The definitive guide to writing music for the stage, by the
Composer-in-Residence at the Donmar Warehouse. Music has played a
vital part in drama since the earliest days of theatre. For
composers, writing music for the stage is an opportunity to
exercise their utmost creativity and versatility: a good musical
score will both support and enhance the play it serves, and can
lift a prosaic moment into something quite extraordinary. In this
book, Michael Bruce takes you through the entire process - from
initial preparation, through composition, rehearsals and recording,
and finally to performance. He covers everything a composer needs
to know, including: * Getting started - spotting when and how music
might be used in a play, doing research, considering form and
content * Building a 'sound world' - finding and using source
music, creating incidental music, choosing the best
instrumentation, scoring, utilising technology, writing music to
accompany song lyrics * Working on the production - understanding
the composer's role in rehearsals, collaborating with key
creatives, employing actor-musicians, getting the show on *
Recording - knowing when to record, booking and working with
musicians - and the studio engineer, running a recording session
Throughout the book, the author draws on his own experience of
creating music for a wide variety of plays at the Donmar Warehouse,
the National Theatre, in the West End and on Broadway, including
detailed case studies of his work on The Recruiting Officer,
Coriolanus, Privacy, The Winslow Boy, Noises Off and Strange
Interlude. The book is accompanied by online excerpts from his
scores. An essential companion for all composers - amateur, student
or professional - Writing Music for the Stage is also invaluable
reading for other theatre professionals, including directors,
playwrights, producers, actors, designers and sound designers - in
fact, for anyone seeking to understand how music helps to create
worlds and tell stories on stage. 'This fascinating book - like its
author (with whom I've had the good fortune to work on three
productions) - is bursting with practical advice, good sense and
invention. A must-read for all those with an interest in how music
works on stage.' Mark Gatiss 'A good score makes a world of
difference to an actor. Read Michael Bruce's book and you'll
understand why. He is a genius.' Judi Dench 'Michael's music is
wonderful: inclusive, original, respectful and - in its rightness -
sheer joy.' Josie Rourke, from her Foreword
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