Analysis of "Green Finch and Linnet Bird" (Sweeney Todd)

Today I'm analyzing the song "Green Finch and Linnet Bird" from the musical Sweeney Todd, with Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.
Sweeney Todd is currently playing a revival on Broadway originally starring Josh Groban, Annaleigh Ashford, Jeanna de Waal, Gaten Matarazzo and Jordan Fisher, now starring Aaron Tveit, Sutton Foster, and Joe Locke.
Check out the Sondheim Academy at Broadway Maven:
www.thebroadwa...
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ABOUT THE CHANNEL:
Hi! My name is Mateo, I'm a professional musical theatre composer, splitting my time between Toronto & NYC right now.
Every Thursday on this channel, I post a video analyzing the music theory behind some of the great Broadway musicals of all time! In the past, I've analyzed works by Sondheim, Jason Robert Brown, Pasek & Paul, Jeanine Tesori, and Stephen Schwartz, just to name a few.
Every Sunday on this channel, I post a video update of the progress I'm making on my writing projects, so you can follow along with the process as I create new musicals from scratch.
And every Tuesday on this channel, I post a video reacting to a performance by a star of musical theatre, discussing what makes them so amazing.
If this sounds like your vibe, don't forget to subscribe! ✨✨✨
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[@gennysherard]

Love the analysis, love how you explain things, and love this song!
I've always thought this song seems like her contemplating suicide, or rather, desperately trying to find a way to live. It's part of why I think when she finds out she's to marry her guardian she immediately jumps to "I'd rather die" (and I believe her.) I think she knows if she can't find a way to be happy in a life she feels she can't escape, then she won't survive. I also just find it so interesting that this is the moment Anthony sees her, when she's singing, the closest to being like the caged birds from our perspective. Admiring her the same way we admire the birds singing in the cages.

[@rossp1467]

I love videos like this - especially when you explain how the notes support the message

[@glpr1]

So fabulous , Mateo. Really, really useful and clear. And insightful. I love how you bring an actor's perspective to these analyses. "Complex, advanced an intelligent." (and how is it that you can hit a high G???)

[@DavidBenkof]

Thanks for the plug! Would love to have some of your friends and subscribers at Sondheim Academy in March!

[@anaihilator]

Stephen Sondheim was really a musician's musician , and a songwriters songwriter.
I had already watched a video how Sondheim worked the Dies Irae into Sweeny Todd, but this psycho theme analysis is top tier.
Also, I'm also here to lowket flex on my late Aunt's dear friend Harolynn Blackwell. They were friends and at times Harolynn would stay at my Aunt's Harlem apartment when she had engagements in NYC.
She also sang at my Aunt's funeral.
Anywhoo, there is a video on YT of her singing Green Finch , and it is magnificent and glorious.

[@Qhartb]

12:25 That shape is everywhere. He must have loved it so much.

[@MusicTheatreTheory]

Haha!

[@Liisandro10]

Thank you so much!! I love and admire Sondheim's work endlessly. Great analysis!

[@stewiegriffin993]

Love this show, one of my absolute favorites but ironically - and I've heard this said by quite a lot of people - I don't think it has ever had its definitive production (and yes that's including the new "Hamilton-ed" version). In a way I think it's the movie that manages to capture best what Sweeney's all about regardless of how much is cut out, which is also strange because movie adaptations of stage musicals usually suck.
Anyway, thanks so much for this video, the little tid bit about the smarter characters having a lower voice in Sondheim is so illuminating and so true!

[@nicacioborboremarolim5792]

You are a genius

[@meganberghuis7468]

Thanks and greatest appreciation!!!🦜🐦

[@MusicTheatreTheory]

You're the best, Megan!

[@sierraHAHA...]

great analysis!