Andrew Lloyd Webber

[Styxx]

What are your views on SIR Andrew Lloyd Webber's music?

[SeanHannifin]

I haven't heard all is stuff, just his most popular stuff, like Evita, Phantom, and Cats. I love his work. :) I only wish I could afford to visit Broadway and see Phantom before it ends it insanely long run (17 years so far).

[newmewzikboy]

ROFL! Styxx! You trouble maker HAHAHA!!

[joaz]

What are your views on Andrew Lloyd Webber's music?
that ******* ****,he is a **** and a ******.I hope I have made my feelings clear. :D
regards

[Styxx]

ROFL! Styxx! You trouble maker HAHAHA!!
:D Hook, line and sinker! :D

[newmewzikboy]

ROFFFFFLLLLLLL HAHAHAHAHA!!!!AGGGG!




that ******* ****,he is a **** and a ******.I hope I have made my feelings clear. :D
regards

[SeanHannifin]

Now if you really wanted to make trouble you should have started the thread by saying something like:

Is Andrew Lloyd Webber a bad composer? I think so. I was learning his songs from a piano book and they are way too simple. He also repeats the melodies over and over, a sign of no skill. Please, everyone, boycott his music. And I hate Sondheim too.

:D :D :D

[newmewzikboy]

Prince...is there anything you DONT like?

errr...do you Like those LiTTlE PIlls that You TaKe BEFore You See A BwaY SHoW By ALWeBer? Mr. HapPy PillS? The OnEs WiTH the HapPy SinGing WrAbIits On DeM?

[newmewzikboy]

Wow Sean...You are totally COOL! Right on!!!


Now if you really wanted to make trouble you should have started the thread by saying something like:

Is Andrew Lloyd Webber a bad composer? I think so. I was learning his songs from a piano book and they are way too simple. He also repeats the melodies over and over, a sign of no skill. Please, everyone, boycott his music. And I hate Sondheim too.

:D :D :D

[Doug Smith]

It varies a lot. Most sux, either because it's a stylistic mess (JCSuperstar) or shamelessly commercial (the pop-rock piece about the trains, I forget the name). Phantom is a pretty good piece of popular music theater. I saw Cats, couldn't stand it.

The best characterization I heard was by an Australian composer whom I'd met in Munich. When the word was out that ALW was knighted, the guy commented:

"A benighted day for music."

[Shazbot]

I like a lot of Lloyd Webber... I like a lot of Sondheim. I don't like a fair amount of their work, too. So what? I can't help but smirk at the Sondheim snobs who poo poo Lloyd Webber. The best lyrics in the world (which Sondheim certainly is capable of) don't mean much at all if they are put over unmemorable music (which Sondheim certainly is capable of). JCS, Evita, POTO (yes, POTO) are all great works, IMO, and especially because they are so effortlessly memorable.

I honestly think if there was a show where Sondheim wrote the lyrics and Lloyd Webber did the music, it would be something truly interesting. But of course, that would depend on who wrote the book.

[dynamix]

Don't really care for any of his theatre stuff at all.

But...

In the 70s, when I was in 9th grade, there was an album by him at my public library that for some reason I took out. Maybe I liked the cover art or something stupid like that, but it turned out to be one of the most musically influential things that I ever listened to.

It was titled VARIATIONS.

I doubt its in print anymore. Might have never even made it to CD.

His brother Julian played cello all over it. There was a woman who did fabulous sax and flute. Two Moog players. Some guy named Phil Collins played a few drum tracks and kick ~~~ electric and acoustic guitar players.

No Lyrics, just progressive rock music.

All I have is a crusty old tape of it somewhere in the basement, that I made of that album. Really loved it.

Erik

[SeanHannifin]

I found VARIATIONS at Amazon, although they are no longer shipping it (but some guy is selling it used for $50). It definitely looks interesting, I'll have to see if I can find a copy somewhere.

[loogoo]

Yeah, the VARIATIONS in question are the Paganini variations that he took as his starting tune. This was later made into a Broadway show by combining "Tell Me On a Sunday", which was a song cycle written for Sarah Brightman, and Variations which was all dance. The show was called 'Song and Dance' (duh).

This might be available if you're interested in hearing the music and can't find the original.

[joaz]

Oh God... not again.



Let the bashing begin!!!http://www.northernsounds.com/forum/images/smilies/wink.gifI apologise for my untoward outburst,I have taken a double dose of my medication,and I am feeling eerily serene now.In my defense may I say,Styxx made me do it. :)
regards
still think ALW is a **** though...

[Aziraphal]

What are your views on Andrew Lloyd Webber's music?

He's got that rare talent that cannot be taught: the knack for catchy melodies.

Pity he hasn't worked with Rice more ... Cats has great music but I cannot watch it, it's so silly.

On the negative side, he's so famous he'll get awards for anything he writes. The new songs for Evita and Phantom movies were musically very poor compared to his previous work, but he's bound to get another Oscar.

[PaulR]

I apologise for my untoward outburst,I have taken a double dose of my medication,and I am feeling eerily serene now.In my defense may I say,Styxx made me do it. :)
regards
still think ALW is a **** though...

It's PAP! It stinks on ice! It's the musical equivalent of blurb.

[Tom Hopkins]

that ******* ****,he is a **** and a ******.Took the words right out of my mouth, Joaz! And to add to that: The expression "utter revulsion" comes to mind for every single note of every single piece of music he has ever written. I can't make a blanket statement like that about very many composers, but I can about ALW. There is absolutely nothing there for me.

Tom

[newmewzikboy]

Babbitt piano concerto
Schoenberg concertos
some late stravinsky
Dallapiccola
Recent Boulez?

Laff... I try to be very openminded about things. I can usually find something to like in most any style of music. But to be honest I don't care for most serialist. Some works I like, but usually they have a theatrical aspect to them, Lulu or Wossack. Now that's not saying I don't like atonality. I find that very different.

I also don't care much for those composers who's music sounds like they wrote it by the Jackson Pollock technique (Boulez). But for some reason I like Wojciech Kilar who is just as dissonant, but at least his music seems to go somewhere.

Tom
http://www.northernsounds.com/forum/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[joaz]

Babbitt piano concerto
Schoenberg concertos
some late stravinsky
Dallapiccola
Recent Boulez?
ha ha ha ha
Picture the scene, if you will,after a hard day at work(ok a hard day avoiding work,and posting to this forum all day instead).Our hero returns to Chez NMB,pats his bust of Thierry Henry,and settles down in favoured armchair,with glass of wine,(or er er a glass of organic pumpkin juice or suchlike)."Mmmmmmmm he says what I really need now is a quiet evening listening to 4 or 5 hours of recent Boulez."

are you sure??????

Perhaps he changes his mind,readjusts his hair shirt,and checks out his recent purchase of the dissertation...."Suffering. Modalities of Feeling Objectified" :D :D
regards

[RichM]

Thank God for diversity! Having seen Phantom and Cats both twice, and having grown up with JCS, my wife and I both thoroughly enjoy the productions and the memorable music. But then we are a couple of old fogies (barely over 50) who also like ballads, folk songs, melodies that actually go somewhere and lyrics with depth.

Such a subjective and emotional thing, music ... actually all of the arts. Unfortunately, it seems that too often the advertising department and a few narrow minded execs determine what has value. I lived in Nashville for 8 years and an incredible amount of talent flows through Music City that never sees the light of day ... talent that stretches far beyond the boundaries of country music ... thank goodness.

So, let me just toss my vote for any art that touches the heart and challenges the soul.

Just my few thoughts ...
Rich

[newmewzikboy]

Well, its either that or (looking through CD collection)....CATS - the country music sessions...pick your poison.

Anyway, everyone knows that Boulez is for driving on long trips

P.S. Pumpkin juice and gin...




ha ha ha ha
Picture the scene, if you will,after a hard day at work(ok a hard day avoiding work,and posting to this forum all day instead).Our hero returns to Chez NMB,pats his bust of Thierry Henry,and settles down in favoured armchair,with glass of wine,(or er er a glass of organic pumpkin juice or suchlike)."Mmmmmmmm he says what I really need now is a quiet evening listening to 4 or 5 hours of recent Boulez."

are you sure??????

Perhaps he changes his mind,readjusts his hair shirt,and checks out his recent purchase of the dissertation...."Suffering. Modalities of Feeling Objectified" :D :D
regards

[Styxx]

Cats! I did a parody titled "FATS" based on Oprah Winfrey's roller coaster weight problem! I can't stand CATS!!! :D

[newmewzikboy]

When I lived in NYC, I had a job sellling bway theatre tickets. Cats was a BIG seeker and always SOLD OUT. I waited months for good seats, grabed a couple 5 row center, paid $$$$$$$$ fo rthem even with my discount.

Whatapiece of &#$&*(@#&$&#@&$&(@#&$*

[Styxx]

I saw Cats here in Buffalo and laughed through the whole musical. I love J.C Superstar, and others but Cats has to go! Meow this! :D

[ELP71]

I like JCS, Evita. I get a kick out of certain interpretations of 'Joseph' - not a big fan of the popped-out Donny Osmond version.

I have a special place in my heart for 'Phantom' - it was the first time I ever heard live strings and good horns. Saw it in London in '90 at age 15.

That said, they're not the greatest pieces of music or theatre...but who cares. They satisfy some people and that's ok by me. It's always interesting to hear people get fired up over it, although in most cases I understand why.

As for Sondheim, I used to hate him, then I forced myself to listen to all his works. Truly, he's a master at music for theatre. It's just a different style than the tunesmiths; not better/worse, just a different approach. Personally, I love the 'groove' of his music, rhythmically speaking. Harmonically he rips off Ravel a lot but hey I like Ravel. I believe he is at his best when writing a pastiche or homage like 'Follies'; tuneful and memorable yet modern and plot advancing without being strictly scenic or conversational. Everyone loves 'Sweeney Todd' but I can't get over the fact that it is a love letter to Bernard Hermann - knowing that completely destroys the piece as I hear Hermann all over it (shouldn't have read his bio). I think the zenith of his abilities is 'Sunday In The Park With George' with all the pointilism that mirrors the painter's style and the guts of the relationships that are explored.

[Ray Lindsley]

What are your views on Andrew Lloyd Webber's music?
That's SIR Andrew Lloyd Webber to you!

I love JC Superstar. I have very fond memories of a production I co-directed about 10 years ago. There was this very hot little dancer....
It's good to be the Director.;)

[SteveMitchell]

According to Leonard Bernstein's biography, (I have 2, and I don't remember which one), Lenny liked ALW 's music a lot. Felt it was miles above everyone else.

Stevemitchell

[newmewzikboy]

Whenever he wasnt sober...




According to Leonard Bernstein's biography, (I have 2, and I don't remember which one), Lenny liked ALW 's music a lot. Felt it was miles above everyone else.

Stevemitchell

[ryounger]

My wife loooooooooooves Cats. Personally it drives me bonkers.

[newmewzikboy]

There are cat people (french) and their there are dog people (german). French people like counterpoint...german people like harmony.




My wife loooooooooooves Cats. Personally it drives me bonkers.

[danpowers]

There are cat people (french) and their there are dog people (german). French people like counterpoint...german people like harmony.
Someone's been reading Ned Rorem, I see... :)

[newmewzikboy]

Wow you are great!!!


Someone's been reading Ned Rorem, I see... :)

[joaz]

There are cat people (french) and their there are dog people (german). French people like counterpoint...german people like harmony.
That is so true,why think of that great French Composer J.S.Bach and who can forget that famous contrapuntalist, M.Ravel.
There are also Horse people (English)who like writing one tune and spinning the Fu**ing thing out for 2 Hours. :D
regards

[newmewzikboy]

...
There are also Horse people (English)who like writing one tune and spinning the Fu**ing thing out for 2 Hours. :D
regards

ROOOOOFL!!! Thank YOu JoaZ!!! HAHAHAA!!

[joaz]

You mean something like Bolero or Richard Wagner?

Tomhttp://www.northernsounds.com/forum/images/smilies/character66.gif
Touche Tom. :D
A hit gentlemen,a very palpable hit..... :)
regards

[newmewzikboy]

or....................sondheim?