Tom said:
Stan, maybe some "opposing views" and some curiosity ...
Help me out here; What's "wrong" with Andrew Lloyd Weber's work? I enjoy most of his music, and wish I had a small fraction of his composition/creative abilities.
Gary is suggesting pretty much the same thing when he says
:"Andrew Lloyd Weber? I think he has written as much good stuff as Rogers & Hammerstein or the Gershwin brothers" just when I was about to use Rogers & Hammerstein as the antithesis of Andrew Lloyd Webber! Webber sounds sort of low key ho hum from beginning to end: nothing new or different within a show, or even from show-to-show. It just totally lacks any kind of musical originality or genius.
Lloyd Webber's genius is probably best summed up amongst many accusations of plagiarism by Dutch composer Louis Andriessen:
"There are two sorts of stealing (in music) - taking something and doing nothing with it, or going to work on what you've stolen. The first is plagiarism. Andrew Lloyd Webber has yet to think up a single note; in fact, the poor guy's never invented one note by himself!".
I have studied Rogers' music in depth, and never cease to be amazed by his absolute genius: originality, diversity, and awesomely complex chord structures.
So . . . how do the critics compare the two:
Academy Awards: Rogers 15; Webber 1;
Tony Awards: Rogers 35; Webber 7
Emmy Awards: Rogers 2; Webber 0
Pulitzer Prize: Rogers 2; Webber 0 (Oklahoma! and South Pacific)
Tom said:
One of the older players in our uke band perceives that post-40's music is "rock and roll", and she dislikes rock & roll. It makes for some interesting discussion when we introduce "new" numbers to our portfolio.
I started to play some of the old rock and roll standards from the 50s, over ten years ago after getting a Yamaha keyboard; and speaking of I, IV, V, I was amazed at how simple it all was; an observation shared with MuddyPaws who agrees: "
The 50's was all about the 3 chord song."
Tom said:
Interesting observation Stan. I grew up attending one of the numerous Welsh chapels in our village (three times on Sunday). The hymn singing was indescribable, and the pipe organ (see photo) was an incredible instrument. Once a year the congregations of the various chapels (different denominations) got together for a "gymanfa ganu" (festival of hymn singing).
Aye, but we try. While being interviewed by a Bay Area news organization, I was asked what playing (strumming) the ukulele had brought to me. My reply: "I've sung a cappella all my life, and now I'm finally able to accompany myself on an instrument".
Edit: FWIW that's me in the photo with Ozzie Morris, the organist. My Dad snapped the pic from the balcony, and I scanned the print years later.
I cannot sing a cappella! I was given a voice left over from a cigarette-smoking bull frog. So that is why I am so dependant upon musical instruments.
When I was a young fellow, just recently married I played a tenor ukulele, which was pretty much useless, because I cannot sing. So I got a guitar and learned to play it in a manner that some thought was pretty good. I know that must have been totally awesome, because my wife took my precious instrument to the next door neighbour who was conducting a garage sale, and in exchange, proudly presented me a big wad of cash: $7.00!!
That was 40 years ago. Lesson learned: NEVER mess with she who must be obeyed. ;D