 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Leonard Bernstein's yearning main theme for "On the Waterfront" is also in this territory, I would think.
I recall that Aaron Copland's work, "Quiet City", based on a stage score, might qualify here -- as might some of his cues for "Something Wild."
Some of Elmer Bernstein's music for "The Sweet Smell of Success" perhaps, too?
For me the benchmark for capturing "The Musical Poetry of Urban Soundscapes" has to be the music of Charles Ives: "Central Park in the Dark."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Probably part of what colors my response to "Waterfront" is the incredibly beautiful song version of the main theme which has lyrics by the great John Latouche. It is rarely performed, but is sublime.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I will probably have to transcribe them from this CD show album from a terrific off-Broadway show about Latouche:
http://www.amazon.com/Taking-Chance-Love-Latouche-Off-Broadway/dp/B00005423W/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1326324474&sr=8-11
as I couldn't find an online websource. I will try to do this tonight -- note that the sample on the Amazon site doesn't give much of a sample of the song itself -- it has more of a poem written by Latouche that was spoken in tandem with the sung song for the Off Broadway show in which it appeared. I'm very prejudiced about this recording, however -- it contains a thank you to me in the liner notes!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As promised, here is my transcription of the John Latouche song of "On the Waterfront" with the spoken text as presented in the musical revue "Taking a Chance on Love." It certainly expresses an urban moodiness:
On the Waterfront/”Beside the Troubled Waters of the Hudson”
from the musical revue “Taking a Chance on Love--the Lyrics and Life of John Latouche”
Spoken text from journals of John Latouche
Sung lyrics by John Latouche with music by Leonard Bernstein
Spoken:
Tonight I cannot sleep.
Earlier in the cinema, I was almost asleep.
But now I am home, the bed waiting.
I cannot sleep, anywhere, except my own bed.
Sung:
I wait on the waterfront
The harbor lights are burning low
It’s late on the waterfront
Spoken:
Beside the troubled waters of the Hudson,
With the dark wind wandering,
I heard the feet of strangers passing by,
And wheels on the bridge thundering.
Each sound in the ruined night
was sharp, clear, pierced with hunger.
Each man was my brother
still unknown, loved, a lonely stranger,
Sung:
Without you
I’m all at sea
Alone as can be
Spoken:
Pitiless is every man to his own being.
Harsh without warmth in his stormy weather.
Denying to his chilly heart’s hearth
the want that he will not grant another.
Sung:
I wait on the waterfront
And hope that fate
Will lead you straight to me
It was a lovely moment in the show. Hope this hasn't derailed your thread, Thor!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Posted: |
Jan 12, 2012 - 6:11 AM
|
|
|
|
By: |
lexedo
(Member)
|
McM: Seems like it would have been a special time during the show. The lyrics will take some time to analyze for sure. I'm no pro! :-)
We derailed Thor's thread well - sorry to take the Great Generation perspective. There is so much there: Raymond Scott's PowerHouse; those xylophone lines and "brass" car-horns. How about Manhattan Serenade for landing at LAX or SA John Wayne? Cool stuff.
But so is more modern perspectives, like Goldenthal's Heat. The cue I mentioned above is a classic Michael Mann car sequence, with a "wheel-shot" and the great rock guitar line. It works well. (It's 2 guitars doing a C-minor riff, and then the same riff down in F-minor for even more tension.) The bank robbery sequence starts with all percussion; it's very unique, and I like it. The main and end titles are very colorful and open, and I believe performed by the Kronos Quartet.
The Lisa Gerrard Beruit sequence from The Insider is a another modern take that I appreciate. In contrast, the ending of the same, when Bergman walks out, is that way NY is now - moving hard (the rhythm), but standing still (the piano). Very interesting for sure.
I'm at the office now, so I can't review Thor's other examples. I'll check them out later.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
