par_avion: collage of intl air mail stickers (Default)
par_avion ([personal profile] par_avion) wrote in [community profile] hamiltunes2015-10-01 04:49 pm

Articles

February 9, 2015

All About the Hamiltons
A new musical brings the Founding Fathers back to life—with a lot of hip-hop.
By Rebecca Mead

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/02/09/hamiltons

Excerpt: Establishing Burr as a foil to Hamilton was suggested not just by the historical record but also by musical-theatre precedent. In “Jesus Christ Superstar,” Judas narrates, and Miranda was attracted to the idea of showing Hamilton as he is observed by his nemesis. Stephen Sondheim, who enlisted Miranda to translate some of the lyrics in “West Side Story” into Spanish for the show’s 2009 revival, appreciates Miranda’s respect for the art form’s history: “A lot of contemporary songwriters for the theatre are not the least bit interested in what went before. But Lin knows where musical theatre comes from, and he cares about where it comes from.” Miranda brought the first few songs from “Hamilton” to Sondheim a few years ago. “I was knocked out—I thought it was wonderful,” Sondheim says. “They seemed so fresh and meticulous and theatrical.”
cahn: (Default)

[personal profile] cahn 2015-10-02 11:50 am (UTC)(link)
Every time I hear it took Miranda six years to make this musical, I'm just completely amazed. I just don't have that kind of attention span!

“I really got my ‘Les Miz’ on in this score, like being really smart about where to reintroduce a theme,” he said. “In terms of how it accesses your tear ducts, nothing does it better than that show.”

WELL YOU ARE DOING A PRETTY GOOD JOB YOURSELF MIRANDA ("I know my sister like I know my own mind" reprise, "My name is Philip! I am a poet!" reprise, "Stay Alive" reprise, "Ten Duel Commandments" reprise at the end, UGH)

The model of a modern major general / the venerated Virginian veteran whose men are all

...he's right, it is a better rhyme than mineral!

The lack of music at the end is totally the right choice. Also, the line "America, you great unfinished symphony" just sends chills down my spine.
cahn: (Default)

[personal profile] cahn 2015-10-03 05:30 am (UTC)(link)
Where are you? I'm a little jealous that you have the patience to wait for it. I kind of rushed through it, with the effect that there was a lot I didn't get until the second listen.