Wicked's Hidden References

#1

Wicked's Hidden References

Posted: 7/16/04 at 1:49pm

Word is out that Schwartz hid a number of sly and clever references to the 1939 musical in his score. Die hard fans probably already know this, but for those who don't, here's the biggest "homage":

The 7 notes which make up "Unlimited, my future" are the same 7 notes (in an altered rhythm) of "Somewhere over the rainbow"

Anybody else?

#2

re: Wicked's Hidden References

Posted: 7/16/04 at 1:57pm

Cool! Where did you find that info?
I am humming it my head right now,(okay, singing out loud) lol, but the notes are not matching. Is it the same melody or just made up of the same notes?

#3

re: Wicked's Hidden References

Posted: 7/16/04 at 2:13pm

Same notes, same melody - we're not talking key, we're talking intervals.

pick a note, up an octave, down a second, down to the 5th, then step wise back up to the octave.

(for Sound of Music fans): do, do, ti, sol, la, ti, do

"un...lim..e..ted.....my..fu..ture"
(do...do..ti..sol......la...ti....do)

"some where o...ver the rain bow"
(do.....do.....ti...sol...la..ti....do)

Does that help?

#4

re: Wicked's Hidden References

Posted: 7/16/04 at 2:17pm

Yea, you can hear it if you sing it. That is so cool!!!

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What is your dream role? My dream role would be to be myself. To be performing at the Hollywood Bowl and to have an audience there just to see me, as Stephanie. They are there because they like what I do as a singer, an artist and a person (the last being the most important). I enjoy escaping and portraying other characters, but to be accepted and wanted as yourself... that's amazing! --Stephanie J. Block Just one of the many reasons I admire and respect Stephanie!!

#5

re: Wicked's Hidden References

Posted: 7/16/04 at 2:18pm

That's nifty! I never noticed.

#6

re: Wicked's Hidden References

Posted: 7/16/04 at 3:06pm

That's pretty cool. I didn't notice that before. What are the others?

By the way, and I mean no disrespect, but do you think that Schwartz wears a hairpiece? I have heard that rumor, but what do you guys think?

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PEACE.

#7

re: Wicked's Hidden References

Posted: 7/16/04 at 3:06pm

Hmm... another one of the little references in the score is during "One Short Day." At 1:06 during the song, you'll catch a piccolo playing a passage from "Merry Old Land Of Oz" - It's a fun little part.

Take care,
Charlie
magicpiane@kc.rr.com

#8

re: Wicked's Hidden References

Posted: 7/16/04 at 3:20pm

Now this is interesting Wicked stuff!!

What else do you know?? I LOVE this!

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"Two drifters off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see. . ."

#9

re: Wicked's Hidden References

Posted: 7/16/04 at 3:23pm

I think he does wear a rug. Heard a story about it being knocked off his head at an inopportune moment.

#10

re: Wicked's Hidden References

Posted: 7/16/04 at 3:24pm

Right on, Magic, I hear that too.

I understand there's a musical reference in the underscoring during the show (not on the CD) to Miss Gulch's "Bike Riding Theme"

... you know, that evil little tune during the movie you hear when Miss Gulch is riding on her bicycle?

#11

re: Wicked's Hidden References

Posted: 7/16/04 at 3:27pm

Do you know what part of the show?

Is it during the hurricane or maybe when the people of Oz are out looking for Elphaba?...just a guess. I've never noticed it before, but I'm going on Sunday, so will keep an ear open for it.

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"Two drifters off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see. . ."

#12

re: Wicked's Hidden References

Posted: 7/16/04 at 3:29pm

Yes, it's in the underscore during the cyclone portion of Wicked.

Charlie
magicpiane@kc.rr.com

#13

re: Wicked's Hidden References

Posted: 7/16/04 at 3:31pm

cyclone!!...that's what I meant (whoever heard of a hurricane in Oz?!)

Thanks for the confirmation...I'll listen for it on Sunday.

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"Two drifters off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see. . ."

#14

re: Wicked's Hidden References

Posted: 7/16/04 at 3:31pm

I think he does wear a rug. Heard a story about it being knocked off his head at an inopportune moment.

Really? Was it while he was conducting? How humilitatin'.

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PEACE.

#15

re: Wicked's Hidden References

Posted: 7/16/04 at 3:42pm

Please, forgive me for being indelicate (not to mention embarassingly naive) but I was more surprised to hear he has a son ... an up-and-coming director, right?

I always assumed he was, well ... you know, "different". On the bus, so to speak, with the rest of us boys in the band.

Is it time for me to adjust my gaydar? Maybe it was just wishfull thinking ...

I couldn't care less if he wears a rug LOL

#16

re: Wicked's Hidden References

Posted: 7/16/04 at 3:46pm

Yes, his son Scott directed:

Tick, Tick...Boom! - off-broadway
Bat Boy: The Musical - Off-broadway
Jane Eyre - Broadway (Co-directed)
Godspell - 2001 National Tour
Golda's Balcony - Broadway
My Antonia - Theatreworks

Also, Stephen is married.

Updated On: 7/16/04 at 03:46 PM

#17

re: Wicked's Hidden References

Posted: 7/16/04 at 3:48pm

(*sigh*)

#18

re: Wicked's Hidden References

Posted: 7/16/04 at 3:48pm

...not that there's anything wrong with that....

#19

re: Wicked's Hidden References

Posted: 7/16/04 at 3:49pm

I don't care who he sleeps with, I just want to know how he lost his rug, if that is true.

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PEACE.

#20

re: Wicked's Hidden References

Posted: 7/16/04 at 3:51pm

Some of my best friends are married.

I have a brother who's married. We love him just the same.

#21

re: Wicked's Hidden References

Posted: 7/16/04 at 3:54pm

And as the saying goes...a ring never stopped up a hole.

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PEACE.

#22

re: Wicked's Hidden References

Posted: 7/16/04 at 4:07pm

Also:

"couldn't be happier" = "follow the yellow brick"

#23

re: Wicked's Hidden References

Posted: 7/16/04 at 4:11pm

And the broom is a big phallic symbol.

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

#24

re: Wicked's Hidden References

Posted: 7/16/04 at 4:17pm

Really? I never realised. Damn brooms!

#25

re: Wicked's Hidden References

Posted: 7/16/04 at 4:20pm

Haven't you read the Harry Potter books? They all want the biggest broom and are put down for not having a nice one.

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PEACE.