To continue this discussion outside the Reviews Section.On a musical note Chris Hatt (Musical dirctor) confirmed to me that the melody for the Billy shadow sequence has been recently changed by Martin Koch responsible for 'Musical Supervision and Orchestration'. It is based around 'Shine' and is very melodical and beautiful.
There have been many and varied mainly subtle alterations to the music over the years and it is very interesting to hear that Martin Koch is still actively involved. I heard this particular re-arranged piece for the first time last Thursday but would need to hear it again before deciding whether I like it “better” than the other version. Not that it matters, of course. The version we have been listening to until now I heard first on the Broadway show and it was eventually imported to London to replace its original. It certainly enhanced that short scene immensely.
It would be great to have a session with the music gurus and ask some questions on the changes that have taken place and the reasons. For example, let’s take the beginning and “The Stars Look Down”. In the opening verses, the notes at the end of each line used to be held and then, suddenly one day, this was dropped in favour of a short sharp finish:
Thus, “Through the Daaaaaark” became “Through the Dark” and “Through the hungerrrrrrr” became “Through the hunger” and so on.
From memory, the musical accompaniment to “Take Me Up” on the OCR has no piano in it but I have never seen the show without piano being the dominant instrument and being incredibly beautiful to listen to. Over the years this piano arrangement has subtly changed from time to time and sometimes the version you heard differed slightly depending on who was the MD on the night. From what I have heard during that song very recently it seems that they have now gone back to the steady chord arrangement for piano that existed during, say, Travis’ time in the show. It is as beautiful as ever. One of the many magic moments for me.
If I’m being honest I don’t really like musicals generally but the music in this show and its subtle and beautiful orchestrations are a major, major part of its enjoyment for me and it really annoyed me when I read in my early Billy days that some critic, can’t remember the name, wrote that Elton John must have “phoned this one in”. Whoever it was must have been tone deaf and totally devoid of any of the emotions that really count.
Would love to hear other Member's views.
Pat
