IN TRIBUTE TO STEPHEN SONDHEIM

Stephen Sondheim has been hailed as an icon, genius and legend. As a composer and lyricist who worked until his recent death at 91, he has been credited with ”reinventing the American musical.” Now he is making his remarkable music in heaven solely for the angels. Ironically in a recent interview he was asked “If heaven exists, what would you like your greeting to be?” His answer: “Welcome.” As a Jewish child growing up in Manhattan, he was often isolated and emotionally neglected. When his parents divorced, his situation did not improve. His mother moved him to a farm in Bucks County, Pennsylvania and manufactured a relationship with a celebrity neighbor who had a son Stephen’s age, Oscar Hammerstein II who became the surrogate father and mentor to the struggling boy. From Hammerstein, Sondheim learned the fundamentals of composition, lessons he used for a lifetime. As a teenager, he proudly brought him a completed musical, sure that Oscar would offer to transport it directly to Broadway. Unfortunately the brutally honest composer told the lad it was terrible, but gave him clues to writing that would serve him for decades. Most of all, Stephen Sondheim wanted to write theater music. His early work included the lyrics for such projects as “West Side Story” and “Gypsy.” He continued to seek Hammerstein’s approval for which productions to tackle. Hammerstein always said each was a learning experience and to do it. The first musical he wrote the music and lyrics for was “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.” He continued with “Follies,” “A Little Night Music,” “Company,” “Sweeney Todd,” “Merrily We Roll Along,” “Sunday in the Park with George,” “Into the Woods,” and “Assassins,” among many others. What you might not know about Stephen Sondheim is his love of puzzles and games, introducing the British cryptic crosswords to American audiences. He also continued the tradition of Oscar Hammerstein II by mentoring up and coming composers like Jonathan Larson with “Rent” and Lin-Manuel Miranda with “Hamilton.” He earned an Academy Award, 8 Tonys, 8 Grammys and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for “Sunday in the Park with George” as well as the Kennedy Center Honors for Lifetime Achievement in 1993. Sondheim has stated "I'm interested in the theater because I'm interested in communication with audiences,” ... "Otherwise I would be in concert music. I'd be in another kind of profession. I love the theater as much as music, and the whole idea of getting across to an audience and making them laugh, making them cry – just making them feel – is paramount to me.” Rest in peace, Stephen Sondheim, for the worlds of music you have gifted us.