The Broadway Sound (Eastman Studies in Music)
Robert Russell Bennett (1894-1981) orchestrated all or part of more than 300 Broadway musicals between 1920 and 1975, but this impressive statistic only hints at his importance. Collaborating with the likes of Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Frederick Loewe, and Richard Rodgers, he often worked from single melody lines and sketchy harmonies, and although his name is not well known, he produced much of what defined the style of American musical theater. His output was enormous; after hearing a song once, he could produce an arrangement. His career brought him wealth and prominence, but what he really wanted was to be taken seriously as a composer (he produced 175 original works). His writing has an old-fashioned charm and elegance, revealing both the genius and the gentleman. Included are eight essays on aspects of orchestral arranging, published between 1933 and 1967. Carefully edited and annotated, with a complete discography and lists of compositions, arrangements, and stage and film credits, this book succeeds both as biography and musical theater history. Highly recommended for academic libraries and large music collections.AKate McCaffrey, Onondaga Cty. P.L., Syracuse, NYCopyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.