Composer and Audience: Tippett and Sondheim

Synopsis: Shows how two composers working in very different areas compose music. Stephen Sondheim explains how ‘The Ballad of Sweeney Todd’ came to be written. He illustrates the stages of composition, and examples of the final result are taken from a video recording of the USA cast. He explains how the limitations of a performer can determine what he writes, as was the case with ‘Send in the Clowns’. Sir Michael Tippett talks about the technical and conceptual elements that went into the construction of ‘Hiroshima Mon Amour’, part 8 of ‘The Mask of Time’ oratorio. The two composers’ attitudes towards their potential audiences are contrasted in the final section. Tippett says that he does not really worry about the audience and Sondheim shows how audiences can be a vital part of the composition process for him. They discuss the distinction between the two genres, musicals and operas, and agree that it is primarily the twin differences of economics and audience expectation.
Series: Arts Foundation Course, An: Course A102
Language: English
Country: Great Britain
Medium: Video; Videocassette. Standard formats. col. 25 min.
Year of production: 1985
Availability: Sale; 1998 sale: £85.00 (+VAT +p&p)
Subjects: Music
Keywords: musicals; oratorios; Sondheim, Stephen; Tippett, Michael

Producer

Cast

Name: Open University Worldwide
Web: http://www.ouw.co.uk External site opens in new window
Phone: +44 (0) 1908 274066
Address: Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA
Notes: NB. As of May 2016 Open University Worldwide are no longer distributing DVDs. They have posted this message on their website: ‘Unfortunately Open University Worldwide Limited has decided that product sales are no longer viable given the reduced funding to Higher Education institutions and diminishing demand for the products we have traditionally stocked. At present the Open University Students Association (OUSA) will continue to sell the "Good Study Guide", and we are in discussion with other possible distributors to continue to make The Open University’s products available for purchase. As soon as we have any information on other channels of distribution we will update this notice’. Some products are still available via second hand dealers on Amazon.co.uk

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