h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi Danny

I see you've got a batch atm but I'm just putting out a feeler about subbing my uni project: Leonard Bernstein - Composer. It's the new, slimline type project with a maximum of 5 entries. Gubernatrix is doing an entry on West Side Story (she directed a stunning production of WSS involving supermarket trollies, don't y'know). I have 3 entries up atm -

A1009216 Intro & Bio

A1009225 'Chichester Psalms' and 'Arias and Barcarolles'

A1009234 'Mass'

which aren't quite finished but are nearly so, and I have one more entry yet to do, which will prob be either on the symphonies, or on the operas, or on the ballets, or on Candide, which I was involved in with Lenny himself not long before he died.

The whole thing should be ready for subbing in about a couple of weeks or so (Gubie permitting, she's away this week).

So I thought I'd have a word in your ear before posting to the subs group. But if you can't take it on, no problem.

Bels

Well, as I can't imagine that any Entry you'd write will need much subbing, I accept! I'm away for the last week in April, but should be able to get round to them pretty soon after that, if that's OK.

Thanks for asking

That's copacetic. I knew I could rely on you to massage my ego a bit. May will be fine. Thanks. I'll get back to you. Meanwhile I'll show you as assisting sub.

Well, if you're going to use words like 'copacetic', I may rescind may offer

Rescission of offer?

I never was any good at phatic conversation .

Ah, but 'copacetic' is part of a fine American musical tradition!

It features in the lyrics of Falsettoland (the sequel to March of the Falsettos):

"It's not genetic.
Anything can be copacetic."

Hi Bels

I hope you're doing OK - I have been lurking around your bowel cancer Entry and thread but, to my shame, have failed to say anything until now All I can do, in the absence of a smiley is to offer a and possibly some and to say 'keep writing'

Anyway, you'll be pleased to know that I've now started subbing your Leonard Bernstein Entries (inasmuch as they *need* subbing ) So far I've had one go through the 'Introduction' - all I've done is to add some bullets and headers. They're not particularly inspired, so please suggest alternatives!

I'll get round to the others as soon as I can, although I'll be away next week, so you might have to wait a little...

Danny B.

Hi Danny

Thanks for the - much appreciated.

Just a coupla points about the Intro.

His Career
1940s

needs to start one para later.

But it isn't a summary of his career! It's just a summary of his compositions. 'His career' would need something far more comprehensive.

The other thing is that I personally don't like the bullets. It isn't really meant to be a regimented list, and those items are not going to be discussed any further.

Again, the 'Big break' as you call it wasn't to do with his composing career. It launched him as a conductor, and he would have been a famous conductor if he never wrote a note of music.

There's no problem about waiting. Do enjoy your time away. I'm hoping WSS will be finished by the time you get back.

>>I'm hoping WSS will be finished by the time you get back.

OK... a few modifications, including removal of the offending bullets

I'll keep you updated as I get on with the others when I get back.

OK.

WSS is finished! Tho' I may tweak a coupla bits over the next day or two.

A1047692

Was just thinking about who would be the dream ticket today. Perhaps John Adams, Stephen Sondheim and Matthew Bourne....or perhaps its Jerry Springer - the Opera (which I still haven't seen!!)

I've stopped tweaking. You can send this to Danny now or whoever it gets sent to. If you want to make any more comments, I'm online (off and on) today.

Hello

I've now finished my first run-through of the LB Entries (without WSS, which hasn't been transferred to me yet )

Let me know if there's anything to which you object violently, and I'll sort it out

Otherwise I'll give them a final going over and send them back to the Towers. Although what they'll do with them is anyone's guess...

Danny, thanks very much.

One general point is that I didn't put in any headers/ subheaders for Candide and Mass, fondly hoping that you might. Do you want me to suggest some? Can you just put some in yourself (prob easier)? Or do you think they are better without any?

A couple of other minor points.

A1009225 'Chichester Psalms'
This is in a steady 10/4 rhythm (which is really pairs of 5/4) and as richly melodic as any Broadway number.

I think maybe it needs an 'is':
and is as richly melodic as any Broadway number.

A1009216
Leonard Bernstein - Composer
footnote 1: Sam Bernstein came from the town of Rovno-Guberniya.

That's a bit like saying he came from the town of Yorkshire. Delete 'the town of'

A1009243
Candide

It was in the so-called Age of Enlightenment (roughly the 18th Century) that Voltaire1, wrote the mercilessly

delete stray additional comma after the footnote


Bels

Danny, you now have WSS at last.

Great! I'll sub that and put in your comments as soon as I can - before they close the University, anyway

Thanks for doing WSS Now for the inevitable minor typos -

A1047692

---------------------------------------

West Side Story is a modern version of the Romeo and Juliet story. The rival families of Verona are now rival gangs of white immmigrants and Puerto Ricans on the streets of Manhatten's Upper West Side.

-- Manhattan

---------------------------------------
1 None of these Oscars were won by the composer

-- was won

---------------------------------------
Eventally Anita agrees,

-- Eventually

---------------------------------------

in the rhumba rhythmns of 'America'

-- rhythms

- a sarcastic comparison of life in Puerto Rica

-- Puerto Rico

and Manhatten sung by the Shark girls -


-- Manhattan

---------------------------------------
Whilst this makes dramatic sense

-- While

---------------------------------------
West Side Story therefore stands as an unique achievement.

-- 'a unique' is I think more usual,



Bels

What's the difference between whilst and while then?

They mean the same thing, but 'whilst' is considered by many people to be obsolete. Bels may have more technical information on the difference