What is Musical Theater?
The simplest definition of musical theater is a play with music, especially singing, playing an
important role in the story. Musical theater is one of the few cultural events that features all four of the
major art forms: music, theater, dance, and art. Music is part of musical theater through singing and
the instrumental music used during songs and between scenes. Theater is seen through the acting of
characters on the stage along with things such as lighting, sets, and audio. Dance is often used when
singing and sometimes on its own in musical theater. And artwork can be seen in the scenery,
costumes, make-up, and program design of a show. Musical theater has been evolving for many years
and is an important part of our culture.
Musical theater developed in America and England in the early 1900s. Opera had been around
for several hundred years, but musicals are very different from opera. The biggest difference is in the
singing style used in each form. In opera, singers perform in the classical style while nearly all
musicals have a popular singing style. Another difference is that most operas are completely sung and
not a single word is spoken. In nearly all musicals spoken words (dialect) are used and songs are added
to show strong emotions. While opera appealed to the rich, musical theater developed as a way to
entertain the lower and middle classes.
The earliest form of musical theater was called a musical review. In a musical review there
were different skits, such as songs, dances, comedy acts, and acting skits. All of these different things
were connected by a common theme. They were not telling an entire story. These types of reviews
were called Vaudeville in America and very popular through the 1920s. The most famous composers
of these types of musicals were George M. Cohan and Florenz Zeigfeld.
By the late 1920s a new form of musical theater was emerging. This form was called the book
musical. In a book musical a musical play is performed which tells a complete story. Many of these
book musicals were based on famous books and plays. The first book musical was Jerome Kern’s
Show Boat in 1927. Other famous writers of the book musical were the team of Rodgers &
Hammerstein and the team of Lerner & Lowe. Some of the most famous book musicals include
Phantom of the Opera, Rent, Grease, The Sound of Music, and West Side Story. The book form of the
musical is still the most popular musical style today. New musicals are being written all the time and
old musicals are often replayed as revivals.
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Where Can I See A Musical?
Today musicals can been seen everywhere around the world. Musical movies
can be seen by anyone with a TV. Live revivals can be seen in small towns theaters
such as the Cresson Lake Playhouse. City theaters put on good productions. The
Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center in Johnstown, the Mishler Theater in Altoona,
and the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh are great theaters within driving distance of
our school. Even local high schools put on a yearly musical, including Penn
Cambria. New musicals, however, want to begin in one of two places: New York
City or London.
New York City’s theater district is known as Broadway. While Broadway is
really just a street in the city it is best known for the dozens of theaters there. When
a musical “makes it” on Broadway the musical is considered a huge success.
Success of a musical is measured in it’s “run”. A “run” is how long the musical
remains on Broadway before the producers shut it down. Some musicals run for
years while others close after just a few weeks. Other musicals produced in New
York City, but not on Broadway, are called Off-Broadway shows. Some of these
shows become popular enough that a Broadway theater will pick them up.
In London, the theater district is known as the West End. The area is much
like Broadway in New York City. Shows have to have a long run to be successful
just like in New York. Both Broadway and the West End are the dream of theater
writers, producers, actors, and musicians. If one can make on Broadway or the
West End, one can make it anywhere!
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What Are the Parts of a Musical?
We will study the following components of the musical this year:
 Character – The part being played by an actor or actress and the importance of the
character to the musical
 Vocal Music (Songs) – the characters that perform the songs and the importance of the
song to the musical
 Instrumental Music (Background Music) – the importance of the instrumental music to
the musical
 Story Line or Plot – what happens in the musical
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The Baroque Period
Before the Baroque period there was the
Renaissance. During the Renaissance the arts became
much more important. Scientific discovery and
exploration also became more important. The Baroque
period, which began in 1600 and ended in 1750, saw a
greater development in the fields of art and science. All
of these improvements would bring about better
medicine, mining, navigation and industry.
The Baroque period also saw a lot of great
composers such as Vivaldi, Handel, and Bach. Antonio Vivaldi was an Italian composer who
wrote the best known string music: The Four Seasons. George Frideric Handel is best known
for his oratorio Messiah. Johann Sebastian Bach has written some of the most challenging and
beautiful organ music ever created. The life these composers lived was very different from
today’s famous musicians.
Composers during this period wrote on commission. That meant that someone would
hire them to write music for a special occasion. The patronage system was in use during this
time where composers were considered servants. The composer would have a wealthy patron
who would pay the composer a salary to write the music the patron wanted. The composer had
very little freedom to write the music they wanted. They were obligated to write what the
patron wanted or they would be fired and in some cases imprisoned.
There were also two major developments in the use of musical groups during the Baroque
period. One was the development of the orchestra. Instead of a group with only string
instruments, the Baroque orchestra would also include woodwind instruments and some brass
instruments as well as percussion. Opera was the other development from the Baroque period.
Operas are plays that are fully sung. All these changes brought forth this new and exciting
period of music history: the Baroque period.
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Baroque Instruments and the Orchestra
During the previous period of history, the Renaissance, instruments were being developed and music for these
instruments was becoming more important. Even in churches, instrumental music was playing an important role. During
the Baroque period, instrumental music was the main form of music written by composers. The orchestra would become
the most important of all musical groups and was even used in operas and sacred choral music.
The string section of the orchestra is the foundation. String instruments produce sound by running a bow across
the strings or plucking them. The violin is the highest sounding of the string instruments followed by the viola. The cello
is a larger string instrument which is lower sounding than the viola. The lowest sounding of all string instruments is the
string bass. The harp is another string instrument which has many strings that are plucked or strummed with the fingers.
The guitar, banjo, and mandolin are not part of the orchestra.
The woodwind section of the orchestra includes the piccolo, flute, oboe, clarinet and bassoon. The flute and
piccolo are played by blowing air across an opening in the instrument. All other woodwind instruments are played by
blowing air into the instrument to cause a wooden reed to vibrate. The saxophone is NOT a typical orchestra instrument
and is rarely found in orchestra music. The piccolo is the highest sounding of these woodwind instruments with the
bassoon being the lowest sounding.
The brass section of the orchestra includes the trumpet, French horn, trombone, and tuba. Brass instruments are
played by buzzing the lips into a mouthpiece. The trumpet is the highest sounding of these instruments. The French horn
is lower sounding than the trumpet followed by the trombone. The tuba is the lowest sounding brass instrument.
The percussion and keyboard sections of the orchestra are also important. Percussion instruments include drums,
xylophones, and a variety of shaken or struck instruments. Keyboard instruments from the Baroque period were the
organ, harpsichord, and clavichord. The organ was the most important instrument during the Baroque period. The piano
had not been invented yet, so we cannot include that in our study for now.
The five sections of the orchestra work together well. The string section works as the backbone. The woodwind
and brass sections add depth and texture. The percussion and keyboard sections hold it all together. And the conductor
keeps things flowing smoothly. The orchestra as it was seen in the Baroque period is still the orchestra around today.
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Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1747)
Antonio Vivaldi was an important composer from Italy.
Vivaldi was born in 1678 in Venice, Italy. Vivaldi’s father
taught him the violin at a young age. Eventually Vivaldi became
a priest. He soon switched his interest from preaching to music.
Vivaldi died in 1741 at the age of 63.
Vivaldi’s career began as a priest. He was nicknamed the
Red Priest because of his flaming red hair. Vivaldi’s asthma
prevented him from remaining a priest so he turned his attention
to music. His first music job was at an orphanage for girls.
While there he composed music for the school orchestra and choir.
Vivaldi soon became well-known throughout Italy and eventually all of Europe. He was
an extremely talented violinist and many of his compositions feature this instrument. His best
known work is “The Four Seasons”. In this composition the violin plays a solo role while the
orchestra and keyboard are background instruments. To this day, “The Four Seasons” is one of
the most recognizable pieces of music to come out of the Baroque period.
While Vivaldi focused most of his attention on string music he also wrote in many other
forms. Vocal music was an early focus of Vivaldi’s. Along with service music for the church,
Vivaldi also wrote operas and oratorios (religious operas). Vivaldi’s instrumental music
included forms such as concertos (pieces for a solo instrument and orchestra) and sonatas
(pieces for solo instruments and keyboard).
Vivaldi’s music inspired many composers throughout Europe. Many composers
transcribed his music for different instruments and settings. His music has been described as
playful and light. For this reason, his music is easily learned and played. Young musicians
around the world have played his music. Vivaldi’s music has lived on for over 300 years now.
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Johann Sebastian Bach
J.S. Bach was one of the greatest composers of
the Baroque period. He was born in 1685 and died in
1750 in Germany. He came from a very musical
family and learned to play instruments and compose
music at an early age. He is still considered one of the
greatest composers of all time.
He became known as one of the first great organ
virtuosi and he wrote a lot of music for the organ.
Virtuosi are extremely skilled musicians on a particular
instrument. Bach spent a lot of his time composing music for the organ. One of his
best known organ pieces is “Toccata and Fugue in D minor”. Today, virtuoso
organists travel Europe just to play organs that Bach once played.
Bach was influential in the development of a form of music called the cantata.
A cantata is a large musical work for singers, chorus, and instruments and would be
based on a play or story. All of Bach’s cantatas were sacred (religious) but other
composers would write either sacred or secular (not religious) cantatas. One of his
most famous cantatas was “St. John Passion”. Cantatas are similar to operas, but
operas are acted out while cantatas are just sung in a choir setting (much like school
chorus concerts). Cantatas are still popular today in churches during the Christmas
and Easter seasons.
J.S. Bach was never famous during his life. His employer rarely allowed him
to travel or play outside of his home town. His music was not well known until
nearly 100 years after his death. Bach married twice and had 20 children. Four of
those children would become famous musicians.
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George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel was born in 1685 and died in
1759. Handel was a German by birth, but spent most of his
adult career in either Italy or England. He became a British
citizen in 1726. His vocal music is written in three different
languages: German, Italian and English.
Handel began his musical career as a violinist and later
became a composer. His career started in Germany. While
there he received a scholarship to study opera in Italy. His first
opera was titled “Rinaldo”. He later moved to England where
he spent the rest of his life. He wrote operas, orchestral works,
small-group pieces and keyboard music but he is best known as a composer of the oratorio.
An oratorio is a sacred (religious) opera with music for solo singers, chorus, and
orchestra. It is most often based on a story from the Bible. Today, oratorios are not usually
acted out as they were in Handel’s time. Instead they are performed in a church or concert hall
much like a school chorus concert. The Sight and Sound Theater in eastern Pennsylvania
produces modern-day oratorios.
Handel’s most famous oratorio is called “Messiah”. It was written in 1742 for voices and
orchestra. It is a massive work with over 40 movements or sections. The most famous part of
“Messiah” is called the “Halleluiah Chorus”. The entire work was originally to be performed at
Easter time, but today it is performed at Christmas.
Handel suffered a stroke later in his life. The stroke left him blind and partially
paralyzed. He continued to compose with the help of a secretary. When Handel died in 1759 he
was given a state funeral in England. Over 3000 people attended to honor the great composer.
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The Classical Period
The term “classical music” is a broad term meaning any music that is not jazz, rock, or
popular music. The term Classical is also used to describe the art work of the 1700s and 1800s.
The artwork of this time was greatly influenced by ancient Greek and Roman cultures (a look
back at classic cultures). The music world followed the art world. The Classical period was
from 1750-1820.
The music during this time needed to be very balanced and clearly understood by the
listener. Classical period music needed to meet four standards:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Could not have a strong national/ethnic sound (such as German or Jewish)
Had to sound very noble, yet still be entertaining
Should follow a set of musical rules passed down from teachers to students
Should be rather simple – easy to play and listen to
The Classical period saw a lot of changes in how composers were employed and how
they worked. Three main composers of the Classical period were Haydn, Mozart and
Beethoven. Each of these composers easily showed how the working environment of the
composer changed during this time period.
Haydn worked well under the traditional patronage system and gained a lot of fame and
money. Mozart tried to break free from this system, becoming a freelance composer, but he
failed to make enough money to support himself and his family. Beethoven combined freelance
work with a modified patronage system and became wealthy and famous during his lifetime.
Some of the greatest music and composers came out of the Classical period. Unlike the
Baroque period, music was simpler and more refined. Composers fought for the freedom of
musical expression. Some failed, others succeeded. These great minds gave us some of the
greatest music ever written.
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Franz Joseph Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn was born in1732 in Austria. He
rose above poverty to learn a musical instrument. He fought
a changing voice to become a great composer. He
accomplished a lot in his 77 years and died a famous man in
1809.
Haydn came from a poor family, but was noticed at the
local church as a good singer. He was a choir boy until he
was 16 years old when he found that his changed voice was
no longer useful for singing. He worked hard trying to
establish himself as a composer. To make ends meet, Haydn
taught musical lessons, played piano for solo
instrumentalists, and even performed in street bands.
Soon Haydn was noticed by the aristocracy (wealthy) of Vienna, Austria. Vienna was
considered the musical capital of Europe. For a time Haydn worked for a nobleman with a
small orchestra. Haydn would use this job as a way to experiment with different instruments
and combinations of instruments.
In 1761, when Haydn was 29, he got his big break. The Esterhazy family sought him out
to employ him. The Esterhazy family were extremely wealthy patrons who greatly supported
the arts. They owned their own orchestra, opera house, marionette theater and chapel and they
hired the very best musicians. Haydn would work for the Esterhazy family for almost 30 years.
While there he wrote many symphonies. To this day he is known as the “father of the
symphony”. His most famous symphony is “The Surprise Symphony”.
Haydn left the Esterhazy family in 1791. He was a wealthy man and was able to travel
throughout Europe. Countries welcomed him and praised his music, especially in England. He
wrote the “Emperor’s Hymn” which is now the national anthem of Austria. He was considered
one of the premiere musicians of the Classical Period.
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Mozart was born in Austria in 1756. He
died in 1791. His father was Leopold Mozart, a famous
composer and violinist. Mozart was deemed a child prodigy
at the age of five. He began his career as a composer before
the age of 5 and was performing at palaces around Europe at
the age of 6. By the time Mozart was 13 he had written
music in nearly every form including symphonies, religious
works and operas. His most famous symphonic work is “A
Little Night Music’ and his most famous opera is “The
Magic Flute”. By the time he became an adult he had
mastered every form of musical compositions and numerous
instruments.
Mozart dreamed of being a freelance musician. A
freelance musician did not work for a wealthy patron, but
rather wrote music on his own and tried to sell it to opera houses, symphonies and churches.
For awhile Mozart did work under the patronage system for the Archbishop of Salzburg.
However, because of Mozart’s dislike of the patronage system he would often make his patrons
mad and get fired. He eventually moved to Vienna, the music capital of Europe, to begin his
career as a freelance artist.
Mozart had tried numerous times to get a wealthy patron in Vienna. For awhile he
worked for Emperor Joseph II, but since the music requested by the emperor was rather simple
and boring, Mozart lost interest. This was often the case with Mozart’s employment. Mozart
was either so rude or crude that he was fired or the job did not challenge the composer enough.
Throughout this time, Mozart received an allowance from his father that allowed him to keep
composing in comfortable surroundings.
In 1782, however, Mozart’s father cut-off the money he was sending to his son. Leopold
Mozart was so upset about Wolfgang’s marriage to Constance Weber that the money flow
stopped. Constance was rather poor, so she could not contribute money to the family and
Mozart was either getting fired or quitting nearly every good job he received. Soon the young
couple was living in poverty.
Mozart died at the age of 35 in 1791. He was extremely poor and his music was never
widely recognized. In all ways, he died a failure. Many years after his death, his music started
being performed regularly. Today he is one of the most famous composers of all time.
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Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was born in Germany in 1770 and
died in 1827. He was the son and grandson of two musicians who
worked for a local prince. Beethoven’s father was a very cruel
man and often punished the young Beethoven for playing wrong
notes on the harpsichord. Beethoven suffered many beatings and
was often locked in the family cellar for little or no reason. By
the time Beethoven was 11 his father could no longer support his
family. Beethoven worked as an organist at a local chapel and
later a viola player in a local orchestra. Beethoven visited Vienna
at the age of 17 where he got to meet Mozart. Mozart was very
impressed by the younger man but died shortly after the meeting.
At the age of 22, Beethoven moved to Vienna permanently
to study with Haydn. Haydn was extremely traditional in his style
and appearance. Beethoven was the exact opposite and was prone
to fits of rage. The relationship between Haydn and Beethoven
only lasted a short time due to these differences but Beethoven
was able to stay in Vienna because of his popularity among the
wealthy aristocracy. Beethoven was an amazing piano player and
his performing came at a cost to those that supported him. Some
of his most famous piano pieces were “Moonlight Sonata” and “Fur Elise”.
Beethoven, like Mozart, wanted to be a freelance composer. However, he realized early on that he
would not be able to support himself without catering to the rich some. This modified patronage system
allowed Beethoven the freedom to compose the music he wanted while also composing a few pieces at the
request of his wealthy friends. The development of more music publishing also helped Beethoven make the
money he needed to remain as free as he could. He was one of the few composers to have his music become
popular throughout Europe during his lifetime.
During Beethoven’s late 20s a terrible physical problem occurred. Beethoven was going deaf and his
career seemed to be over. Beethoven even thought of killing himself over the deafness. However, he was able
to keep composing and conducting, though his days as a performer were over. His “Symphony No. 9” was
written and performed when Beethoven was completely deaf. He never heard nearly half of his compositions
and never heard the applause for the music. His music was revolutionary and launched the musical world into
the Romantic period.
Beethoven took ill after being out in stormy weather. He developed a lung infection that claimed his life
in 1827 at the age of 57. On his death bed he shook his fist in anger and died. The people with him shaved his
head and made a cast of his face. This “death mask” is on display in a museum in Europe and the hair has been
passed around for generations and kept as tokens. To this day, performers and composers look upon his music
as some of the best ever written.
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References:
History Unit Sources
Music AD 450-1995 by Mark Ammons, D.M.A.; Mark Twain Media Inc., Publishers
Accent on Composers by Jay Althouse and Judith O’Reilly; Alfred Publishing Company, Inc.
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Music History by Michael Miller; 2008 Michael Miller
The Harvard Concise Dictionary of Music and Musicians
www.classicsforkids.com
www.rexsy.com
www.musicwithease.com
www.dsokids.com
American Musical Theater Unit Sources
The Harvard Concise Dictionary of Music and Musicians
The Oxford Junior Companion to Music
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Music History by Michael Miller; 2008 Michael Miller
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