Amazon.com: William Finn's career in the musical theater is pretty remarkable considering that he doesn't write traditional show tunes--much less traditional shows. But Finn has a gift for catchy melodies and his emotionally engaging work has a way of intimately connecting with audiences (during the initial run of Elegies, hardened New Yorkers could be seen trying to hide their tears). Though no storyline links these songs, they are united by the underlining idea of loss; in turn funny, tender, witty, biting and quietly devastating, they form a unified tapestry. Musically, Finn can turn out perky little numbers and powerful ballads--"Anytime (I Am There)" could conceivably be a hit if some contemporary pop diva did it. Led by Betty Buckley and Carolee Carmello, the cast is completely in sync with the material. Some of the narrative-heavy pieces recall Michel Legrand's sung-through work (and there are Legrand-like flourishes on "Monica & Mark"), but in the end Finn is very much his own man: There's nobody quite like him in the American musical-theater world, and Elegies just brings more evidence of that. --Elisabeth Vincentelli
Disc 1:
Looking Up Quintet
Mister Choi & Madame G
Mark's All-Male Thanksgiving
Only One
Joe Papp
Peggy Hewitt & Mysty del Giorno
Passover
Infinite Joy
The Ballad of Jack Eric Williams (And Other 3-Named Composers)
Near Perfect Would Be Dramatic If It Weren't So Accurate What is there to say about Elegies that hasn't already been said? Let me start off by saying this is a totally biased review. "A New Brain" is my absolute favorite score of a musical, so I was not surprised to fall in love with Elegies the way I did. Some may find it crazy that I enjoy having my heart ripped apart and and crying for hours while listening to this score, but I do.
I'd like to end on a good note, so I'll give my one negative critique now. Bette Buckley (with the exception of Looking Up, which is PERFECT) doesn't really do it for me on this album. Sorry Buckles, but your "Infinite Joy," which is possibly the most beautiful song ever written, doesn't hold a candle to Liz Callaway's. I may even enjoy her more if the rest of the cast wasn't so so perfect. She sticks out. Unfortunately. Moving on.
Carolee Carmello, where did you come from?! This woman is absolutely fantastic. If you need further proof, listen to "Parade." Go see "Mamma Mia!" (a show I would spend $110 to see JUST to see Carolee), listen to her on "Infinite Joys." In fact, buy it right now and listen to her singing "When The Earth Stopped Turning" and "I Have Found." Seriously, not enough good things can be said about her. Though "Anytime" would've been perfect in A New Brain, which it was originally written for, it's even more perfect in this show. "Monica & Mark / Anytime" is an epic story that simply breaks my heart. And if that's not my heart, Carolee does it again in "Boom Boom." I was left devastated the first time I listened to it.
Other highlights in the record: Christian Borle singing "When The Earth Stopped Turning." William Finn has such a way of being subtly heart breaking. Keith Bryon singing "Mister Choi" and "Joe Papp." The beautiful group number "Peggy Hewitt." Oh, and let's not forget about Michael, who's a Finn alum, and for good reason. William Finn really knows who is going to sound good singing his music, and this is the perfect CD for that.
Again, not enough great things can be said about this album. Buy it now, please.
William Finn's Masterpiece I had the great good fortune to see a production in Boston, about a year after the NY production represented here. While the voices were not quite as big, they all presented the material beautifully. What some of the other reviewers have said, not all these songs are things that you want to listen to over and over. Some of them are best left at the theater. Through the wonders of modern technologies it is easy to skip pasts Dogs and others that don't stand up as well. Then there is the masterpiece Infinate Joy. Every once in a while, while performing, I slip in the song Infinate Joy. It is amazing to see people stop dead in their tracks and tune in and then wonder where this incredible song came from. For every cabaret singer who sings the same twenty or thirty songs that everyone else does (Stars and Moon for example), why not try this one out. It is far more emotionally open and listeners love it afte they have tuned in. It is by far the most perfect song Mr. Finn has written, and I love his material. Add to that When the World Stopped Turning and Goodbye and you have quite a lot to love here.
Enfin, Finn A friend has been pushing Finn's work at me for a while now, especially extracts from Putnam County Spelling Bee and Elegies. I finally ordered the Elegies CD (from Amazon), received it and have listened to it a few times now, some tracks more often than others. The concept of the cycle is wonderful, and as many others have stated, one is left with an ache that somehow contains optimism. Each song is a polished gem, though some shine more than others. I would have to list "Dogs" as a low point, and "Mark and Monica" as the high point for me. All 6 performers are wonderful-----the 5 singers and the amazing pianist. As a pianist myself, I can hear how much work went into preparing to play this music, and feel that the gentleman is not given enough credit.
The most haunting moments (for me) occur when ensemble singing is heard, such as the opening quintet, the wordless male trio interludes in "Mark and Monica", and the finale. The vocal writing at these moments is absolutely brilliant, taking advantage of each singer's strong points.
My only criticism (and it is perhaps just that I am unused to Finn's aesthetic) is that everything is is so self-referential. We do not have the memories that he does of his family and friends, and although these songs bring them to life for us to some extent, they are impressionistic portraits drawn from a cohesive whole that only he knows deeply. Writing this cycle must have been very cathartic for Finn.
That said, I am sure that repeated listenings of this work will allow me to hear things that are as yet not noticed. It would also be wonderful to see a live performance of Elegies, adding a new dimension to the overall experience.
Bottom line, then: Bravo, Mr. Finn! Thanks for sharing your world and the people it contain(ed).
Poignant. The work here is about more than simple aesthetics of the voice. Hello...it's called ELEGIES for a reason. Trust me, if you want to be touched by some of William Finn's most personal work, then give it a listen.
Elegies: A Nasal Song Cycle I love the pianist.
I was a fan of Finn's "A New Brain" (thanks, mostly, to it being Kristen Chenoweth's B'way debut) and was excited to purchase this album. However, I couldn't focus much on the music as all three of the male performers (who have the brunt of the music to sing) were incredibly nasal and very irritating to listen to. Most of the time I found myself skipping a track (aspecially "Mark and Monica" and "All Male Thanksgiving") because the performers' voices were soo obnoxious and nasal that I started getting a headache.
The only people I would recommend this album to are fans of the divine Carolee Carmello and Betty Buckley. Both are in excellent voice (although Carolee seems to have started pushing her voice since "Parade") and sing their songs with as much conviction as they have in all of their other works.
Except for the last song, I was not impressed by the material--what few rhymes there are are trite and commonplace, and Finn is even audacious enough to put praise forhimself in one of the lyrics. Sure he struck gold with "Falsettoland" and (well not so much) "A New Brain", but Finn's "Elegies" are less reminiscent of good times as they are whining about the unfairness of losing someone and how shocking everything is when someone you love is gone forever. Blah blah blah.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Tailipoe
Trevor
