Wednesday, January 28, 2015

 

Comments for Showboat should be posted here.  Below are some links to websites where you can listen to the album.  Try to find a recording that documents a stage performance and not the film.  You can find the Broadway cast recording from the 1994 revival directed by Harold Prince and choreographed by Susan Stroman.  You will need to borrow that version from a library, a friend or purchase through iTunes or other sources. 

This is a link to a 1962 studio cast recording.

This is a link to the 1946 Broadway revival cast recording

18 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. As an international student, there are many different feeling when listening to an American musical show, the one piece of music in showboat which I love is called the old man river. The one important reason why I like this song, because Paul Roberson, If you know Chinese history, you may have heard about the Chinese Anti-Japanese War, in 1940, there was an international student in New York, Paul Roberson asked him about the Chinese situation with Japanese, he said :"Black people and Chinese are both oppressed nations, we would like to pay tribute to the Chinese people who are against the Japanese, I want to learn a few pieces of Chinese songs, I will sing the songs to the Chinese people around America and across the world to listen." He asked Liu Liang mold the" Anthem "and a few pieces of Chinese folk songs and repeatedly sung him, until he learned." Today as an international student, I really respect Paul Roberson ,and I want to say thank you to him ! Also the reason I like this music is through the lyrics and music, you could hear that the inner anger he had and the words he wants to express, the cruel reality make them can only use the song to vent they wants to against racial discrimination, and said they want live like a white man .They just want a happy and easy life. The whole show was great tragic musical, it was released in 1946.The story itself has 40 years of history, Oscar Hammerstein II, the lyricist-librettist of Oklahoma, demonstrated that his earlier work .Showboat shows undying love in the past, but reflected the reality of that time. Also from this musical I feel that we need to treasure the life we have now, don't waste your time and life. It also had connection with emporia: William Allen White and Edna Ferber were old and good friends.She visited many times at the family home at 9th and Merchant. In a 1930 article, White writes about their friendship.
    reference: ALL MUSIC

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  4. As I have stated multiple times in class, Jerome Kern is brilliant. It is unfortunate that in musical theatre history, his aptitude for composing musicals is primarily demonstrated through “Show Boat.” This point aside, “Show Boat” is still a wonderful musical. In fact, I was unaware that the songs “Cant Help Lovin’ Dat Man” and “Ol’ Man River” made their debut in this show. Before taking this class, I just assumed that they were songs made popular through solo artists. “Ol’ Man River” is a real standout because of its subject matter and the music composition itself. The song serves as a metaphor for life. Regardless, of the many injustices you may suffer, life will go on with or without you. The composition is refreshingly not written for a tenor voice, it requires a deep bass. If the actor has a good sense of his given circumstances, the results will be magnificent.
    - John Stafford

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  5. Paul Robeson. Jerome Kern. UGH. Show Boat is my favorite. It's so clear why this changed the musical theatre world as much as it did. Hammerstein's lyrics, Jerome Kern's music. UGH. I can't even begin to say how much I love this show. (I feel so much like a white girl, it hurts.)

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  6. The songs are so peaceful I could fall asleep listening to it. I enjoyed the score and would listen to it again. Can't Help Lovin Dat Man is so catchy and I feel like it is relatable for many people across generations and cultures so it's interesting how Queenie "has only heard colored folk sing it" and seems to be part of how Julie is "found out" and kicked off the boat. Ol' Man River is a wonderful song. I agree with what John said about it and don't really have anything to add because I feel he explained it perfectly and I was thinking the same things.

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  7. The songs are so peaceful I could fall asleep listening to it. I enjoyed the score and would listen to it again. Can't Help Lovin Dat Man is so catchy and I feel like it is relatable for many people across generations and cultures so it's interesting how Queenie "has only heard colored folk sing it" and seems to be part of how Julie is "found out" and kicked off the boat. Ol' Man River is a wonderful song. I agree with what John said about it and don't really have anything to add because I feel he explained it perfectly and I was thinking the same things.

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  8. After listening to this soundtrack I can see (hear, lol) why Showboat is a big deal. "Ol' Man River" is very soulful, and I agree with "I Can't Help Lovin Dat Man" is a very catchy song, and I could listen to it over and over again.

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  9. After listening to this soundtrack I can see (hear, lol) why Showboat is a big deal. "Ol' Man River" is very soulful, and I agree with "I Can't Help Lovin Dat Man" is a very catchy song, and I could listen to it over and over again.

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  10. I enjoyed listening to this sound track however I believe that I would appreciate it more by seeing it preformed. I understand every show of course is better seen preformed I felt very sleepy while listen and having action to watch would have helped. The musical is very peaceful like Elizabeth said I'm glad that I got a chance to listen to this album.

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  11. I enjoyed listening to this sound track however I believe that I would appreciate it more by seeing it preformed. I understand every show of course is better seen preformed I felt very sleepy while listen and having action to watch would have helped. The musical is very peaceful like Elizabeth said I'm glad that I got a chance to listen to this album.

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  12. After listening to this score I have learned to appreciate the power of music and lyrics more and appreciate musical Theatre more than the beginning of the year. Ol' Man River is my favorite song from the score. Both the song and the reprise have this power behind it and the way that William Warfield sings it in the 1962 cast recording of Show Boat is really powerful. The tone and the lyrics push and pull and both hit me hard. I thoroughly enjoyed the score from Show Boat. I wouldn't mind doing more with Show Boat in the future if it is possible.

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  13. I listened to the 1946 Revival Cast recording and really enjoyed how the music all pieced together smoothly - it was very soothing to listen to, so I see why people are commenting about how they could fall asleep to it! The only song that really stood out as far as style goes was "Life Upon the Wicked Stage". It didn't quite fit in with the rest, but was still good. Of course, "Ol Man River" is fabulous. I laugh thinking about Justin singing it in voice lessons...it sounds very different hearing it the "right" way! So soulful. I also really liked "Nobody Else But Me"- the lyrics are so sweet and easy to relate to.

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  14. I really enjoyed this soundtrack, it was also cool listening to this soundtrack knowing how much it changed the American Musical. "Ol' Man River" is so soulful, and I hadn't realized it came from this show, after realizing I had listened to it before! I also really enjoyed "Life Upon the Wicked Stage" because the lyrics were so witty!

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  15. I honestly didn't like the music in the beginning it sounded too much like opera to me. Then Ol Man River and Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man and I really started to enjoy it. I agree with Lisa I think Life Upon the Wicked Stage was out of place. Overall I think Kern and Hammerstein did a great job and you can definitely tell their influence in the music.

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  16. I honestly didn't like the music in the beginning it sounded too much like opera to me. Then Ol Man River and Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man and I really started to enjoy it. I agree with Lisa I think Life Upon the Wicked Stage was out of place. Overall I think Kern and Hammerstein did a great job and you can definitely tell their influence in the music.

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  17. Personally, I believe that its music numbers were great. The entire topic covers 'love', so it includes many beautiful and soft sounds. The combination of gorgeous, elegant vocals and its full orchestra music maximize its potential. Especially, I believe that the song 'Ol' Man River' is the best results which Kern and Hammerstein collaborated.

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  18. Nobody else but me and Ol man river are fantastic numbers with so much soul I'm so glad we we assigned this score! There is just so much history and passion in this musical.

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