Talent | Sondheim's Friends: The Broadway Musical Giants

Sondheim's list of 'Songs I Wish I’d Written (At Least In Part)' sparks memories and insights from Broadway's finest musical talents.

Hosts Martin Milnes and Peter E. Jones sit down with a powerhouse line-up of Broadway giants to explore the private, generous, and highly sentimental side of Stephen Sondheim. 

Sondheim's esteemed friends and colleagues John Kander, Richard Maltby Jr, David Shire, Jonathan Tunick and Maury Yeston offer an unprecedented and unique view of Sondheim's musicianship, artistry and love of his friends' work.

From glittering 1960s parties to intimate evenings drinking wine and listening to records in Sondheim's study, we learn, including through unpublished Sondheim emails, the respect and support this legendary composer-lyricist offered his peers.

Hear how a young Jonathan Tunick was hired to orchestrate Company over 10 scotches, the true origins of the song "Being Alive," and how Steve's list of 'Songs I Wish I'd Written (At Least In Part)' served as his ultimate love letter to his peers.

"Everybody thinks that Steve is actually as complicated as his music is ... He was a bubi! He was the sweetest man in the world." – Maury Yeston

CHAPTERS:

00:00 - Introduction: John Kander on Sondheim's Compassion and Generosity 

05:16 - "Songs I Wish I'd Written": Exploring Sondheim’s Famous List 

08:29 - Falling in Love Over Music: Peter E Jones and Stephen Sondheim 

10:50 - The Prince Parties and Early Broadway Struggles: Maltby & Shire 

17:35 - Sondheim's Secret Sentimentality 

24:04 - Jonathan Tunick: Orchestrating the Genius of Stephen Sondheim 

30:12 - "He Played What He Wrote": The Unique Process of Orchestrating Sondheim 

35:29 - Maury Yeston: Sondheim’s Generosity and Modesty 

43:42 - Peter E. Jones' Song On The List: "Bluellow"
46:31 - John Kander: A 70-year Friendship

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CREDITS

Hosts and Producers: Martin Milnes and Peter E. Jones

Executive Producer: Jason Caffrey

Produced in partnership with: Creative Kin 

Mixing and Mastering: Phoebe Murdoch, Chris Traves
Directed, Devised and Written by Martin Milnes

CAST AND VOICE ACTORS
Alistair McGowan, Eddie Andrews, Rebecca Ridout, Nathanael Hodgkiss, Taaron Jeram, Jude Peters, Melissa Redman, Mitchell Walsh, Jonathan Christopher, Mehran James McCullough

DRAMATIC RE-ENACTMENTS
Written by: Martin Milnes
Produced by: Peter E. Jones

MUSIC AND SCORE

Original Score Composed by: Peter E. Jones

Songs Produced & Mastered by: Chris Traves

Musical Direction: Gareth Valentine

Piano Accompaniment: Sam Young

Sondheim Instrumental Tracks: Provided by Broadway Studio Orchestra

Music of Stephen Sondheim: Played by Colm Molloy

"Comedy Tonight": Played by Gareth Valentine

"How Does the Wine Taste?" (Vamp): Composed by Harold Karr

"Make A Wish" (Overture): Composed by Hugh Martin

"A Hero's Love" (from The Sap of Life): Played by David Shire
"Matchmaker, Matchmaker": Played by Steve Ross

"Marlowe's Theme" (from Farewell, My Lovely) & "Salsatian" (from Saturday Night Fever): Composed by David Shire

FEATURED SONGS & VOCAL PERFORMANCES

"Travel" (by Maltby & Shire): Sung by Chloe Hopcroft, Nic Myers and Kit Pakapom

"New Words" (by Maury Yeston): Sung by Lauren Jones

"The Golden Willow Tree" (by Aaron Copland): Sung by Bruce Graham

"Home" (by Kander and Ebb): Sung by Mildred Natwick and the original Broadway cast of 70 Girls, 70

"I'll Never Go There Anymore" (by Moose Charlap and Eddie Lawrence): Screeched by Moose Charlap on the original composers' demo tape

"Hard Hearted Hannah" (by Milton Ager, Jack Yellen, Bob Bigelow and Charles Bates): Sung by Belle Baker
"To Be Alive" and "How Do You Do I Love You?": Sung by Richard Maltby Jr and played by David Shire

Excerpt from "Bluellow" (by Peter E. Jones): Sung by Lauren Jones and Shane O'Riordan