Stephen Sondheim

Question 1

Which family friend was a great influence on Sondheim?

Answer 1

Oscar Hammerstein the famous lyricist

Question 2

What was one of Sondheims earliest achievements?

Answer 2

Collaborating with Leonard Bernstein to write the lyrics for West Side Story.

Question 3

What were some of the ways that Sondheim changed the face of musical theatre

Answer 3

In contrast to the positive, feel-good storylines of the Musical Theatre of the day, Sondheim replaced sentimentality with emotional intensity and realism.

Question 4

True or False: Sondheim worked with the best lyricists from across the globe

Answer 4

False: he wrote all of his own lyrics

Question 5

Describe Sondheim’s process in lyric writing

Answer 5

• used sophistication of rhyming to indicate the intelligence or sophistication of the character
• the music is directly woven in to the action and the character, hard to take out of its dramatic context

Question 6

Describe Sondheim’s process in character creation

Answer 6

• very multi-dimensional characters with issues and complexities
• characters usually undergo a search for self and stability in their lives

Question 7

What is the meaning of didactic theatre and how does this relate to Sondheim’s work?

Answer 7

Didactic theatre is meant to instruct the audience and raise awareness on certain issues such as social, political or moral

Question 8

What is a “concept” musical, and how does this relate to Sondheim’s work

Answer 8

Sondheim developed the concept musical, a musical in which all elements of the work are integrated to suggest a central thematic image or idea. For example the Kabuki (Japanese theatre) inspired Pacific Overtures

Question 9

Describe Sondheims story writing

Answer 9

not always logical or linear. He skillfully uses together fantasy with reality

Question 10

Describe Sondheim’s use of leitmotif

Answer 10

he frequently employed them and developed them as the story unfolds

Question 11

Describe Sondheim’s use of rhythm

Answer 11

he enjoyed writing music that was rhythmically complex and sought to achieve the perfect union of music and text

Question 12

Describe Sondheim’s use of form

Answer 12

he rejected standard song forms and experimented with novel and through composed forms

Question 13

True or False: Sondheim was a master of contrapuntal writing

Answer 13

true

Question 14

Describe influences of Sondheim’s harmonic language

Answer 14

rich harmonic language with ties to Brahms, Ravel, and Prokofiev

Question 15

name 3 musicals by Sondheim

Answer 15

Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Into the Woods, Pacific Overtures