"But He Doesn't Know the Territory": The Story behind Meredith Willson's The Music Man
(Paperback)
Publishing Details
"But He Doesn't Know the Territory": The Story behind Meredith Willson's The Music Man
By (Author) Meredith Willson
University of Minnesota Press
University of Minnesota Press
30th November 2020
United States
Classifications
General
Non Fiction
Music of film and stage
Theatre studies
780.92
Physical Properties
Paperback
208
Width 140mm, Height 210mm, Spine 25mm
Description
Chronicles the creation of Meredith Willsons The Music Manreprinted now as the Broadway Edition
Composer Meredith Willson described The Music Man as an Iowans attempt to pay tribute to his home state. Now featuring a new foreword by noted singer and educator Michael Feinstein, this book presents Willsons reflections on the ups and downs, surprises and disappointments, and finally successes of making one of Americas most popular musicals. Willsons whimsical, personable writing style brings readers back in time with him to the 1950s to experience firsthand the exciting trials and tribulations of creating a Broadway masterpiece. Fresh admiration of the musicaland the man behind the musicis sure to result.
Reviews
"This is the first-person perspective of a deeply canny and meticulous chronicler who managed to preserve the creative process as if it were spontaneously happening, catching the mundane moments and details that illuminate and humanize the story. The moment-to-moment ups and downs, ins and outs, and subtly shifting creative process that careen forward like a roller coaster all somehow make sense, and those details illustrate in most vivid terms what it feels like to solve a puzzle for which youre not certain you have all the pieces."Michael Feinstein, from the Foreword
"Dollars to doughnuts, Meredith Willson dotes on brass bands. In The Music Man, he has translated the thump and razzle-dazzle of brass-band lore into a warm and genial cartoon of American life."Brooks Atkinson, New York Times, 1957
Author Bio
Meredith Willson (19021984) was a renowned composer, songwriter, and musician. He is best known for Meredith Willsons The Music Man and composing the music for The Unsinkable Molly Brown.
Michael Feinstein is a Grammy-nominated entertainer and educator. He is founder of the Great American Songbook Foundation and author of The Gershwins and Me: A Personal History in Twelve Songs.
