Westside story a 1957 musical is a modern day representation of the “Romeo and Juliet” classical story. The story features two gangs: the sharks and the gangs who fight to dominate one territory. The story escalates when Maria from the sharks and Tony a member of the jets fall in love with each other. However, these two cannot be together since they are from rival groups. The sharks happen to be immigrants from Puerto Rico. The two groups plan a rumble that Maria is against. Maria pleads with Tony to have the rumble canceled. Unfortunately, her efforts are futile. The rumble takes place and its ending goes totally wrong.
The musical is a great success thanks to the collaborative efforts of music composer Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim the lyricist, not forgetting Jerom Robbinson the choreographer and Harlord Prince the impresario of this musical. Its combination of music and dance makes it unique in that as much as the story of Romeo and Juliet had and has been done, no story has every incorporated these techniques as good as the westside story did.
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Bernstein chooses to use a score that blends with various one of them being jazz sounds. This is done intentionally to blend with and bring out the decade in which westside story is written. This also serves to evoke Latin rhythms. Bernstein also draws on time-honored musical techniques such as opera composition. For instance, in one of the musical's popular song “Tonight”, the composer has some of the musical's characters reflect on their expectations and hopes of the coming night. For every character, Bernstein composes music that reflects on the individual's visions, be they combative, sultry or romantic (Bernstein, Laurents, & Sondheim, 1958). The musical score and lyrics are regarded as one of the best ever written in musical history.
A look into one of the musicals popular song “Maria” and “Tonight”. Tonight is sung by Tony and Maria. The two main characters of the story who fall in love but as circumstances have it, the two cannot be together. This song starts with Tony statement referring to Maria's voice as the most beautiful voice he has ever heard (Bernstein, Laurents, & Sondheim, 1958). The song is sung in a recitative manner. Which is mainly a monotone. Tony’s words come off as the main element pushing and stressing the story. The composer uses this song to communicate the cast’s visions, expectations and fantasies of the night in the song.
The song Maria is sung by Tony. Note that Maria is one of the cast in this musical who Tony has fallen for. So basically speaking the song Maria is sung by Tony out of his love for her. It is a smooth and romantic song that Tony uses to shower praise on maria describing her as soft and hailing praises to her name.
Plenty of the songs used in this musical are a reflection of young people’s visions and fantasies. In the song I have a love and a boy like that, Maria holds on to her vision of a world without hate (Bernstein, Laurents, & Sondheim, 1958). She knows hate has cost her a relationship with Tony whom she loves so deeply. She uses this song to express her hopes, and desire and wish that the world could have no hate. Probably if that was the case, tony and she could be together with much ease.
Conclusion
Music is one of the strongest tools of a visual performance. When used wisely, it can communicate a story in the perfect way as well as enhance a story. The Westside story is one of those performances that made good use of music in a performance. The main goal music achieved in this musical was to communicate young people’s lives visions and fantasies and enhance the musical's plot.
Reference
Bernstein, L., Laurents, A. and Sondheim, S. (1958). West Side story. New York: Rando House.
