I loved learning how Sondheim's puzzle making figures in his musicals. I quote his comments about puzzle making often, but this is the first time I've heard about a specific embedded puzzle in one of his musicals. I love how you opened with the GAPES double definition and end with ESCHEW. Great pay off.
I'll note that, at the end of "Steps of the Palace", Cinderella's progress is demonstrated by her expanded range, the song ending with her holding on a high note she had barely touched before.
The steps being so integral to the journey, both literally and figuratively AND musically, makes the treadmill used in the original Broadway production an interesting thing to ponder
I love Into the Woods! One question I had is about the 3 lesson songs - I personally think there are 4 lesson songs because I would count the baker’s wife’s song “Moments In The Woods” as a lesson song. The final lyrics include the phrase “now I understand” and it seems the general format of the song is similar to the other lesson songs in terms of the way she is working something out for herself and singing to the audience. Is there a reason why this song wouldn’t be included in among the lesson songs?
And "Moments in the Woods" does have the galumphing accompaniment figure too! And it begins as a lesson song, i.e. reflecting on a lesson of something that just happened, but then Sondheim says she quickly transitions into dealing with returning to the present and being in the "moment." So it has some of the same elements as the lesson songs but with a twist.
A word about that crossword clue. It is important to know that it is a CRYPTIC clue. A basic crossword clue doesn't get more complex than asking for a double meaning. A cryptic clue is broken into 2 parts; the meaning of the word intended to be filled in as an answer, and a wordplay section that needs to be dissected.
Yeah, I didn't consider interpreting it as a cryptic until he dissected the second half, and then I started looking around for anything that would have indicated it as such.
Sondheim's cameo in "Glass Onion" makes so much more sense now! Benoit Blanc sings "Losing My Mind" from Follies in the first movie and I assumed that was the only reason.
I cant really describe how happy these analysis make me. They tickle such a specific musical theatre lover nerve in all our brains. Thank you! So here for the whole series.
I want to mention that double meaning in musical lyrics is usually frowned upon because it can be confusing and the audience might not follow. But here there is a clear face meaning that is immediately understood, so it's not a problem
Howard, this is fantastic. I love how you took a notion that David floated and Bway Con and methodically expanded on it. Your technical explanation is so clear, thanks to your visuals. Really terrific work, Howard (And I am proud to be an extra in your video.)
God, there are so many layers. It took me a while to even get into what everything means from my favorite musical and here you go throwing in a curveball I fear I’m just too simple minded to even think of this.
I found a potential double meaning in Sweeney Todd while reading FTH the other day. In Pretty Women when Sweeney whistles and they discuss the source of their joy, the Judge says “the blood to pound, the heart leap higher”, which I’ve always heard as the different - but equally applicable - “the blood to pound the heartly pyre.” I don’t know how intentional this was, but knowing Sondheim’s affinity for cryptic crosswords and parsing, I wouldn’t put it past him a bit.
It's stuff like this that makes one stop and go; "Oh yeah, for a second there, I forgot Sondheim was a musical genius!" Thanks for the reminder! Great video!
I love this! How you expanded on the musical terms used in the lyrics correspond to the things in the music. Bonus for the moment captured on video of Howard thinking about this idea right as it happens. And "pitch perfect", what a clue you left about who to cast to play Cinderella!
Oh I am so excited to hear you analyze "Into the Woods!" I just wish that the TH-cam algorithm had shown me this earlier. I would love to see more Into the Woods content - though this one did not have as much engagement as it should have!
Thank you for finally explaining this! I never really appreciated into the woods, and I didn’t get why people got so excited about it. Now it’s exciting to me, and I can look at it again with a new appreciation.
I just found this channel and I've been watching every video while freaking out. I don't know a lot about music theory but it's all so fascinating to me, and I adore Sondheim. I can't wait for more videos about his music!!!
But Sondheim didn't write the lyrics for the show. James Lapine did. I don't doubt that the two of them could have cooked this up together, but credit where credit's due?
I don't think Sondheim ever wrote music for someone else's lyrics, although he was quite famous for writing lyrics for other people's music on West Side Story, Gypsy, and Do I Hear a Waltz?
I loved learning how Sondheim's puzzle making figures in his musicals. I quote his comments about puzzle making often, but this is the first time I've heard about a specific embedded puzzle in one of his musicals. I love how you opened with the GAPES double definition and end with ESCHEW. Great pay off.
Oh wow, thank you for seeing the structure there! We should definitely get your comments about Sondheim's puzzles in a future video!
My vocabulary did not include eschew before watching this video.
I'll note that, at the end of "Steps of the Palace", Cinderella's progress is demonstrated by her expanded range, the song ending with her holding on a high note she had barely touched before.
Good point!
The way I gasped and grinned continuously throughout the video, I love when people dissect Sondheim's work and reveal all these hidden treasures.
The steps being so integral to the journey, both literally and figuratively AND musically, makes the treadmill used in the original Broadway production an interesting thing to ponder
Did anyone notice that the cadence for Steps of the Palace represents Cinderella walking/limping with one high heeled shoe? It’s very subtle.
Man, the more I learn about Into the Woods, the more I fall in love with it!! Thank you for another brilliant video :)
I love Into the Woods! One question I had is about the 3 lesson songs - I personally think there are 4 lesson songs because I would count the baker’s wife’s song “Moments In The Woods” as a lesson song. The final lyrics include the phrase “now I understand” and it seems the general format of the song is similar to the other lesson songs in terms of the way she is working something out for herself and singing to the audience. Is there a reason why this song wouldn’t be included in among the lesson songs?
And "Moments in the Woods" does have the galumphing accompaniment figure too! And it begins as a lesson song, i.e. reflecting on a lesson of something that just happened, but then Sondheim says she quickly transitions into dealing with returning to the present and being in the "moment." So it has some of the same elements as the lesson songs but with a twist.
A word about that crossword clue. It is important to know that it is a CRYPTIC clue. A basic crossword clue doesn't get more complex than asking for a double meaning. A cryptic clue is broken into 2 parts; the meaning of the word intended to be filled in as an answer, and a wordplay section that needs to be dissected.
Yes, good context!
Yeah, I didn't consider interpreting it as a cryptic until he dissected the second half, and then I started looking around for anything that would have indicated it as such.
Sondheim's cameo in "Glass Onion" makes so much more sense now! Benoit Blanc sings "Losing My Mind" from Follies in the first movie and I assumed that was the only reason.
Yes, and in fact, the entire film of Glass Onion is a tribute to Sondheim's screenplay for The Last of Sheila which has a very similar plot!
And here I thought I understood sondheim💀
There is no understanding Sondheim.
Not really. ^^
What does a shoe leave behind? Prints! (Prince!)
Finger prints?
(Showing my age!)
@@carolineh8713 "I don't think so."
I cant really describe how happy these analysis make me. They tickle such a specific musical theatre lover nerve in all our brains. Thank you! So here for the whole series.
I want to mention that double meaning in musical lyrics is usually frowned upon because it can be confusing and the audience might not follow. But here there is a clear face meaning that is immediately understood, so it's not a problem
Howard, this is fantastic. I love how you took a notion that David floated and Bway Con and methodically expanded on it. Your technical explanation is so clear, thanks to your visuals. Really terrific work, Howard (And I am proud to be an extra in your video.)
Haha! You're FAR from an extra, and when I talk more about Broadwaycon, I hope to give you more of a shout out as well!
We are all extras in somebody else's story :) Really, it was a pleasure to present with you. @@HowardHoMusic
God, there are so many layers. It took me a while to even get into what everything means from my favorite musical and here you go throwing in a curveball I fear I’m just too simple minded to even think of this.
Let me just go scream into the sky about how much i love musicals real quick
I love watching musicians actually LOOK at Sondheim and have their minds blown.
YOU DONT KNOW HOW HAPPY THIS MAKES MY SILLY LITTLE SONDHEIM MIND. THANK YOU 💙
Brilliant! Sondheim works on sooo many levels!
I found a potential double meaning in Sweeney Todd while reading FTH the other day. In Pretty Women when Sweeney whistles and they discuss the source of their joy, the Judge says “the blood to pound, the heart leap higher”, which I’ve always heard as the different - but equally applicable - “the blood to pound the heartly pyre.” I don’t know how intentional this was, but knowing Sondheim’s affinity for cryptic crosswords and parsing, I wouldn’t put it past him a bit.
Ohhh...interesting.
Wait that's what the lyrics actually are?? I've only ever heard it as "heartly pyre".
@@FrenkTheJoy Same!! I guess these are all just cases in point.
With a shoe, she eschews the issue
It's stuff like this that makes one stop and go; "Oh yeah, for a second there, I forgot Sondheim was a musical genius!" Thanks for the reminder! Great video!
You're just helping my problem of gobbling up any Sondheim content I can - thank you.
I love this! How you expanded on the musical terms used in the lyrics correspond to the things in the music.
Bonus for the moment captured on video of Howard thinking about this idea right as it happens.
And "pitch perfect", what a clue you left about who to cast to play Cinderella!
Yes, I had noticed that lightbulb go off in Howard's head as I spoke, and I love how he highlights that moment in the video.
I remember thinking, "Why didn't I think of that?"
Another genius video, I would NEVER have realized that on my own!
OMG this was wonderful! Great arguments, very well presented. And I can't believe I never picked up on "eschew" before!
Wow never connected these. Total genius. Wow.
Oh I am so excited to hear you analyze "Into the Woods!" I just wish that the TH-cam algorithm had shown me this earlier. I would love to see more Into the Woods content - though this one did not have as much engagement as it should have!
I love love love Into the Woods and I never realized this… This is amazing, thank you for sharing!! Looking forward to more videos!
Thank you for finally explaining this! I never really appreciated into the woods, and I didn’t get why people got so excited about it. Now it’s exciting to me, and I can look at it again with a new appreciation.
More Sondheim is always a great thing! 😍
Love the pace - learnt so much 👍🏻
This is incredible! Thank you so much for sharing. Sondheim was a genius.
I’m excited for your series about Sondheim, I’m a huge fan of his and your musical analysis videos always leave me feeling awed and inspired
This is AMAZING! I would looooove to see a video of you analyzing Sunday in the Park with George 😍
I will definitely talk about Sunday at some point!
A Sondheim series? LET'S GOOO I'm so keen
I just found this channel and I've been watching every video while freaking out. I don't know a lot about music theory but it's all so fascinating to me, and I adore Sondheim. I can't wait for more videos about his music!!!
You opened up my mind to this show, which I first saw during the original run. Thanks, please keep the excellent videos coming.
Everytime i think i understand this man’s mind I get knocked back 20 steps, what a genius
Into the Woods is my all-time favorite musical!!! I was hoping for this video!
This was WONDERFUL. Thank you
Daaaaaanng! Well done, sir!
Yay! An into the woods video!! Great way to start the day
Damn Howard, that was BRILLIANT!!!❤❤❤
All of this just makes me so happy! Thank you for your incredible videos!
I like this story it a twist to every scene 🎬 and well thought out.
I am in awe
Sondheim’s cryptic crosswords are amazing, but Richard Maltby’s are even better!
Such a good video! Excited for the Sondheim series!
Lucky me i didn't find about this when i was writing my graduation paper about this show or i should have included it ! XD
Please do the sondheim videos. Love this a lot
Looking forward for your analysis of Merrily We Roll Along, an underrated gem. I'm sure there are many clues to unravel there ;)
your channel is just... sublime
This is fascinating, thanks for sharing!
Held my breath the whole video for Enchanted bridge 😭😭
i broke my brain trying to answer this question... is trolls in the musical theatre universe?
Great question!
This was brilliant!!!
Thank you 😊
Brilliant, Howard!
I have cute aggression but its over how much i love analysis of musicals
Ah yes, the vamp...also where the toe box ends on a shoe.
_ESCHEW_ as a homophone for "a shoe" would never have occurred to me, as I pronounce it "ess-TCHOO".
Well gat dang. This is brilliant!
More like this please!
1:00 Is that from a physical copy of Sondheim’s Crossword Puzzles?? I’ve only seen the NY Magazine column. Great video!
Thanks! To be clear, I don't own one. Wish I did though!
Thank you.
This sounds fun
Pitch perfect? So that’s why they picked Anna Kendrick?
LOL...nice!
When are we getting more Sondheim analysis ?🥰
Super.
When will you cover the rest of the SIX songs?
Please keep going
Yum
Did I just learn dating advice from Sondheim?
LOL...btw, have you seen Company? It's got even more advice on relationships!
@@HowardHoMusic one of my favorite
But Sondheim didn't write the lyrics for the show. James Lapine did. I don't doubt that the two of them could have cooked this up together, but credit where credit's due?
Oh no no no no. Sondheim wrote the lyrics and the music. James Lapine wrote the book!
@@gregorywiederechtI sit corrected!
I don't think Sondheim ever wrote music for someone else's lyrics, although he was quite famous for writing lyrics for other people's music on West Side Story, Gypsy, and Do I Hear a Waltz?
Stephen was too clever by half
That is an evil, _evil_ crossword clue 😂
Mwhahahaha!
Just hate that the movie gave it no justice at some crucial parts
Yes we want more Sondheim analysis! Just saw the new gender-flipped Company on tour… analyze Company please!!! 😁😁
Company is one of my favorites! I promise to cover it at some point.
Can you please do a video about Charlie and the chocolate factory?
Sweeney Todd?
If you declare with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him
from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:9 NIV☁️💖☁️
Into The woods is about the September 11 pranks. There's an exclusive club of artsy insiders. Sondheim was a member.
He wrote a show in the mid-80s about something that happened in 2001?
@@FrenkTheJoy How?
Americans finding out about cryptic crosswords for the first time is always good for a laugh.
BRILLIANT