).

A little known fact is that in the original screenplay, Pan's Labyrinth was Pan's FLAByrinth. Hmmmmmmm...glad they changed it.

#17

re: Composers that can't read sheet music

Posted: 7/22/09 at 7:01pm

I always assumed every established singer and at the very least every composer could read music. It almost seems pathetic.

OT: but it's certainly not uncommon. You can add Paul McCartney to that list. I'd also bet that historically the vast majority of popular singers didn't learn their songs by reading sheet music until printing presses were able to churn out popular music widely and cheaply.

#18

re: Composers that can't read sheet music

Posted: 7/22/09 at 7:03pm

"I remember hearing that the guy who wrote Annie couldn't read music and simply sang the music to someone and they would transfer it to sheet music. Is there any other broadway shows with composers like that?"

Wrong. Charles Strouse is a very skilled musician.

#19

re: Composers that can't read sheet music

Posted: 7/22/09 at 7:54pm

That Sondheim guy.

#20

re: Composers that can't read sheet music

Posted: 7/22/09 at 8:43pm

I am assuming the person that mentioned Sondheim was kidding. Sondheim not only can read music but is also very knowledgeable about music theory.

"It does what a musical is supposed to do; it takes you to another world. And it gives you a little tune to carry in your head. Something to take you away from the dreary horrors of the real world. A little something for when you're feeling blue. You know?"

#21

re: Composers that can't read sheet music

Posted: 7/22/09 at 8:59pm

Oh, the internet.

-Benjamin
--http://www.benjaminadgate.com/

#22

re: Composers that can't read sheet music

Posted: 7/22/09 at 9:07pm

I heard a story that Sondheim didn't know how to read/notate music, and hired ALW to do it for him. But Sondheim found his melodies weren't hummable, so he had to learn to read/write music himself.

Give me claws and a hunch, just away from this bunch.

Updated On: 7/22/09 at 09:07 PM

#23

re: Composers that can't read sheet music

Posted: 7/22/09 at 9:11pm

As mentioned, Irving Berlin. Probably the most influential American song composer of the 20th century, writing "hit songs" for over fifty years. Fifty. Couldn't read music.

"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

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#24

re: Composers that can't read sheet music

Posted: 7/22/09 at 9:13pm

These are lies! They all studied with John Corgiliano! Eric Whitacre is the future!!!

-Benjamin
--http://www.benjaminadgate.com/

#25

re: Composers that can't read sheet music

Posted: 7/22/09 at 9:14pm

Jerry Herman doesn't read music.

Also, composers are "who"s, not "that"s. Composers *who* can't read sheet music.

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