Wednesday, January 28, 2015


Comments for West Side Story should be posted here.  Below are some links to websites where you can listen to the album:

Link to the original cast album (1957)

Link to the soundtrack to the Academy Award winning film


16 comments:

  1. I still get chills when I listen to "West Side Story." It is one of my absolute favorites. From the first chord of the Overture, you can just tell what it is. Although Bernstein didn't always hit the bullseye, this score is beyond compare. Coupled with Sondheim's lyrics--which are brilliant, as we've come to expect from the man--the libretto is brilliant. I think my favorite song is "Something's Coming," especially when I heard Alexander Gemignani sing it on the recording of Sondheim's 80th Birthday Celebration. Paul Gemignani, Alexander's father, has been Sondheim's chief conductor for over 30 years, and his son is wonderful. This score tells a beautiful story and to this day I will watch this show any time of day.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  4. "West Side Story" is truly remarkable. The story is a unique adaptation of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet." In fact, it may ultimately be even more tragic than that story because one of the "star-crossed" lovers is forced to go on living with out their significant other. If this show is done right, it can be an extremely powerful performance. Great dancers are a required, but so are singers. This show has songs that are, in a way, operatic. Songs like, “Maria” are beautiful, however they are vocally challenging and require extensively trained musicians. Besides the movie, I have never seen a live production that successfully reflected the importance of well-versed signers and dancers.
    - John Stafford

    ReplyDelete
  5. As John said, this can be a very powerful and moving show. Listening to the score you can sense all the changes, which should be every musical, but even without watching it you can feel what would be happening on stage. The rivalry of the gangs contrasted with the love of the couple can be heard in the tempos and instrument choices in all the pieces. I enjoy listening to the ballads because there is so much emotion and it really makes you wish groups of people didn't have to fight so people could just live happily in love. I think John is right that it could be more tragic because Maria has to live without Tony now. Although it takes much skill to perform these songs, some of them are still catchy and will be stuck in my head for a week.

    ReplyDelete
  6. "West Side Story" is outstanding. The amount of skill and passion it takes to play these characters is amazing. This score speaks volumes to the cultural differences that are present and to the love and passion each character has throughout the show. I love the song and the scene "Dance at the Gym" if done right this builds even more suspension than the opening "Jet song". I've always loved the rhythm and beat to 'America" its a great glimpse int to the eyes of the Hispanic immigrants that are trying to make a life for themselves in the big city. Having "A Boy like That" and "I have have a love" to contrast is very moving and is one of my favorite sections of the score,

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love the first song ''prologue", you can feel the story followed the undulating of the melody.At the beginning ,it sounds like panic, be at a loss fear,but later you can hear it transformed into a cheerful melody.Personally think, this music is different compare to other musical,it is a different way for actor to express the emotion. I love every songs in "West side story".'I feel pretty' i listened for three times. it's clear and clean. Other musical I think they all pitch too high.This one is soft and comfortable for me .Have you ever heard Tommy and Jerry, I am crazy about that, it with me when i was kid. I think they can use some bakground music for this Tv show.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I enjoyed "West Side Story" possibly because I was able to hear some Latin tones that were subtle in the background. The symphonic dances that were at the end of the score were fun and exciting to listen to. Besides the Jets song my other favorite was Maria. For some reason I was able to relate to that song more and honestly I have no idea why. Overall it got me into a romance and fighting mood I think which the score should at times to tell the story. Overall I want to watch West Side Story and read through the script.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I have seen westside story on stage at star light and feel in love with it I love the music. Like Kun said I like how the overture set up the story line you can can feel the tention in the music of the Jets and the sharks and the love story of Maria with Tony.

    ReplyDelete
  10. The first time I ever saw "West Side Story" was last summer. I really enjoy this musical because of how well the songs incorporate the story, as well as the different cultures in the show. My favorite song from this show is "I Feel Pretty" because it is very catchy and it is also how I feel about myself all the time.

    ReplyDelete
  11. The first time I ever saw "West Side Story" was last summer. I really enjoy this musical because of how well the songs incorporate the story, as well as the different cultures in the show. My favorite song from this show is "I Feel Pretty" because it is very catchy and it is also how I feel about myself all the time.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I have never seen "West Side Story", but now I would really like to. There is wonderful variety in the soundtrack - from Latin influence to pretty ballads. I really like the suspense that builds in the song "Something's Coming". That is one of my favorite numbers in the show.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I always love "West Side Story," the first time I ever watched it was my freshman year of high school, but I never tire of listening to it, because it is just so good! My favorite songs are "America" and "Something's Coming," "America" is just so fun, and it is especially poignant. "Somthing's Coming" is so cool because it builds suspense and it is so fun to listen to.

    ReplyDelete
  14. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Oh West Side Story. I've seen it many times and it gets me everytime. The words I would use to describe the music would be smooth and jazzy, clever and quick. The singing is more of a shout sing that is more concerned about getting the message across rather than show off with fancy notes and riffs. Somethings Coming is my favorite because the feeling of the song is happy and mysterious and the crescendos and decrescendos he sings really make the words resonate.

    ReplyDelete
  16. This musical is considered as modern version of the 'Romeo and Juliet'. The interest thing is that these songs consist of jazz rhythm, so I could listen to lots of syncopation. (usually, syncopation plays vital role in jazz music). Also, I noticed that there were several music scores which used woodwind instruments. I believe that sounds through woodwind made these songs more cheerful and charming.

    ReplyDelete