...AUTHOR’S NOTE Don’t listen to anything I say. INTRO What does Anything Goes, Hello Dolly!, Les Mis and Wicked have in common with anything else that has ever existed? The answer at the bottom of the page (upside down “absolutely nothing”). It’s a strange world, musical theatre; we have all seen one, been in one, fantasized about starring in one, hate one or adore one. None the matter. When it comes down to it, we must come to realize that our proud, intelligent, gun-slinging species has created the most romantic and magical source of entertainment I have ever come to witness. How do other animals entertain themselves? Dogs chase their bums, cats get their nip-fix, dolphins screw, primates throw excrement. Humans deride at our beastly brethren for their means of amusement, yet I have little doubt if you sat a gorilla in the mezzanine to watch a hoard of synchronized singers and dancers telling their story in front of him, he would think “What the hell are these idiots doing? I want my stick back.” Yet what makes it so real? Where does the allure come from? The high notes or the kick lines? The consistency or the insanity? I have but one theory. One of my favorite words is “romance”. Not, of course, in the way you are probably thinking. I’m thinking in the broadest sense of the word. Not the squishy “I love you, you love me, so-on-and-so-forth mediocrity.” Not the “Oh, Shannon” and, “William, my sweet love.” Give me a break. The romance I’m talking about is the surreality...
Words: 832 - Pages: 4
...Musical Theater The evolution of musical theater is the true are of telling a story. Musical theater dates all the way back to the 5th century BOE. This was a time the Romans nailed metal to shoes to create the first tap shoes, wagons were called “stages on wheels” and poetry was cited with a melody. Musical theater is presented all around the world thru history, “boots musicals”, and many popular musical films. In ancient Greece, music and dance war introduced thru staged comedies and tragedies. As early as the 3rd century BCE Romans performed in “theaters” by creating the technical part of dance – tap shoes. Now dance steps can be heard. This form of theater is a combination of songs spoken dialogue, acting, and dancing. Musical theater is often compared to opera. The only difference is musical theater targets popular music and opera focuses more on classical. They can also contain different stories from love to tragedies. Composers and singers contribute to explain each character’s feelings thru the music. Musical theater isn’t what it is without a performer who is extremely talented in dancing, singing, and acting. Since the 20th century, musical theater productions are what we know as musicals. Producing a musical contains set designing, costumes, props, lights, and sound. The three key parts of a book musical are music, lyrics, and of course a book. The story is well created full of drama. Musical plays bring songs and dances to another level so real emotions other...
Words: 624 - Pages: 3
...August 26, 2015 MUS 107 Musical Autobiography 1. What kinds of music do you like to listen to? Be specific! a. I like to listen to Country, Rock, Blues, 70s & 80s Music, Hawaiian, Reggae, Hip-Hop, and Pop Music. 2. Why do you like the kinds of music that you do? b. I like the way how all the songs make me feel. For example, I dance hula and the Hawaiian songs my class and I dance to are either fast or slow songs; either way all of the songs we dance to just make me feel peaceful and at ease. 3. Do you play an instrument and/or sing? What kinds of music do you play/sing/perform? c. I do not play any instrument well, however I did take an ukulele class this past semester. In that class we played/sung/performed all Hawaiian music. 4. What kinds of music do you make with your family and/or friends? d. We don’t really sing together, but if we do were singing whatever is pkaying on the radio or on our iPod/iPhone’s. 5. How much music do you listen to daily? e. A LOT!!! I listen to music almost all day, everyday… Except in class. I listen to music when I wake up in the morning to get ready for school, I listen to music in the car, when I get to school I listen to music while walking to class, I listen to music when I do my homework, I listen to music when I go running, and I listen to music when I shower. 6. When was the last time music caught you by surprise? f. I remember when I was sitting in the car...
Words: 415 - Pages: 2
...AFRICAN-AMERICAN MUSICALS (1898-1920) Fortunately for American Musical Theater, many of the black artists who had been honing their craft in vaudeville and black minstrelsy began to turn their talents to musical comedy. 1898—Clorindy, the Origin of the Cakewalk Clorindy was the first black musical to make it to Broadway. It was not actually in a theater, it was presented on the roof garden of the Casino Theater (roof gardens were outdoor nightclubs on the roofs of many theaters—very popular in the summertime). The roof gardens provided a venue for Broadway producers to try out new talent before putting the performer in a Broadway show. Will Marion Cook, one of the most famous black composers of the time, conceived the show. In essence, he tricked Edward Rice (Evangeline—1874—1st musical comedy with an original score) into presenting the show on his roof garden by sneaking into a rehearsal and convincing the conductor of the orchestra to play his music. Cook placed his performers on stage and 26 of the finest black voices in America launched into a song that resonated off the rooftop. They were hired. On opening night there were 50 people in the audience at the beginning of the show and a packed house by the end of the first number. Broadway theater patrons heard the voices coming off the roof as they were leaving the theaters on the streets below and flocked to the roof garden. The show seems to have been more of a revue format with a very loose story that centered...
Words: 2464 - Pages: 10
...Major Essay: Question One Musical films have been present in Hollywood since The Jazz Singer (1927) premiered. Mast states that a film is a musical when the primary entertainment and investment lie in the musical numbers (p. 309, Wood, 2008). Musical films are often a beloved or hated genre due to the unrealistic nature of characters erupting into song and dance. This essay analyse four main conventions of the musical genre the spectacle, the narrative, the adaption of established stories and the power the combination of lyrics and music can achieve on screen. Examples from different periods in Hollywood will be used to explore these conventions and how they apply and have evolved to suite conventions of modern cinema. Kellner (2005) explains spectacles have been present in different cultures since pre-modern times. Examples of these spectacles include plays, the Olympics of Ancient Greece, in Ancient Rome public offerings of bread, circuses and gladiator games (Kellner, 2005). The human desire for the spectacle has not fallen into extinction but rather evolved with society and technology. Entertainment has always been a prime field of the spectacle and film has been one of the most productive industries to utilise the spectacle (Kellner, 2005). Hello Dolly (1969), My Fair Lady (1964) and Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (1997) are three examples of film musical spectacles. All three of these movies contain elaborate costumes, bright colours and large dance...
Words: 2739 - Pages: 11
...Evolution of Musical Instruments Music, the concept is something almost instinctually recognized. Rhythm, is it appropriated from our culture, or is it something innately recognized between living beings? From beating on walls to humming tunes, making music is something we are almost all capable of doing. But over time we have evolved our way of procuring these sounds, these vibrational patterns, and it has helped us evolve the actual concept of music to newer and grander concepts. To better understand this, I have drawn up the following timeline, demonstrating the evolution of musical instruments. • ??? Our first musical instruments were natural our lungs. Dating back to the beginning of human history • 45,000 years ago Neanderthals carve a flute from the leg bone of a young bear, in the region that is now Slovenia • 8000 BC Aborigines develop first Didgeridoo • 4000 BC Harps and flutes played in Egypt • 3500 BC Lyres and Double Clarinets played in Egypt • 3000 BC Chinese court musician cut first bamboo pipes • 2800 BC The harp and the lyre are in use as musical instruments in Mesopotamia • 2000 BC Percussion instruments added to Egyptian orchestral music including Bells • 1500 BC A copper trumpet is in use in Egypt, forerunner of the brass instruments of the orchestra • 1500 BC Hittites use guitars, lyres, trumpets, and tambourines in music • 1000 BC Bagpipes first used • 800 BC Five tone and Seven tone scales appear in Babylon • 800 BC Earliest...
Words: 1082 - Pages: 5
...Japan first encountered music from Korea and China around 7th century. In traditional Japanese music, there are three general types of instruments, which are percussion, stringed, and wind instruments. Japanese musical instruments have distinct characteristic that distinguish themselves from western instruments; they are made to enjoy to delicate change of the sound in the small room and that trait can be contrasted to the trait of big concert hall sound made by western instruments. Recently, a growing number of artists are being recognized for bringing these instruments to modern audiences, giving the old instruments new life and energy. First, the stringed instrument to be introduced is Koto. The koto is probably the most familiar Japanese instrument in the world. In ancient tradition, a kind of koto was used as the symbol of music, one of the attributes of a scholar in the Chinese Confucian tradition. As thirteen strings harp, the koto has pillars, made of Paulownia wood, to support the strips. The strings are all the same length and are attached parallel along the length of the instrument. The pitch is controlled by stretching the string using pillar to transmit the vibration of the string to the body. Using picks on the thumb, first two fingers of the right hand, and the left hand to modify pitch and tone, Koto players perform in an ensemble or as a solo instrument. The left hand alters the sound in various ways, sometimes pressing down on a string firmly on the left side...
Words: 325 - Pages: 2
...Heathers review This musical is based off of a black comedy movie and is about a major problem with teen depression. It all starts off as the normal first day of school where you are completely lost and you meet a girl named Veronica who is not liking the year so far. Though, the only way she could get on top of the crowd is by hanging out with the Heathers (popular girls). As for them being late for class, Veronica uses her Forging skills to help them from getting detention as they bring her into their inner circle. Though, we figure out that being popular could also be bad as to lying to a friend. Which causes a whole other story based off of how one thing could mess up a friendship. Veronica is too caring to do something like that until it might ruin her social life. Furthermore, they weren’t the only ones around but hearing over the threats was a mysterious trench coat kid named Jason Dean (JD)....
Words: 653 - Pages: 3
...This short clip depicts the opening scene from the musical The Lion King with singing and dancing to the song The Circle of Life. As the sun slowly rises many different animals celebrate the start of a new day, or the circle of life. This Lion King scene is a very visually appealing musical and makes use of not just the stage but the full arena and actors in costumes and using props are shown walking down the aisles of the theatre. While in the clip that was viewed had a very limited amount of a scenery the use of costumes, characters and puppets told this part of the story very well. In fact for some of the costumes you would need to look hard for the actor controlling the puppet as your mind you not even realize that there is an actor under the costume. Overall the costume design along with the choreography makes for a visually stunning opening scene. One gets a sense of a three ring circus where so many things are happening that there is no way you could take it all in at once as your eyes and head swivel from side to side in an attempt to capture it all. The Lion King musical is a classic coming of age story along with a good versus evil aspect. The opening scene shows the sun rising and the musical number The Circle of Life playing. The sun symbolizes the pattern of night to day and day to night, the same pattern of life to death and death to life. Simba along with his father share the protagonist role in the musical and represent good. Simba is the king’s son, the perfect...
Words: 1022 - Pages: 5
...My musical journey EDUC 8Y23 Aline Saffran 5138839 The Beatles. The ultimate band and one in which I have loved since I was a baby, thanks to my mom. She would always sing “And I Love Her” to me when I was scared or could not go to bed. My Babi (Polish for grandmother) and my Nonni (Italian for grandmother) would also sing me songs to sooth me to sleep, about butterflies and magical places. These are some musical events that I can remember from when I was little and that is where my musical journey began. Music was never my best subject, especially when it came to playing musical instruments. I was better at singing, dance and drama. I did take music as a kindergartener, learning how to play simpler instruments and to sing songs, which I think I had an easy time with, but I cannot fully remember. I picked up the recorder easily, but when I got into older grades the one thing that still to this day that throws me off about music is the “salamander and penguin” thing that my music teacher would always say to me about music notes. I still do not get it and that frustrates me now because I could have been a fantastic flute player if they did not throw this curve ball at me in the first place! I always thought I could master an instrument, but the challenging part was finding...
Words: 727 - Pages: 3
...Why a Musical Instrument is an Important Hobby Audience: Students just starting secondary school. I don't know how many of you play an instrument, but I personally have been playing the drums for just about two years now. Although I don't play in a band or even have a strict practising routine I find them to be a key part of my life now, something that I would find very difficult to live without. As you are starting secondary school, this is an ideal time to start playing an instrument. Not necessarily the drums but it can in fact be any form of instrument to find the same rewards. Over the last few years at K.E.S. School I have worked towards my GCSE's and taken the all important exams. All of this has been a very stressful experience for me and I'm sure it will be the same for a lot of you when it comes to your time to do the same. This is my first reason to take up an instrument. Stress. We all have days when we are so stressed out that we just need to take a break. Have you ever noticed that when listening to soft and calm music it makes you feel more at ease and relaxed? Playing an instrument has a very similar effect on you as this, especially when you are the one playing. Drumming through out my GCSE examination period was what allowed me to release stress and focus on my work at the same time allowing me to get the grades that I wanted. That isn't the only benefit though, in studies that have been carried out in recent years, we have found evidence that learning...
Words: 773 - Pages: 4
...Of the three main elements of musical theatre, the most important is the book. According to the article “The Musical Book: Onward and Upward” by Peter Stone, musicals from the early nineteen hundreds were light-hearted in the plot and dialogue set up the songs. Later musicals became serious literary works as plot became more complex. The book is the blueprint of the musical according to the lecture. It is the most important element of the musical, because if the book isn’t strong or not collaborated well during this level, then the musical won’t succeed. For example, the musical film Glitter starring Mariah Carey is considered a commercial failure. It had barely any plot to it and was full of clichés. I remember watching it and asking myself...
Words: 442 - Pages: 2
...Playing a Musical Instrument Effects the Brain Throughout history, many musicians have been born and some have acquired fame through playing musical instruments and creating compositions. Humans have not stopped playing music because of war. Kurt Weill, a German composer active from the 1920s to the end of his life, performed and toured during World War II. Humans continue to bring the art of music to life even when going through hardship –like Ludwig Van Beethoven, who aside from composing the well-known Fur Elise and Moonlight Sonata, was completely deaf for the last quarter of his life. It is common-sense knowledge that music is not only for the listeners, it is for the performers as well. Why a musician chooses to play music and why one might desire to listen to music is centred in the human brain. In another words, playing a musical instrument benefits the human brain. This research paper will support this thesis by discussing the brain development of a musical child, how playing music helps retain memory and hearing in aging adults, and lastly, how music relieves stress. Although Mozart may have been a musical prodigy, science now has evidence that any individual can benefit from...
Words: 1384 - Pages: 6
...West Side Story: Changing the Musical Film Genre The musical film West Side Story (1961) was greatly successful. Nominated for eleven Academy Awards and receiving ten, this movie rose to the top of everyone’s expectations. It changed the genre of musicals and film elevating the story to a new level where it prospered and flourished. This film did something other films and musicals never did before; taking a classical Shakespearian play, Romeo and Juliet and modernizing it. The musical revised a well-known story, connecting viewers personally to musical. By using the current time period, problems within society, and altering the classic play subtly, the film drastically advanced a memorable and now classic movie/musical. Additionally, West...
Words: 1222 - Pages: 5
...Hair: The American Tribal Love – Rock Musical was written by Gerome Ragni and Jim Rado. Galt MacDermot composed the music for Hair. I watched Earl Weaver’s production of Hair at UCF’s theatre (“Hair”). The story followed a medley of hippies dealing with their individual problems. The musical was like a psychedelic trip back to the 60’s with colorful lighting, showy clothing, and “far out” lingo. The overall performance was fun and enticing emotionally and aesthetically, but lacked in smooth story telling. Hair is about a tribe of hippies rebelling against the draft for Vietnam, racism, sexual repression, and many other issues in Vietnam – Era society. The plot line loosely follows tribe leaders Claude and Berger, a pair of friends that fight...
Words: 1659 - Pages: 7
