| re: Revisiting The Confidence Man | |
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Posted by: |
steven_stuart 12:01 am UTC 03/15/11 |
| In reply to: | re: Revisiting The Confidence Man - rockfenris2005 04:54 am UTC 03/14/11 |
| > > I think that maybe Ray wrote the lyrics first and then Jim > > was inspired to write melodies by the lyrics. Like with > > Bernie Taupin and Elton John. > > It is my understanding that this is how it was, although I > could be wrong. It's possible that it worked both ways. > Btw, Jim didn't compose all of the music for "The > Confidence Man". There is one song that features the work > of another composer, the musical director of the original > cabaret version. I believe Jim was depressed at the time > because of what was happening with "Bat out of Hell" so > the musical director wrote the music for that one song. > Later Jim was offered the chance to write his own tune but > he liked what the musical director had composed. I brought up the John/Taupin songwriting model because I was trying to think why the music is so different from what Jim usually writes and why Ray was unhappy that some of the melodies were recycled. He really couldn't complain if Jim had written the melodies first. ALW always gave Tim Rice the melody. If the show bombed or was forgotten, then I think it would be okay for ALW to use a melody in another show, even if Tim Rice wasn't involved. However, I think it would be unreasonable for Elton John to lift the melody for "Candle In The Wind" because he wrote the melody as a direct result or reading Bernie Taupin's lyrics. Although I guess we have to understand that "The Confidence Man" appeared to be dead after the 1986 production, so why not use two of the tunes in "Tanz"? I guess that Jim might have been surprised when the 2003 CD rekindled interest in the show and led to Smeghead's production (and almost your Australian production). If things go really well with "Don Claude Devious: Cannibal Rapture", will you have another go at an Australian production? > I have no idea. I've never seen the video. But there was a professional video release of the 1986 production? > Smeghead's version did use the entire score, but not the > entire orchestrations. It's the 2003 CD which doesn't > contain the entire score, but what's there is pretty > substantial (I miss the Barber's Tarantella and Melville's > Theme.) Oh. Sorry. I misunderstood you. You wrote: "Queen's College in December 1986. This was the first full production and the only way you'll ever hear the complete score. This is where the VHS comes from." I presumed that there is a CD or file of Smeghead's production available (because you said that he did a brilliant job). I thought you were saying that the only way to hear the entire score is to listen to the 1986 production. > Apples and oranges, yes. He likes Diane Warren. I don't > particularly like Diane Warren. He doesn't particularly > like "The Confidence Man". Some people don't like Andrew > Lloyd Webber. Other people don't like Stephen Sondheim. > Some people love "The Phantom Of The Opera". Other people > don't like "Sweeney Todd" because they think the music > isn't all that memorable. I love both "Phantom" and > "Sweeney" but I know more about Andrew Lloyd Webber > musicals than I do about Sondheim. Some people don't like ALW? Some people like Diane Warren? I'm amazed. I see what you are saying. If ALW can experiment with different styles of songwriting, then so can Jim. Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if there are many people out there who like some ALW musicals and not others. Not everyone who got into "Jesus Christ Superstar" will be able to get into "Aspects Of Love". Hee hee. Although that is not a good comparison because both "The Confidence Man" and "BOOH" are very very good. > I've always liked "Confidence Man" and I can see why > others don't. It's not like Jim's other music. It's not as > epic and over the top. And it was written for a particular > purpose, to convey the lives of these characters on a > Mississippi Riverboat just before the American Civil War. I hope there will be more productions of it. BTW, I read an old webpage ages ago and someone was saying that they were going to do a rock opera (I presume a through-sung) based on the "BOOH" songs. I am trying to find it again using Google but I've had no luck. Do you know anything about such a project? Could "BOOH" be a through-sung musical or opera? | |
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