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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By M. Board
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover
This book is an excellent and scrupulous assessment of Sondheim's musical works. His analysis of the tiny details in Sondheim's songs, in regards to how his composing and lyric-writing come together, is incredible and fascinating.
For the most part, Banfield is careful to keep tying his analysis back into the work as a whole - however, there are times when he just gets lost in this complicated dissection of musical theory. I'm not sure whether this is because I don't understand many of the musical terms he's using, or whether it's because his prose style is a little too verbose sometimes.
On the other hand, this is an especially insightful read for wannabe composers who admire Stephen Sondheim - it certainly gives you a lot of ideas to think about.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is not a book for the casual Sondheim fan. Be warned, unless you have a fair degree of musical sophistication -- and this involves music theory and musicology -- this is not the book for you. But for those who do understand such arcane things as harmonic (including Schenkerian) analysis, or how a typical Broadway tune is constructed, or, to use Banfield's favorite term, the diegetic uses of music, this 1993 book is a gold mine. The emphasis throughout is on the music, not on dramatic construction or the lyrics themselves; they are noted but not dwelt on.
Banfield gives us some historical and biographical background, with a fair discussion of Sondheim's pre-Broadway career (including some tidbits about the collaboration with Bernstein on 'West Side Story'), an overview of the compositional process, detailed exegesis of each of Sondheim's works from 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum' through 'Into the Woods.' There are many scholarly references and a voluminous bibliography as well as a slightly light-weight index. One is disappointed that the book stops in the early 1990s. Perhaps Banfield will update it one day.
This is definitely a book for serious students of Sondheim's work. It is a densely written text but definitely repays close study.
Scott Morrison
Banfield gives us some historical and biographical background, with a fair discussion of Sondheim's pre-Broadway career (including some tidbits about the collaboration with Bernstein on 'West Side Story'), an overview of the compositional process, detailed exegesis of each of Sondheim's works from 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum' through 'Into the Woods.' There are many scholarly references and a voluminous bibliography as well as a slightly light-weight index. One is disappointed that the book stops in the early 1990s. Perhaps Banfield will update it one day.
This is definitely a book for serious students of Sondheim's work. It is a densely written text but definitely repays close study.
Scott Morrison
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.5 out of 5 stars
10 reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
An essential book for students of musical theater.
25 Mar 1999
By A Customer
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
An important and seminal work for students of musical theater and/or Sondheim. Like Joseph Swain's "The Broadway Musical," this book applies serious compostional analysis to an area that has not traditionally been considered worthy of consideration from that point of view. Even if you are not able to completely comprehend everything in this book, it is a fascinating and rewarding read. Banfield has a lot of insight not only into Sondheim's compostional processes, but also into the dramatic stucture of his musicals. The biographical details included are sufficient but not excessive for a book with this focus. I may disagree with Banfield here and there, and there is an occasional factual error, but his overall grasp of Sondheim's work and why it is important makes any quibbles ultimately trivial. Highly recommended.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
For musicians and Sondheim enthusiasts only
7 Jan 2002
By Veammn
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
As a musical theatre composer myself, this book was dead on as far as its intricate dissecting of Sondheim's scores. However, non-musicians take note: This book may not be for you. Banfield employs deep theortical analasys of Sondheim's work, and most readers without a background in music theory will find some of this book difficult to understand. As far as Banfield's analasys goes, it is right on target. He explains the various schemes and tecniques Sondheim uses in his music to make it sound exactly like what is being expressed. Banfield also does an excellent job in explaning the various actions that drove Sondheim to write his shows and the reactions that came from the critics. All in all, this is a wonderfully written book.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Incredibly detailed analysis of Sondheim's work.
11 Jun 1997
By A Customer
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
Banfield's text offers practically an autopsy of each of Sondheim's musicals. Very detailed and insightful. Helps if you know music and music theory. A must for any serious students of Sondheim's work
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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