It has always surprised me that Sondheim and his mentor, Hammerstein, with such strong personal ties, could be so different in the preferred tone of their songs. Hammerstein was often criticized for being too sentimental, a judgment that could never be made of Sondheim. Hammerstein, as the writer of book and lyrics and the driving force behind the two shows that changed musicals from entertainment to art, can take the criticism.
Would Sondheim have ever ventured near the two inspirational anthems, "You'll Never Walk Alone" and "Climb Ev'ry Mountain"? No. "Walk Alone" does come close to going over the top, but is saved by placing it into the world of those simple people who were singing it.
Sondheim is accused of not putting enough visible emotion into songs. "Send in the Clowns," one of the Broadway all-time all-timers, is about a once missed opportunity for love coming oh-so-close on a second chance but ending in rejection. The lyrics are understated. The rejected party displays the great hurt with a bitter sadness, but not with open anger.
Hammerstein's shot at a near sure thing love that just slipped through the fingers: "This Nearly Was Mine." No doubt about the pain and anguish bubbling to the surface there.
A Hammerstein song of discovery that you are in love:
"I'm in Love, I'm in Love, I'm in Love, I'm in Love, I'm in Love, I'm in Love, I'm in Love, I'm in Love, I'm in love with a wonderful guy."
Sondheim (early Sondheim) on the same
My window pane may not give much light
But I see you, so the view is bright
If I can love you, I'll pay the dirt no heed
With your love what more do I need?
It's also curious that when Sondheim was functioning only as lyricist for Bernstein in West Side Story, he produced heated and deeply emotional lyrics.
Maria!
Say it loud and there's music playing,
Say it soft and it's almost like praying.
Could he written anything so tender ten years later?
Everybody in West Side Story wears their hearts upon their sleeves.
As junior member of the team, only writing lyrics for WSS, Sondheim probably had not much control over the directions that his lyrics would take. Did he have trouble with the lyrics to the highly emotional scene between Anita and Maria after Chino has been killed by Tony. "A Boy Like That"/"I have a Love" If so, he managed quite well. Neither the words nor the music of West Side Story have come under much criticism. It is just accepted as one of the great scores.
Not too useful, I suppose to take a few songs out of the hundred written by the two men and compare them.
I think, to settle this in my own mind, I would describe Sondheim's songs as sophisticated. Written by one of high intellect and a great knowledge of the ways of the world, to be enjoyed chiefly by others of the same ilk. No compromises to appeal to those who don't understand or don't want to hear his truth. As with novelists James Joyce and Henry James, a high level of art can be achieved at the expense of mass appeal.
Updated On: 11/1/16 at 03:37 AM
