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Bestseller
BestsellerE-book
Author Laird, Paul R., author.

Title West side story, Gypsy, and the art of Broadway orchestration / Paul R. Laird.

Publication Info. Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, 2022.

Item Status

Description 1 online resource.
Physical Medium polychrome
Description text file
Series Routledge research in music
Routledge research in music.
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index.
Summary In this ground-breaking study, Paul Laird examines the process and effect of orchestration in West Side Story and Gypsy, two musicals that were among the most significant Broadway shows of the 1950s, and remain important in the modern repertory. Drawing on extensive archival research with original manuscripts, Laird provides a detailed account of the process of orchestration for these musicals, and their context in the history of Broadway orchestration. He argues that the orchestration plays a vital role in the characterization and plot development in each major musical number, opening a new avenue for analysis that deepens our understanding of the musical as an art form. The orchestration of the score in Broadway musicals deeply shapes their final soundscapes, but only recently has it begun to receive real attention. Linked by a shared orchestrator, in other ways West Side Story and Gypsy offer a study in contrasts. Breaking down how the two composers, Leonard Bernstein and Jules Styne, collaborated with orchestrators Sid Ramin, Irwin Kostal, and Robert Ginzler, Laird's study enables us to better understand both of these two iconic shows, and the importance of orchestration within musical theatre in general.
Biography Paul R. Laird is Professor of Musicology at the University of Kansas, where he teaches courses on music history and the history of musical theater, and directs the Instrumental Collegium Musicum. He has also co-written the second edition of Leonard Bernstein: A Research and Information Guide (Routledge)with Hsun Lin.
Access Concurrent user level: 1 user
Subject Bernstein, Leonard, 1918-1990. West Side story.
Styne, Jule, 1905-1994. Gypsy.
Instrumentation and orchestration -- United States -- History -- 20th century.
Instrumentation and orchestration.
United States.
History.
Chronological Term 20th century
Subject Musicals -- New York (State) -- New York -- History and criticism.
Musicals.
New York (State) -- New York.
MUSIC -- General.
Gypsy (Styne, Jule)
West Side story (Bernstein, Leonard)
Chronological Term 1900-1999
Genre/Form Criticism, interpretation, etc.
History.
Subject Musicals.
Other Form: Print version: 0367086158 9780367086152 (OCoLC)1252961012
ISBN 0429662734 (electronic book)
9780429023378 (electronic book)
0429023375 (electronic book)
9780429665455 (electronic book)
0429665458 (electronic book)
9780429660016 (electronic book Mobipocket)
0429660014 (electronic book Mobipocket)
9780429662737 (electronic book)
0367086158
9780367086152
Standard No. 10.4324/9780429023378