The genius of Sondheim- Page 2

[MisterRussell]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 11:24am

Updated On: 8/24/05 at 11:24 AM

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 11:27am

Honestly, voiceanth, I don't disagree with what you're saying about supporting young people. But that doesn't mean we have to negate what people have done in the past merely because it's in the past. Yes, his last new show was '95? But I don't see Mozart, Tennessee Williams, or some other artists (dead or alive) putting out new stuff and yet they are still respected. I'm just asking for a little perspective. We shouldn't have to choose between supporting young people and their new products or maintaining our love for those things written thirty years ago.

Updated On: 8/24/05 at 11:27 AM

[MisterRussell]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 11:30am

Couldn't agree more S/G.

[freeadmission]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 11:31am

*bows to SorryGrateful*

I couldn't have said it better myself. Modern culture's longing for "the next new thing" at the expense of the classic makes me truly sad.

Updated On: 8/24/05 at 11:31 AM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 11:37am

Updated On: 10/27/05 at 11:37 AM

[katygrace84]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 11:38am

Voiceanth, staying power is a huge thing in this business. And so far Mraz hasn't proved that he has it. Why? Because he hasn't been around long enough! He's extremely talented and could have a very promising future ahead of him. But given that he doesn't even work in the same medium as Sondheim, there is absolutely no way you can compare the two. If you want to compare Mraz to, say, Lennon and McCartney, be my guest. Have fun. That might end up being a good showdown. But I honestly have to think that you are either an idiot or completely bored and looking to start trouble by posting that idiotic comparison on a board started to celebrate the genius of a man who deseres said celebration. Take your uninformed 15-year-old opinion to the off-topic board where it belongs and start one of those "OMG I Freaking LUV Mraz!" threads.
And with that, I exit before I hurt someone.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 11:38am

I agree with the potential of Jason Robert Brown to become a master. He has great ability with words and music.

This is a theatre site so generally people her eat least like theatre and are drawn to the talents it has. Mraz may be a fine songwriter, but I have never heard him and his lyrics as posted here looked insipid.

None of that negates the idea that we should express the virtues of the masters who have come before, and in Sondheim's case are still working. This thread also was dedicated to something specific, Sondheim's ability with musical themes.

Best12bars, you seem simply unwilling or unable to understand a larger picture view and insist upon taking this percieved slight personally. WICKED has thematic elements, especialy in some of the music, that are advanced. It also has a very standard pop-song based score, that does not advance well in the ART of musical theatre. I enjoy it, many such as yourself love it.

[katygrace84]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 11:40am

Voiceanth, how can you see how ridiculous it is to compare Mozart's work with Sondheim's and NOT see how equally ridiculous it is to compare Mraz with Sondheim? I'm completely flabbergasted!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 11:44am

No I do not see the ridiculousness...

[freeadmission]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 11:44am

I don't think it's ridiculous to compare Mozart and Sondheim. At least to an extent. Both are/were ridiculously talented and dedicated to thier craft. Mozart has over-proven his staying power and Sondheim has proved his great potential staying power. The difference is that Mozart IS classic art and Sondheim WILL BE classic art. The fact that their respective art is in different mediums doesn't matter.

50 years from now, both Sondheim and Mozart will be on those lists of "classics". I have no doubt about it.

[MisterRussell]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 11:46am

I agree that to compare ANYBODY to Mozart is foolhardy, HOWEVER, the comparison of Sondheim to Mozart is a whole hellava lot more plausible than Sondheim to Mraz. Hell, Comparing Scwartz to Sondhiem is more plausible than compaing him to Mraz.

"Ha-La-La-La??"


Updated On: 8/24/05 at 11:46 AM

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 11:48am

None of the new composers with the exception of perhaps Adam Guettel and Jason Robert Brown have truly made their mark yet. They have a long way to go before people discuss them as much as Schwartz and Sondheim. They haven't earned it like the aforementioned gentlemen have.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 11:51am

Voiceanth, to say that Sondheim is at the same level of status or potential as Mozart is I agree quite outlandish, simply because Mozart was not a master but THE master.
A key difference as well is that Sondheim has to write for a medium that is Produced, other artists are there to butcher his work. The score to BOUNCE is not what killed it, it will take its place as a classic someday. 15 works for the stage today is not simply 15 works of musical composition.

Mraz has not even come to that point, the one person in popular music who belongs in this conversation is Bob Dylan. Of course, your original arguement of supporting younger artists comes to mind, I support them yet you need to be a master before being discussed as one. That takes time.

[MisterRussell]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 11:55am

I know this is off-topic to an extent, and i apologize, but I just had a thought:

Why do we not see ourselves mentioning the (argueably) most successful writers of the "new breed" mentioned here? I refer, of course, to Flaherty and Ahrens.

My take on this:

F&A are strictly writing in the traditional style. Not "breaking new ground" or "advancing the art form." THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS.

I happen to love F&A's work. Perhaps they will be to Guettel or JRB what K&E or Cy Coleman were to Sondheim?

Not trying to start a new thread, sorry for the off-topic.

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 11:57am

Mister and free-- Thank you!

And in regard to the Mozart/Sondheim comparison, I was just pulling stuff out of my a--. I couldn't think of anyone more comparable at the moment. Yet, I still stand by what I'm saying, even with my less than admirable comparison. But I also think we all need to take a step back and realize that Stephen Sondheim's works don't really need our defenses. I honestly feel that his music, lyrics, and shows will be around for a long time, just like R&H's are. Sweeney Todd, Company, Into the Woods, etc., are so strong that they can speak for themselves. (That doesn't mean I don't get mad when I hear people compare him to pop writers.)

[katygrace84]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 11:57am

Thank you, SmartPenguin, for living up to your name and being way more rational than I. Something tells me voiceanth just wanted to be mischievous. But it still got me all riled up and even more feisty than I usually am. I'm trying to calm down now.

[freeadmission]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 11:58am

Wow, I feel like an idiot. I haven't even heard of Flaherty and Ahrens. Anyone care to point me in the right direction?

[MisterRussell]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 12:00pm

Ragtime, Dessa Rose, Once On This Island, Lucky Stiff, A Man of No Importance, Seussical

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 12:02pm

Ah, I was wondering myself. Sadly, I've only heard Ragtime.

[freeadmission]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 12:03pm

Hah. I've heard OF all of those, but never HEARD them or knew who wrote them.

*checks account balance*

Crap.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 12:03pm

I love getting people fiesty but I also stand by what I write ! My opinion is unlike Mozart, Sondheim will be regard with a much more level headed view than he is today!

Now how about that John Mayer!???

[freeadmission]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 12:05pm

Ummm...are you joking?

I like the guy as much as the next person, but...

You know what? Nevermind.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 12:06pm

why, thank you katygrace. I understand your sentiments.

FandA are really quite marvelous. (except Seusical) Yet somehow their work never seems as high in my mind as others. I think its in part because they are a working in traditional forms, and as a team. They are always up near the top, but never at the top.

I think it is a well formed point in any event misterrussel.

[katygrace84]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 12:07pm

Oh voiceanth, you're bound and determined to make us all go a little nutty today, aren't you? You want to start a Mayer thread on the off-topic board and I just might be over there helping oyu out on that one. Let's just not go comparing him to Sondheim and you and I can get along just fine.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 12:12pm

"Why, Georgia" by Mr. Mayer describes isolation and suffering for one's art in a way that transcends a pop song!