Oh, What a Beautiful Morning!

With the arrival of spring, comes a spring in the step and a song in the heart.  Everyone enjoys that beautiful feeling. Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’ is the opening song from the musical Oklahoma! Oklahoma! was the first collaboration and hit for composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II. Oklahoma! on the Broadway Read More

It Might As Well Be Spring

Spring time is in the air and we are restless and jumpy knowing it’s springtime. The song It Might As Well be Spring was written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II for their musical State Fair. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1945, the year it was written. State Read More

Oklahoma

Oklahoma is from the Rodgers and Hammerstein Broadway musical Oklahoma! Richard Rodgers wrote the music and Oscar Hammerstein II the lyrics. The song “describes the landscape and prairie weather in positive language. It further emphasizes the wholesome aspects of rural life, and the steadfast dedication of the region’s inhabitants, against the overtly stated formal backdrop Read More

Younger than Springtime

With the approach of spring, the song Younger Than Springtime came to mind. This song is a Rodgers and Hammerstein song that was written for their musical, South Pacific. The song is performed in the first act by Lieutenant Cable when he makes love to his adored Liat, to whom he was only recently introduced Read More

Oklahoma!

Oklahoma! transformed the world of musical theater in more ways than one. Richard Rodgers was interested in adapting the 1931 play Green Grow the Lilacs by Lynn Riggs into a piece for musical theater.  However, his writing partner Lorenz Hart had no interest in the project. Oscar Hammerstein II expressed interest, but his writing partner Read More

Profile of a Composer: Rodgers & Hammerstein

Rodgers and Hammerstein gave us many wonderful songs including, “Shall We Dance,” “Some Enchanted Evening,” “Oh, What A Beautiful Morning,” and “Younger Than Springtime.”  They also wrote the songs to The Sound of Music, including My Favorite Things and Edelweiss. The team of Rodgers and Hammerstein consist of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, both Read More

Profile of a Composer: Oscar Hammerstein II

Oscar Hammerstein II was the other half of the duo that brought The Sound of Music to life.  His lyrics beautifully matched the melodies of Richard Rodgers. Hammerstein was born on July 12, 1895, in New York City.  His grandfather was the theatre producer of the early 20th Century, Oscar Hammerstein I. The longing to Read More

Profile of a Composer: Richard Rodgers

Richard Rodgers is behind the melodies we all lovingly sing from The Sound of Music and numerous other musicals. In fact he composed over 900 songs and 43 Broadway musicals. He was born on June 28, 1902 in New York City.  He began playing the piano when he was six years old and was composing Read More

The Sound of Music

Theaters this week are celebrating the 50th anniversary of The Sound of Music. The film version, starring a then-unknown Julie Andrews and primarily stage performer Christopher Plummer, of the musical first hit theaters in 1965. The stage version first premiered six years earlier in 1959, with Mary Martin and Theodore Bikel, in the title roles. Read More

Behind the Song: Edelweiss

Edelweiss is the popular ballad from the musical The Sound of Music.   This was the last song written for the musical. Edelweiss is a white flower found high in the Austrian Alps and was the inspiration for the waltz. The song was written as a vehicle for Captain Von Trapp, played by Theodore Bikel in Read More