Composers' most "accessible" & "approachable" scores to a new listener

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 6:04pm

So I've been meaning to start a thread like this for a while now. Every now and then I want to get into a new composer's work, but I pick a recording that is a little too much for me to jump right into. Sometimes I need to be finessed into their style. I was wondering if you could rate your favourite composers scores from most instantly approachable and accessible to least.

For example, I would venture to say Into the Woods is a far better introduction to Sondheim for someone new, whereas Pacific Overtures and Sunday in the Park are more for the Sondheim-initiated. That isn't to say they are lesser works...just definitely more appreciated by someone who has a knowledge of his style.

Essentially: What order would you suggest a newbie to a certain composer listen to that composer's body of work.


Akiva
Updated On: 7/13/08 at 06:04 PM

[dramarama2]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 6:45pm

Jason Robert Brown 1. The Last 5 Years OR 13
2. Songs for a New World
3. Parade

[gustof777]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 6:49pm

Michael John LaChiusa: See What I Wanna See (particularly the second half) OR the soon to be released Little Fish

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 7:11pm

Gustoff:

What order do you put LaChiusa's other works in?

Akiva

[jv92]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 7:31pm

Company is Sondheim's most accessible score. I think listening to that first 15 minute long opening of Into the Woods is far from approachable or accessible the first time around.

Updated On: 7/13/08 at 07:31 PM

[supportivemom]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 7:35pm

jv92- love that Patti Lupone quote on the bottom!

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 7:39pm

Wouldn't FORUM be Sondheim's most accessible and easiest to listen to for a new listener?
Updated On: 7/13/08 at 07:39 PM

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 7:42pm

agreed

[ashley0139]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 7:44pm

For LaChiusa, the second half of SWIWS is definitely very accessible, the first act not so much. I would put The Wild Party somewhere in the middle - there are some very catchy songs. Something like Barnarda Alba is not nearly as accessible. At least, those are my opinions. I haven't listened to Marie Christine enough to place it.

[Weez]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 7:44pm

For Adam Guettel, I'd recommend 'Floyd Collins'. I know it was a financial flop in the extreme and the subject matter is the kind of thing people start "what's the worst idea for a musical ever?" threads about, but it's absolutely beautiful, without being as classical-leaning as 'The Light In The Piazza'. (I love 'Myths And Hymns', but it REALLY doesn't bear talking about in an "accessible scores" thread. XD) Not that 'The Light In The Piazza' isn't in itself accessible, but the fact that 'Floyd Collins' is 100% English is surely an extra point in its favour.

[gustof777]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 8:03pm

hmmm I think in order of Most to least accessible for MJL....

1) Little Fish
2) See What I Wanna See
3) The Wild Party
4) Bernarda Alba
5) Marie Christine
6) Hello Again
7) First Lady Suite

just my opinion. feel free to disagree...he's a tricky composer but well worth multiple listens. He grows on you. My favorite composer by far :)

Updated On: 7/13/08 at 08:03 PM

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 9:13pm

Gustoff,

Thanks. I think I'll try listening in that order. I started with First Lady Suite and Bernarda Alba, and I think they turned me off a bit from his work.

The rest of you...Lets see lists. And yes I can see where you are coming from saying Forum is more accessible than Into the Woods...however, and I know this is bad, I totally forgot about Forum. Its so removed from the typical notion of the Sondheim "canon" that it totally slipped my mind.

Akiva

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 9:21pm

I actually think that Parade is JRB's most accessible work, and would recommend LitP for Guettel, unless you could just pick certain songs from Floyd Collins.

[LadyRosecoe]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 9:45pm

In terms of LaChiusa, it was The Wild Party which started me and since then I've loved Bernarda Alba, See What I Wanna See, and eventually Marie Christine. I'm still waiting to hear FLS and Hello Again.

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 1:20am

With Wild Party I find some songs very memorable and accessible, and some not so much. I particularly remember loving People Like Us.

What abour with the works of William Finn...in what order woul you suggest a musical newbie listening to his works?

Akiva

[blaxx]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 2:21am

1. Spelling Bee
2. A New Brain
3. Falsettos (First Falsettoland, then March)
4. Elegies
5. In Trousers

[chip08ME]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 3:01am

It's odd. For me, I find the first act of SWIWS to be much more accessible. But I find The Wild Party to be his most accessible work.

For Finn, I would say Spelling Bee, then Elegies.

For Guettel, Floyd Collins all the way. If anything, 'How Glory Goes' will help get some insight to his style.

[Weez]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 4:13am

I did put the Guettel canon in order, but if you must see it with pretty numbers:

1. Floyd Collins
2. The Light in the Piazza
3. Myths and Hymns

(With the first two being somewhat interchangeable, depending on how open you are to songs conducted wholly in Italian and very much in a more classical style than many contemporary musical theatre scores. :P)

[laura is broadway]

Posted: 9/18/08 at 10:48pm

Strange I always end up cringing when The Wild Party comes up on shuffle, but I love See What I Wanna See. Maybe I'll give it another try...

[zooxanthellae]

Posted: 9/18/08 at 10:56pm

Sondheim:

1. Forum
2. Follies
3. Company
4. Into the Woods
5. Sweeney Todd

...at any rate I would say Pacific Overtures, Passion, and Sunday in the Park with George (despite my love for the latter two) are his least accessible scores.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 9/19/08 at 1:50am

Well, for Sondheim's shows in general, I guess Forum would be the most accessible. The only problem is that all his other scores, maybe save Merrily (not saying it's accessible though), are VERY different. So, if you really want to get into the more complex/sophisticated Sondheim, I too think that Company is the best start. However, the "sound" for Company is very 70s while his other scores seem to not have such a "dated (not used negatively)" feeling. That can be a drawback depending on the listener. Also, I think the long opening song from Into The Woods is pretty accessible because that main "Into the Woods" song/theme (correct term?) is repeated again and again to give it that approachable quality (of course later, that same theme turns amazingly dark).

What other composers are you curious about?

Updated On: 9/19/08 at 01:50 AM

[crc03772]

Posted: 9/19/08 at 12:41pm

I think Into the Woods is more accessible in subject matter, rather than musically, that being said, here's a few lists: (i'm only going with 5 most "accessible", meaning I could probably put more shows in between the ones listed)

ALW: 1. Phantom of the Opera 2. Jesus Christ Superstar 3. Joseph and... 4. The Beautiful Game 5. The Woman In White

Sondheim: 1. Company 2. Into the Woods 3. Sunday... 4. Assasins 5. Sweeney Todd

Kander and Ebb: 1. Chicago 2. Curtains 3. Cabaret 4. Kiss of the Spider Woman 5. Steel Pier

JRB: 1. Parade 2. L5Y 3. Songs for A New World

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 9/19/08 at 2:39pm

For Finn's work I actually suggest listening to March of Falsettos first. It got me into Finn and gives such an emotional wallop that it's hard to fall in love with.

1. March of the Falsettos
2. Falsettoland
3. A New Brain
4. Elegies
5. Spelling Bee
6. In Trousers

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 9/19/08 at 2:39pm

Double post

Updated On: 9/19/08 at 02:39 PM

[crc03772]

Posted: 9/19/08 at 3:10pm

For Finn, I actually started with A New Brain, I just thought it was great how he was able to turn something so (almost) tragic in his life into a musical. I'm also partial to Infinte Joy, I know it's a Cabaret, but it's a good introduction to different songs from his shows...