March Composer Birthdays: Stephen Sondheim

Stephen Sondheim (March 22, 1930) is one of the most influential and popular composers of musical theater. His songwriting ability has garnished him 8 Tony awards (an unprecedented amount for a composer), 8 Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, a Pulitzer Prize, among other accolades. Sondheim continues his legacy by remaining an active composer and collaborator to date.

Sondheim experienced a childhood of emotional neglect; his father left the family and his mother was psychologically abusive. Around the age of ten Sondheim was given mentorship by famous composer Oscar Hammerstein II, of whom he would learn the art of songwriting. In his college years, Sondheim took lessons with composer Milton Babbit, studying everything from jazz to classical music. This strong grounding in music fundamentals would bring a level of sophistication not seen in the world of musical theater at the time.

Some of Sondheim's most famous works are : West Side Story (lyrics only), A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, Assassins, and Road Show.

Sondheim's compositional style is usually quite complex, pushing the boundaries of tonality. His classical sensibilities allowed him to write at times in a polyphonic style. If you've never experienced any of his works, definitely check it out! Here's "On the Steps of the Palace" from Into the Woods to demonstrate his masterful lyricism and insightful scoring: