What do you guys think about William Finn?

[JRBfan]

Posted: 8/15/04 at 12:42am

I love his music (ie. the Falsettos series, A New Brain, Infinite Joy, Elegies...)? Just wondering if anyone enjoys it as much as I do.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/15/04 at 12:51am

I just wanted to crawl out of my own skin while watching the Broadway production of Falsettos. Hated. It.

[Mattio98]

Posted: 8/15/04 at 12:56am

Love his music. Especially A New Brain.

[BreakingTheCircle07]

Posted: 8/15/04 at 2:48am

I <3 William Finn's work. "Elegies" is my least favorite because it's an evening "dead"icated to death (and it's a song cycle) but it has some great songs (including "I Am There" which was cut from "A New Brain"). "Trousers" is crazy-cool because of its non-linear structure. It's a great set-up for "Falsettos" regarding Marvin and how he deals (or doesn't deal) with women. "A New Brain" is lovely and fun, but I lean toward enjoying its first half more than the second. Over all: GO FINN! (yea, I'm a dork)

[feinstein9]

Posted: 8/15/04 at 3:03am

elegies is my favourite... *because* it's entirely "dead"icated to death.


new brain in second.

[Mattio98]

Posted: 8/15/04 at 3:11am

Infinite Joy is a great Finn compilation.

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 8/15/04 at 4:04am

William Finn is my #1 favorite musical theatre composer and lyricist of all time. I fell in love with March of the Falsettos years ago and have been hooked ever since. He's an acquired taste and not for everyone, but personally his work fascinates me like none other and always leaves me thinking.

His music has a way of being incredibly complex and very basic at the same time. He composes some of the strangest and most unique vocal and instrumental music, yet he manages to create memorable "hummable" melodies worthy of a pop score.

What really sets him apart from other talented double-threats (Sondheim, JRB, Schwartz on occasion) is the way he fuses his lyrics with the music. The language itself is the most literate you're likely to find in a Broadway libretto. He uses words, terms, phrases, and sentence structures I didn't think could be smoothly set to music. And the content itself can be hilarious, heartbreaking, vividly descriptive, or just effective storytelling depending on what's called for, and it is ALWAYS consistent with the character singing them. Sondheim is a great lyricist. William Finn at his best is a present-day bard.

Agreed he's written some not-so-great music (a good amount of New Brain) and not all of his lyrics are masterpieces, but I almost get the feeling that a lot of his bad lyrics are left that way on purpose, maybe to fit a character or set a tone.

My only complaint is that he isn't more prolific. I can't wait to see his new one! Anyone seen "Spelling Bee..." yet?

[bogey_LIVE]

Posted: 8/15/04 at 5:55am

Willy Finn was born in Australia in 1904, he was teh twin brother of Huck Finn. Finny is aight. I prefer Lord Webber over him *gasp* I know, I am an anarchist! But Finny is fun. I love 'Holding to the Ground'. Good piece of muzak.

[kidmanboy]

Posted: 8/15/04 at 10:17am

I did see Spelling Bee, hence the icon. I thought it was absolutely hilarious and he wrote some amazing songs for the show. Ones that stick out are the "I Love you Song" a really bittersweet song between a young girl and her parents, "Pandemonium" an insane group number that may be one of Finn's catchiest songs (I still have it in my head 3 weeks later), and "I Speak Six Languages" sung by an over-acheiving asian girl who dances, sings the chorus in all six languages, and accompanies herself. I REALLY hope this show has a future, and judging by the audience reaction and the critical response, which is the most positive i've seen for a new musical in quite some time, I think it will.

[Elphaba984]

Posted: 8/15/04 at 10:28am

<3 A NEW BRAIN. very good show and fun to work on.

[dramafreak13]

Posted: 8/15/04 at 11:10am

yay william finn!!! i love him

[zannafan]

Posted: 8/15/04 at 2:06pm

I was just on here looking at the message board while my boyfriend sleeps, but I could NOT help but login so I could reply. I am so happy that other people love Finn as much as I do. He writes some of the best, most touching songs I have ever heard. The "Goodbye/Boom Boom" song makes me cry EVERYY time I hear it.

Infinite Joy is also a beautiful recording. I just love his music. Norm Lewis singing "Anytime" makes me just melt.

I also have A New Brain, March of the Falsettos, and Falsettoland. I actually had a long conversation once with Anthony Rapp and he told me to listen to the Falsetto recordings and I can't thank him enough for his recommendation. I think the world is blessed to hear his music and I am dying for more.

Come on Bill, write another one for us to enjoy!

Nick

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/15/04 at 3:07pm

Think about Finn?

I try not to whenever possible. Updated On: 8/15/04 at 03:07 PM

[bronxboundexpress]

Posted: 8/15/04 at 4:36pm

Some good. Some bad.

[MisterRussell]

Posted: 8/15/04 at 8:24pm

Really talented guy who picks odd subjects that don't sing well. Loved MOTF, hated FALSETTOS. Hated ANB...weird show.

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 8/15/04 at 8:50pm

I'd do him.

[dramafreak13]

Posted: 8/16/04 at 1:43pm

hey, while we are on the topic, does anyone know where i can get the Elegies score? i cant find it on amazon.

[staticradar]

Posted: 9/16/04 at 11:49am

I'm a new convert to the world of Finn, but I just adore him! I picked up a New Brain and Elegies and fell in love. I'm in the process of getting everything else as well. Infinate Joy I just ordered and can't wait to get it.

But Finn is quickly becoming one of my favorite composers, next to Sondheim, and I really wish he would go ahead and write more musicals, I would love to get to see one of his shows performed.

Yeah, well mark me down as another fan of William Finn's.

[twogaab2]

Posted: 9/16/04 at 12:07pm

I find his music ENORMOUSLY rewarding. Elegies was wonderful.

Just my opinion, I may be wrong.

[staticradar]

Posted: 9/16/04 at 12:10pm

you're never wrong if it's your opinion and especially an opinion I agre on whole heartedly.

I just got Elegies and it hasn't left my CD player and probably won't until I get Infinate Joy. His music has the ability to make you laugh and cry and feel and I just wish I could see one of his shows staged.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 9/16/04 at 12:29pm

My parents and I loved the Broadway production of Falsettos. It's definitely in my top five favorite shows. I also love A New Brain. I liked the CD immediately upon the first hearing, but when I did the show, I appreciated it so much more.

The Elegies CD just didn't stick with me, but I like Infinite Joy and In Trousers. I do think he is incredibly talented with a gift for both memorable melodies and intelligent lyrics. What I like most about Falsettos and A New Brain is the fact that they are unconventional and thought provoking, yet still filled with instantly memorable and moving songs.

[leomaxfrank]

Posted: 9/16/04 at 2:38pm

I find it interesting/surprising that Bill Finn is talked about once a month here. His music/lyrics should garner much more attention. I'm very excited to see "..Spelling Bee.."

[Love4Cheno]

Posted: 9/16/04 at 3:34pm

This is an interesting one...

I HATED Falsettos when I saw it on B'way (but I think I was too young to get it all.) I found it annoying, whiney, and corny.

Then recently a casting agent asked me to bring in "What More Can I Say." After initially thinking "Ugh no!" I really went to work on it. I discovered so many beautiful and poignant moments in the song that I've begun to reshift my thinking towards Mr. Finn.

I also have been listening to A New Brain lately, though I must admit that's more due to a certain sunny blonde lady who was in it.

[staticradar]

Posted: 9/16/04 at 4:10pm

"I find it interesting/surprising that Bill Finn is talked about once a month here. His music/lyrics should garner much more attention. I'm very excited to see "..Spelling Bee.." "

He should be talked about more...I'm just getting into his stuff so I went searching for some threads and came across this one thought it was time for a bump eh? We should keep William Finn threads alive, he's a brilliant composer/lyricist.

I haven't heard much about "Spelling Bee" where's it gonna be? What's it about (besides the obvious which is in it's name)?

[Contributor]

Posted: 9/16/04 at 5:12pm

Finn's latest show, "Spelling Bee," was reviewed by BWW during its run in the Berkshires this summer:

https://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=1067