" WITH SO LITTLE TO BE SURE OF" SONDHEIM PROVES HE IS QUITE ACCESSIBLE AND TUNEFUL

" With So Little to be Sure Of"- Sondheim proves he is quite accessible and tuneful
Stephan Sondheim who has demonstrated his musical theatre versatility to be  even more varied and adventuresome than Rodger & Hammerstein . Some critics believe that Sondheim's songs are too complex and his lyrics cold and clinical. What these critics forget is that Sondheim's songs are designed to further the plot and characters in his musical productions. His keen insights into character and personality will expose the inevitable flaws in human nature as opposed to the " moon and june" lyrics of conventioall musical theatre pieces. For example in the show " Anyone Can Whistle"  the male and female leads realize that those " marvellous moments" they once had were now over. But instead of bitter recriminations, both characters acknowledge what they had gained from their love for each other . When they sing " We had a moment, a marvellous moment" Sondheim demonstrates an astute insight into personality and character. . The song has been accurately described as " A wonderfully made,touching, nonmaudlin ballad that should be considered by anyone who finds Sondheim obscure."
In the original cast ,Harry Guardino and Lee Remick play the departing lovers. Although both are essentially actors, they bring their dramatic talents to bear in a very affecting manner with their own marvellous singing moments.

I also provide a concert version by Bernadette Peters who has always been a singer associated with Sondheim ( Sunday In The Park"  Into the W oods.")
There is a wonderful piano accompaniment that highlights Sondheim's composition and  the string section  finally enters to create an emotionally charged conclusion.

LINK":  Guardino/Remick:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe3vldX7iJc

LINK"  PETERS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IF3QCI4C2wk







































































































"With So Little To Be Sure Of"   Sondheim proves he is quite accessible and tuneful.
Stephan Sondheim has often been accused of being to complex and clinical a writer, especially as related to his lyrics. What critics forget is that ll Sondheim music and lyrics are crafted with the intention to further the story and characters of the musical theatre productions for which he has written both music and words. He works very closely with his librettists lto ensure that any songs are tailored very closely to what the book writer has created in conjunction with Sondheim, the director, choreographer and arranger.
For example, in the musical " Anyone Can Whistle"  the well-known actress sings a touching ballad to express her longing for

























9

" FOOLS RUSH IN-WHERE ANGELS MEN FEAR TO TREAD"

" Fools Rush In --Where Angels Men Fear To Tread"  In 1940, Rube Bloom again teamed with Johnny Mercer to write Fools Rush In. This is quite a interesting phrase to start a song that warns about the perils of pleading to another to " Open up your heart and let this fool rush in." It was an instant hit for Glenn Miller and Ray Eberle as well as Frank Sintart singing with the  Tommy Dorsey orchestra and was always  a song Sinatra kept in his repertoire. Ironically, it might have had a poignant relevance during Sinatra's tempestuous romance with Ava Gardner  since his pleading to Ava was not successful.
There is a sadness in Sinatra's big band version that is quite touching.

Doris Day also teamed with Andre Previn in a fine performance that showcased Day's superior pop vocal capabilities and Previn's sensitive skills as an wonderfully supportive accompanist. He also provided solo accompanist duties for such female singers as Leontyne Price, Julie Andrews, Sylvia McNair and Eileen Farrell. Please listen to the lovely verse as sung by Doris. As always, Johnny Mercer can create such wonderful images with the imaginative use of ordinary, every day language. 

Sinatra Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKYKStouuBI

Day/Previn Link   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAfIu-2XGEA

" DON'T WORRY 'BOUT ME" A RE START FOR THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK BLOG:

Don't Worry 'Bout Me" A Re Start for the Great American Songbook Blog: I previously had announced a hiatus period for this blog since I wanted to start a new blog dealing specifically with the life and career of Harold Arlen and his numerous lyricist partners. That blog now has 30 posts in just over one month with another 50 or so in the plan.
That blog is : haroldarlentheamericannative.blogspot.com.

In reviewing the many songs Arlen created, I also kept discovering more great songs that  originally were not included in the initial blog project. I will try to rectify that situation by adding new songs drawn from the same deep well of compositions written in the classic popular music style.

" Don't Worry About Me"   Rube Bloom was a great piano player who wrote only a few songs but of a very high standard. An earlier post on this blog drew attention to 1939's  "Day In-Day Out" with an excellent lyric by Johnny Mercer. It was a song with an insistent melody, passion  and rhythmic drive.

 In the same year, Bloom , now with lyricist Ted Koehler, wrote " Don't Worry 'Bout Me " whose verse starts with a mournful almost depressngl soliloquy . However,  the chorus now adopts a completely different attitude than the title had suggested.. The line "Don't Worry 'Bout Me, I'll get Along "" suggest that things will work out regardless of the obstacles in life and in relationships. The first section is replete with repeated notes which do generate musical tension but in the second section, the melody adopts a more graceful arc that singers caress very gracefully.

The performance is by Joni Mitchell, a wonderful singer songwriter who has demonstrated  an ability to sing jazz standards in a very authoritative and soulful manner, especially since her voice has deepened and added sonic coloration as evidenced in this song.

LINK:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80F982r5dh4