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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 21, 2017 23:20:13 GMT
It's too big a subject cover if you're going to spend time lovingly analysing individual songs.
Who IS Neil Brand anyway? I've never heard of him... yes that's rhetorical I know I can google.
He certainly likes us to know he can play the piano doesn't he. Maybe less of that and more of the performances?
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Post by longinthetooth on Jan 21, 2017 23:33:26 GMT
Well, I'm thoroughly enjoying it - but then I am easily pleased.
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Post by d'James on Jan 21, 2017 23:36:21 GMT
Am just about to watch episode two. Should I have a stiff drink (does he sing)?
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Post by theatremadness on Jan 21, 2017 23:48:33 GMT
Ah well, I bloody love it.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2017 0:40:54 GMT
Frances Ruffelle got an introductory welcome too. Her voice has deteriorated somewhat IMO, but it suited Send in the Clowns quite well, I thought. It's smoking that does that (see Tracie Bennett, Liza Minnelli), but you're right it does suit Send In The Clowns. I'm really enjoying the series I must admit.
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Post by d'James on Jan 22, 2017 1:59:51 GMT
Ooh. There was a hint of him singing. Not too much though. Phew.
Of course the definitive version of Send In The Clowns is Jennifer Saunders's's.
Looks like they're going to have to cram a hell of a lot in next week.
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Post by loureviews on Jan 22, 2017 10:19:42 GMT
Neil Brand is mainly known for writing, improvising and performing music to accompany silent films.
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Post by shady23 on Jan 22, 2017 11:07:06 GMT
I feel sorry for the performer. They sing a bit. He waffles on then they have to sing a bit more etc. etc.
Who was the female performer they showed a clip for a second at the end whose singing next week? Looked very familiar but can't think of her name.
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Post by lou105 on Jan 22, 2017 11:10:59 GMT
Who was the female performer they showed a clip for a second at the end whose singing next week? Looked very familiar but can't think of her name. Siobhan Dillon?
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Post by Mr Crummles on Jan 22, 2017 11:22:39 GMT
I’m really enjoying this. I especially enjoy Neil Brand’s passion for the subject matter. It’s great to hear him playing bits of songs in the piano and then explaining why they are so brilliant and what the artists did, by playing with rhythm, tempo, notes etc., to achieve a desired emotional effect. It made me understand much better how musical artists work with notes to create powerful drama.
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Post by alece10 on Jan 22, 2017 11:24:50 GMT
I'm enjoying the series but maybe the song analysis is just a bit too in depth. That could be a whole new series
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2017 11:28:17 GMT
that's the idea behind the series though
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Post by danb on Jan 22, 2017 11:37:59 GMT
Watched it properly this morning and enjoyed bits. Looking forward to the more modern stuff next week and the second Mrs Dan having a crack at 'Argentina'. 😂
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Post by lou105 on Jan 22, 2017 12:33:33 GMT
It's too big a subject cover if you're going to spend time lovingly analysing individual songs. I've decided it's like walking round an exhibition with a companion and having to follow their interests and go at their pace. You still get to see good stuff but you might have preferred to linger here, and skip this bit altogether..
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Post by easilypleased on Jan 22, 2017 12:44:42 GMT
Well, I'm thoroughly enjoying it - but then I am easily pleased. No you're not, I'M easilypleased :-) I liked it, it was interesting for someone like me who's come late to this subject, and of course there's a limit to what you can put in a 1 hour programme. Maybe if you're already an expert it's not deep enough.
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Post by longinthetooth on Jan 22, 2017 14:24:42 GMT
Well, I'm thoroughly enjoying it - but then I am easily pleased. No you're not, I'M easilypleased :-) I liked it, it was interesting for someone like me who's come late to this subject, and of course there's a limit to what you can put in a 1 hour programme. Maybe if you're already an expert it's not deep enough. Ha ha!
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 22, 2017 14:26:34 GMT
It's too big a subject cover if you're going to spend time lovingly analysing individual songs. I've decided it's like walking round an exhibition with a companion and having to follow their interests and go at their pace. You still get to see good stuff but you might have preferred to linger here, and skip this bit altogether.. I'd be embarrassed to tell you how quickly I get get round a museum
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Post by BGLowe on Jan 22, 2017 14:26:47 GMT
It's too big a subject cover if you're going to spend time lovingly analysing individual songs. I've decided it's like walking round an exhibition with a companion and having to follow their interests and go at their pace. You still get to see good stuff but you might have preferred to linger here, and skip this bit altogether.. Couldn't have said it better myself! I was surprised he skimmed over Cabaret so quickly yet spent so long on Fiddler. Still enjoying it very much.
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Post by lou105 on Jan 22, 2017 15:22:14 GMT
I've decided it's like walking round an exhibition with a companion and having to follow their interests and go at their pace. You still get to see good stuff but you might have preferred to linger here, and skip this bit altogether.. I'd be embarrassed to tell you how quickly I get get round a museum Haha! "How many of these lengthy explanations do I have to read to appear reasonably intelligent?"
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Jan 22, 2017 15:25:40 GMT
I'm loving the whole thing. There are shows I would have liked to spend more time with, but it's a good selection so far, and I've learned a lot.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2017 15:54:31 GMT
Well I'm enjoying this immensely. Great to see some footage of old Broadway and the West End with clips of performers, audiences, marquees and posters of yesteryear with a scattering of names some of us might remember! Loving the interchange between student and star performers delivering the selection of songs. And fascinated to hear such indepth anaysis of some of the music that we've grown to take for granted. Makes a change to have someone intelligent presenting these types of programmes. And he's a bit of a maestro on that piano too!
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Post by johartuk on Jan 22, 2017 16:43:32 GMT
Just caught up with ep 2. I enjoyed that - fascinating stuff.
I can't help thinking that 'A Chorus Line' was the inspiration for today's TV talent shows, with auditionees being encouraged to share their life stories with the voting public.
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Post by anthony40 on Jan 22, 2017 22:28:47 GMT
Yeah, just watched the first episode on the i-player. It's pretty good. Most enjoyable.
It's all set up for Episode 2.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2017 10:36:54 GMT
Thoroughly enjoying this. It's good to see someone treating serious musical theatre as just that and not as a form of escapism. After realising that MT was a serious art form perhaps that's why jukebox musicals came to be. I like the depth that Neil Brand is going to to explain the subtexts and underlying meanings of the music. It seems immaterial to me as to which songs he disects, it serves to show me that there is a whole world of musical theatre song out there to be re-listened to and analysed. Not that I didn't have an inkling that there was more to this than met the eye when i first stumbled across the likes of Sondheim and Co. Looking forward to the last episode to see how he feels that MT has evolved since then.
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Post by viserys on Jan 23, 2017 12:22:07 GMT
I quite enjoy it, too, though I wish there'd be more episodes to cover more ground. I can't help thinking that musical theatre has moved beyond the three "eras" that are usually covered in this kind of documentary
1) The "Golden Age" when musicals moved from revue-style to proper stories (via Show Boat and Oklahoma as the usually cited milestones), 2) Musicals getting political (West Side Story, Cabaret, Hair, etc.) and 3) the "Blockbuster / Rock Opera era" from JCS and Evita onwards.
Personally I think that era ended in the mid-90s and was replaced by the "jukebox era" of Mamma mia, WWRY. I'd like to see a fourth episode covering the period from the mid-90's (from Rent and Mamma mia onwards) to today (ending on Hamilton as another example how musical theatre keeps redefining itself).
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Post by richey on Jan 27, 2017 22:31:50 GMT
Bit disappointed with the final episode though I can't quite think why. They crammed an awful lot in, and spent a surprisingly long time on Rocky Horror. No mention of the jukebox musicals. Some of it came came across as promotion for current/upcoming shows
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2017 23:40:38 GMT
Anthony Rapp said something and i had to go back and replay it, as i thought he made a mistake.
I never knew Jonathan Larson was hetrosexual!!!
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Post by d'James on Jan 28, 2017 0:10:29 GMT
Forgot there was another programme to do with musicals on at 2330. Will watch it on catch-up. Don't think it was anything as in-depth as this though.
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Post by richey on Jan 28, 2017 8:57:40 GMT
Anthony Rapp said something and i had to go back and replay it, as i thought he made a mistake. I never knew Jonathan Larson was hetrosexual!!! Me too!!
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Post by freckles on Jan 28, 2017 9:32:27 GMT
Really enjoyed it but needed more; the Ave Q section would have led perfectly into a bit about Mormon, and then Hamilton. Thought Matilda, Once and Chicago were notable "modern" omissions. And Jukebox should have been touched on, especially Mamma Mia.
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