Series: Great Songwriters
Paperback: 446 pages
Publisher: Applause Theatre & Cinema Books; Reprint edition (September 1, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1480386480
ISBN-13: 978-1480386488
Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 1 x 9.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #1,065,809 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #454 in Books > Arts & Photography > Performing Arts > Theater > Broadway & Musicals #490 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Arts & Literature > Theatre #655 in Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Musical Genres > Musicals
I recently finished reading this dual biography of Hammerstein and Lerner. My overall impression was that it was interesting and insightful. I would have given the book a higher rating except that the number of typographical and minor factual errors was a little more than I feel is appropriate. As an example, in the section descrbing Hammerstein's "Allegro", the writer stated that the hero of the piece, Joseph Taylor, Jr., sings the number "So Far" to a college co-ed. A look at the score or the libretto clearly indicates that it is, in fact, the opposite. The co-ed sings the song to Joe. This may sound a bit nit-picky, and I could forgive one or maybe even two errors like this. Unfortunately, the book gets a number of these details wrong.
The problem with a book like this which only deals with one half of the legendary teams who created such glorious music for the theater, is that unless you're familiar with the music, you're left struggling. Most people who read this will be, but Stephen Citron's considerable knowledge of the lyrics doesn't extend to insightful comments on the other elements that made these scores, and shows, legendary. He also has dubious taste. 'One More Walk Around The Garden' from Carmelina, ' When Your Lover Says Goodbye' from Coco , and 'I Am Going To Like it Here' from Flower Drum Song, aren't worth even half the attention Citron gives them.
The Wordsmiths: Oscar Hammerstein 2nd and Alan Jay Lerner (Great Songwriters) Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II Alan's War: The Memories of G.I. Alan Cope Inspiration for Great Songwriting: For Pop, Rock & Roll, Jazz, Blues, Broadway, and Country Songwriters: A Cheat Sheet Book About Creativity with Form, Lyrics, Music, and More The Sound of Music: Vocal Selections - Revised Edition (Rodgers and Hammerstein Vocal Selections) Oklahoma Vocal Selection Revised Rodgers And Hammerstein The Sound of Music (Rogers & Hammerstein): Piano Solo Selections The Rodgers & Hammerstein Collection The Musical Worlds of Lerner and Loewe The Best of Lerner and Loewe: 28 Favorites from Brigadoon, Camelot, Gigi, My Fair Lady, Paint Your Wagon (Piano, Vocal, Guitar) Bill Gates (A & E Biography (Lerner Paperback)) Silkworms (Lerner Natural Science Books) Billie Jean King : Tennis Trailblazer (Lerner Biographies) Wilma Rudolph (Biography (Lerner Hardcover)) Pickers and Poets: The Ruthlessly Poetic Singer-Songwriters of Texas (John and Robin Dickson Series in Texas Music, sponsored by the Center for Texas) What They'll Never Tell You About the Music Business, Third Edition: The Complete Guide for Musicians, Songwriters, Producers, Managers, Industry Executives, Attorneys, Investors, and Accountants The Songwriters Idea Book: 40 Strategies to Excite Your Imagination, Help You Design Distinctive Songs, and Keep Your Creative Flow Kid's World Almanac Rhyming Dictionary: A Guide for Young Poets and Songwriters Songwriters On Songwriting: Revised And Expanded Chord Progressions For Songwriters