Autographical Ephemera

The other day I was reading something by someone on the theme of how difficult it is to browse books on the internet, the way one might browse in a library. It's true that there is no comparable experience. I often find the most interesting books at the library because of an accident of shelving, or a color on a spine, or an interesting title in an interesting typeface.

But, of course, browsing of some sorts does take place–this is the incredible time-waster / fascinating stream-of-link research known as surfing.

So, I was simply going to share this small bit of musical humor (brought to my attention by Matthew Guerrieri ["Glad that's cleared up", Soho the Dog, 31 March 2009]). It concerns this small note,* signed by Stephen Sondheim, one of my favorite composers of musicals.

Says Mr. Sondheim:

June 14,1996
Dear Dr Kaiser–
I am not the composer of "A Chorus Line".
Sorry,
Stephen Sondheim

Is it galling to be mistaken for Marvin Hamlisch? Regardless, I suspect Mr. Sondheim got a chuckle out of writing this note.

Now, thanks to the serendipity of browsing, I also found the answer to a question that had lingered in my head since we last performed "Guys and Dolls". (Lingered, yes, but obviously not with enough urgency for me even to look up the answer.) It comes via this item:

It's a bit of music quoted from an operetta called "Blossom Time", by Sigmund Romberg, which apparently was enjoying some popularity in 1947, just a few years before "Guys and Dolls" premiered.

There's a scene where the gents / thugs / gamblers are all lined up and wearing red carnations. The local cop comes in and says something like "Delightful! This looks like the male chorus from 'Blossom Time'!"

Not surprisingly, perhaps, none of us were acquainted with Sig Romburg's operetta, and we wondered about the reference. Now I know.

———-
* At one time for sale by Roger Gross, Ltd., a purveyor of musically related autographs. Both of these examples came from this page, which made for some fun browsing.

Posted on April 9, 2009 at 18.55 by jns · Permalink
In: All, Laughing Matters, Music & Art

One Response

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  1. Written by BearToast Joe
    on Thursday, 9 April 2009 at 20.49
    Permalink

    Delightful! I love such strange bits of stuff. Hamlisch is nice, but Sondheim!

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