what_the_heck013
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Books on SondheimI'm looling to read books on Sondheim. Has anyone read any of the following books?
-Sondheim & Co. by Craig Zadan
-Art Isn't Easy: The Achievement of Stephen Sondheim by Joanne Gordon
-Sondheim's Broadway Musicals by Stephen Banfield
-Reading Stephen Sondheim: A Collection of Critical Essays edited by Sandor Goodhart
-How Sondheim Found His Sound by Steve Swayne
Any thoughts? Suggestions? Reviews? Reccomendations? I'm essentially looking for essays on Sondheim and his works.
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Mara
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I've read Sondheim and Co. It's a good read, I have the 2nd updated edition. It's not really essays though, its interspersed with sections about all aspects of musical theatre, discusses the creation of the musicals more than analyses them.
I've just ordered Art Isn't Easy, it's on the way so will have to let you know about that at a later date.
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Dvarg
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Re: Books on Sondheim | Quote: | | -Sondheim & Co. by Craig Zadan |
I don't own this, but have read it multiple times. I think it has great photos, and good basic information and anecdotes. To someone with extensive knowledge on Sondheim it's a little too superficial, but I believe it covers what a person with normal interest in Sondheim needs to know.
| Quote: | | -Art Isn't Easy: The Achievement of Stephen Sondheim by Joanne Gordon |
Although it isn't actually bad, I was a little disappointed in this book. It's a quick read, goes deeper than the former book, but is mainly retelling and light interpretation of Sondheim shows. I kind of expected more, but that isn't reall the book's fault. There are occationally really interesting stuff in there. Maybe it reads better if you have less knowledge on sondheim.
| Quote: | | -Sondheim's Broadway Musicals by Stephen Banfield |
This is really great. I'm in the prosess of reading it through the second time. It has lits of really obscure information and analysis. It contains very much very technical music stuff, which is too difficult for me to understand, but most of it is accessible. Maybe my favourite Sondheim book.
| Quote: | | -Reading Stephen Sondheim: A Collection of Critical Essays edited by Sandor Goodhart |
How much I enjoy this book depends much on the chosen topic of each essay. It's been a year since I read it, so I don't remember all details, but I think it was an enjoyable read. In my opinion, a few of the essays draw far fetched conclusions, but they are neverteless interesting.
| Quote: | | -How Sondheim Found His Sound by Steve Swayne |
I just read this book and has to reread it. I'm not sure wether it's more or less technical than the Banfield book, but it's right up there. some passages are too technical for me, but overall it's pure Sondheim porno for a fanatical analysist.
As for essays on the shows, I'd also recommend From Assassins To West Side Story by Scott Miller. It offers directoral advice on the Sondheim shows Assassins, Company, Gypsy, Into The Woods, Merrily We Roll Along, Sweeney Todd and West Side Story, and debates character choices, themes, interpretations, points of view etc.
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what_the_heck013
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Yeah, I've read From Assassins To West Side Story by Scott Miller and I really loved it. Thank you for the reviews, Dvarg.
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Dvarg
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| what_the_heck013 wrote: | | Thank you for the reviews, Dvarg. |
You're welcome 
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Salome
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"Sondheim by Martin Gottfried"
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Dvarg
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| what_the_heck013 wrote: | | -Sondheim & Co. by Craig Zadan |
| Salome wrote: | | "Sondheim" by Martin Gottfried |
Aren't these rather similar? I think I've read both, but I never remember which is which...
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Salome
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Sondheim and Co. goes into a lore detail about the creative workings of the shows.
Gottried's book..which is larger and has tons more pictures is more an analisis of the shows from concept to performance.
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The REAL Ciaron
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"Everything Was Possible" is the best book about Sondheim at work. I learned a lot about his method from this book. It's also a very fun book to read.
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sallydurant
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| The REAL Ciaron wrote: | | "Everything Was Possible" is the best book about Sondheim at work. I learned a lot about his method from this book. It's also a very fun book to read. |
Couldn't agree more. I absolutely DEVOURED this book and it ought to be essential reading for any Sondheim fan. It was also hilarious to read about the antics of Fifi D'Orsay!
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