Who is the most under rated/under appreciated composer of all time? — Page 2

#26

re: Who is the most under rated/under appreciated composer of all time?

Posted: 12/15/04 at 7:31pm

robbiej,

I don't think Leosser is underrated, but I do agree wholeheartedly that THE MOST HAPPY FELLA is severely underrated.

And all you Lippa lovers, I don't mean to be rude. I do appreciate his work: I think that "My New Philosophy" is genius. JOHN AND JEN is an interesting work. But I stand firmly on the LaChuisa WILD PARTY side. And an inordinate number of people champion the Lippa version, which confuses me to no end. I honestly don't understand how anyone could consider the Lippa WILD PARTY superior to the LaChuisa WILD PARTY. And yet, many people do. It's the great musical theatre mystery.

#27

re: Who is the most under rated/under appreciated composer of all time?

Posted: 12/15/04 at 8:19pm

I love Loesser and he IS NOT underrated.

H2$ is one of the best comedies ever. PERIOD!

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David walked into the valley With a stone clutched in his hand He was only a boy But he knew someone must take a stand There will always be a valley Always mountains one must scale There will always be perilous waters Which someone must sail -Into the Fire Scarlet Pimpernel

#28

re: Who is the most under rated/under appreciated composer of all time?

Posted: 12/15/04 at 8:20pm

Maury Yeston.

#29

re: Who is the most under rated/under appreciated composer of all time?

Posted: 12/15/04 at 8:32pm

Lucy Simon

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BSoBW2: I punched Sondheim in the face after I saw Wicked and said, "Why couldn't you write like that!?"

#30

re: Who is the most under rated/under appreciated composer of all time?

Posted: 12/15/04 at 8:44pm

Vernon Duke.

If you don't know him, that proves my point.

#31

re: Who is the most under rated/under appreciated composer of all time?

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

Oh you!

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BSoBW2: I punched Sondheim in the face after I saw Wicked and said, "Why couldn't you write like that!?"

#32

re: Who is the most under rated/under appreciated composer of all time?

Posted: 12/15/04 at 8:55pm

I definitely agree with Flaherty and Ahrens, chinkie. Love their music. I also agree with Frank Wildhorn. Jekyll and Hyde is one of my very favorite musicals. And I do think JRB is underrated, definitely. His music is absolutely beautiful. But how many people do you know, generally, that know about L5Y or SFANW? I know I don't know many people, but if I introduce it to them, they eat it up like candy.

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"The stage is where I live and come alive and act out all the things that go on in my life. It's not just what I do for a living, it's my shrink and my love affair. No one in my life has ever or ever will kiss me on the mouth like this lover called my relationship with my performance."

#33

re: Who is the most under rated/under appreciated composer of all time?

Posted: 12/15/04 at 8:55pm

Frank Wildhorn

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Poster Emeritus

#34

re: Who is the most under rated/under appreciated composer of all time?

Posted: 12/15/04 at 9:21pm

Sondheim. just kidding

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awkward.

"I think it was the Korean tour or something. They were all frickin' asian!" -Zoran912

#35

re: Who is the most under rated/under appreciated composer of all time?

Posted: 12/15/04 at 9:35pm

flaherty and ahrens. by far.

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"Yesterday is done. See the pretty countryside. Merrily we roll along, roll along- catching at dreams."- Merrily we roll along "The living was the prize, the ending's not the story."- Elegies, a song cycle

#36

re: Who is the most under rated/under appreciated composer of all time?

Posted: 12/15/04 at 10:03pm

In terms of Broadway, Jim Steinman. He has written a lot of interesting and under-appreciated works. But, in terms of elsewhere, he is very recognized :)

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Who can explain it, who can tell you why? Fools give you reasons, wise men never try -South Pacific

#37

re: Who is the most under rated/under appreciated composer of all time?

Posted: 12/15/04 at 10:25pm

I'm not sure if flaherty and ahrens could be considered under rated. They've had several well acclaimed shows on broadway and won a tony for best score.

#38

re: Who is the most under rated/under appreciated composer of all time?

Posted: 12/15/04 at 10:27pm

I also have trouble recognizing Flaherty and Ahrens as underrated critics cite out their scores as highlights on a regular basis and most of their shows (maybe all) have been recorded and produced.

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BSoBW2: I punched Sondheim in the face after I saw Wicked and said, "Why couldn't you write like that!?"

#39

re: Who is the most under rated/under appreciated composer of all time?

Posted: 12/15/04 at 11:09pm

George Gershwin was Vernon Duke's biggest fan.

That, dear friends, says something.
Who is Vernon Duke?

#40

re: Who is the most under rated/under appreciated composer of all time?

Posted: 12/15/04 at 11:15pm

Larry Grossman IMHO

Ahrens/Flaherty are underated but Ragtime did bring them a lot of recognition

I do agree with Lucy Simon--what happened to her Wuthering Heights???

Also LaChiusa in my books--I think he deserves much more respect and success.

E

#41

re: Who is the most under rated/under appreciated composer of all time?

Posted: 12/15/04 at 11:20pm

I am weeping.

#42

re: Who is the most under rated/under appreciated composer of all time?

Posted: 12/16/04 at 12:21am

I've never really been a fan of Loesser's music but I can recognize his contributions to the Broadway community.

My List:

Maury Yeston
William Finn
Larry O'Keefe
Jeanine Tesori
Adam Guettel
Michael John LaChiusa
Jason Robert Brown

#43

re: Who is the most under rated/under appreciated composer of all time?

Posted: 12/16/04 at 12:24am

Plus Maltby and Shire.

#44

re: Who is the most under rated/under appreciated composer of all time?

Posted: 12/16/04 at 12:28am

Must vote for the "SideShow" team of Henry Krieger (music) and the lyrics by Bill Russell.

Special note: Bill, if you're out there, you were in my class at the law firm you temped for "way back when"!

#45

re: Who is the most under rated/under appreciated composer of all time?

Posted: 12/16/04 at 3:15am

May get me shot, but Irving Berlin is vastly underrated for how much he has given musically (I am including popular music.) I would LOVE to get my hands on some recordings of his musicals because I am not nearly as familiar with them as I would like to be.

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My avatar is a reminder to myself. I need lots of reminders...

Updated On: 12/16/04 at 03:15 AM

#46

re: Who is the most under rated/under appreciated composer of all time?

Posted: 12/16/04 at 3:24am

definitely Lucy Simon
Damon Intrabartolo
Willy Russell

I would hardly consider most others mentioned "underrated." Especially Loesser, Krieger, Kleban, JRB, and Lippa.

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"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

#47

re: Who is the most under rated/under appreciated composer of all time?

Posted: 12/16/04 at 3:58am

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Stephen Schwartz

#48

re: Who is the most under rated/under appreciated composer of all time?

Posted: 12/16/04 at 4:09am

Frank Wildhorn

#49

re: Who is the most under rated/under appreciated composer of all time?

Posted: 12/16/04 at 11:38am

willy russell
BLOOD BROS is amazing!

#50

re: Who is the most under rated/under appreciated composer of all time?

Posted: 12/16/04 at 11:42am

Agreed.

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"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson