Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Oscar Hammerstein



 

When Richard and I visited London in September, we spent several hours inside Southwark Cathedral.  Richard was very happy with his camera, snapping photos as we walked along (and  the Cathedral asks for a small amount, two pound fifty, for a photography pass, which Richard was very happy to pay!) As we admired the windows,  the architecture, and the sculptures, we also read many of the memorial plaques within the church.  I wonder if you can imagine how I felt when I saw this one...



    I adore  Oscar Hammerstein!  Please tell me that you recognize his name! (Click on his name there to read more about this remarkable man!)  If I say "Rodgers and Hammerstein", that might ring a bell with you.  They wrote beautiful music together!  Richard Rodgers wrote the music and Oscar Hammerstein wrote the lyrics for some of the most famous musicals that you know...
Here is a listing of them....         Oklahoma! 
                                                    State Fair
                                                     Carousel
                                                     South Pacific
                                                     Cinderella
                                                      The King and I
                                                       Flower Drum Song
                                                       The Sound of Music


Before teaming with Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein also wrote the lyrics to tunes written  by Jerome Kern.  I loved the story of his wife overhearing someone say that "Old Man River" was written by Jerome Kern.  Her response was this: "My HUSBAND wrote "Old Man River"...Jerome Kern wrote "dum, dum...dum, dum,"...
Don't you just love that!
   (Now, I hope this is a true story, it sounds like it could be, and I do like it so!)

What is the connection of Southwark Cathedral in London to Oscar Hammerstein?  Apparently, he loved the church and visited it quite often.  He fell in love with the choral singing and left money in his will for the church singers.

There are many videos I could have here with the music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein, but I have chosen "You'll Never Walk Alone" which is very famous in Liverpool as their football anthem.  I believe that they have this over the gate as you walk into the stadium there, I am sure someone from Liverpool could verify this for me!  (I will correct this, if I am wrong!)  The song itself is from their musical, "Carousel" but my husband suggested the version by "Gerry and the Pacemakers" and I agree, I love this and I love the video!

                                           
I remember reading somewhere that some consider Oscar Hammerstein overly sweet but that he was very sincere and earnest in his choice of words.  Sweet, sincere and earnest....my kind of guy.

"I know the world is filled with troubles and many injustices. But reality is as beautiful as it is ugly...I think it is just as important to sing about beautiful mornings as it is to talk about slums. I just couldn't write anything without hope in it."   Oscar Hammerstein


If you are wondering about the word "lyrist" on the plaque instead of "lyricist"...apparently, the words mean the same, according to the Collins/English dictionary! Hey, I don't know, I just looked it up!

34 comments:

  1. Of course I recognize Hammerstein's name, Kay! I've loved his music forever! Love the Old Man River story ~ and I've loved that song from my early childhood. I went through a period when I was about 12-14 when I sang, "I'll Never Walk Alone" hundreds of times. And Gerry and the Pacemakers singing it! I love that too. I'm overboard with Hammerstein love! LOL Have a happy Wednesday!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Of course, you would know him! You would be surprised at the people who don't, or else don't think very highly of him. I don't know what is wrong with the world. I guess I am just not "edgy" enough. (I read this in a review of a TV show, and it amused me.)
      Overboard with Hammerstein love, yes...me too!

      Delete
  2. Such a bunch of Liverpool -looking faces in that video clip!! I should know, I married one. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I listened to much to The Beatles as a kid that the Liverpool accent is one that I can recognize, I love it! (And I almost always have to ask my husband about other accents from England and Scotland but not that one!)

      Delete
  3. Love Hammerstein lyrics! He wasn't excessively sweet to me, he was just right.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Rogers and Hammerstein musicals are simply fun, and often beautiful. We need more of that today.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oscar Hammerstein wrote over 800 songs...we need much more of that today!

      Delete
  5. When someone says show tunes I immediately think of Rodgers and Hammerstein. They wrote so many fabulous songs. The plaque is magnificent and the information is interesting. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was thrilled to see this in the Cathedral. And not least of which, saying that he was a "Citizen of the United States of America"...just gave me a twinge of pride to think of that!

      Delete
  6. Of course I know the name "Oscar Hammerstein"....I am of an age..... :)

    I wondered about "lyrist" when I saw that, too...and I found myself looking at the word for quite some time. And, as I wrote in my last post...I had to go and research it, didn't I? :)

    A leopard never changes its spots...nor do I, apparently! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! Now you know how much we have in common, going to all lengths to find out about everything! LOL!!
      I wish that the musicals by them could be redone for today's generations...I just read that they are doing "Cinderella"!! I just read this....sometimes my wishes come true!!

      Delete
  7. I loved his songs, I didn't know he wrote "Old Man River"! And I am so glad you are feeling better!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Dorothy! Don't you just love that story!!

      Delete
  8. Interesting post Kay. Both Liverpool FC and (Glasgow) Celtic FC have "You'll never walk alone" as club anthems and have sung it together on the terraces when they have met at European games in the past although Liverpool can claim they adopted it first. Both clubs, being based in west coast seaports and major docks have strong traditional links to Ireland and a big catholic following and have a long lasting bond that usually ensures a friendly occasion even if picked to compete against each other. One of the great songwriters.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for telling me this! If you listen to that whole video, at the end of it...it shows you a video from Australia, where Liverpool Is playing there and the whole 95,000 in the stadium sing the song! It makes me think of Oscar Hammerstein when I hear this, that many people singing his words.
      (And of Richard Rodgers for the tune, can't forget him!)
      After I stated that Liverpool had that over their gate I looked it up...and they do! (Never am sure of the things I remember from my own head!)

      Delete
  9. I spent my childhood playing the albums from the great musicals over and over again, singing along! I still know every word! I must have driven my family crazy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was the same way! I also know all the words to Fiddler On the Roof and Caberet! I have always loved to sing.

      Delete
  10. The things that you find in unusual places are amazing and so very interesting aren't they. xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They are amazing and interesting to me. I am glad you think so too!
      xx

      Delete
  11. That is utterly bizarre. I commented right at the start of this post and the comment has disappeared. I sometimes despair of Blogger. I said that even though I knew very many of Hammerstein's lyrics I didn't know that he wrote "I'll Never Walk Alone." Given that I was born in Liverpool that's a sad admission. I did also confirm that the words are inscribed into the wrought ironwork of the gate lintel at Anfield.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks very much, Graham! I love that someone from Liverpool commented on this! Also, I don't think that many people know who wrote this song, but it is my belief that Oscar Hammerstein and Richard Rodgers would be thrilled to see what the song has become and how much it means to so many people.
      And I am sorry your comment somehow got lost! It means even more to me that you took the time to type this all out again. Thank you!

      Delete
  12. Thank you for introducing me to this :) Have a wonderful weekend!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hope you had a chance to see the video! I really like it! Happy weekend to you too!

      Delete
  13. I love his music, too........How exciting to find that plaque in the Southwark Cathedral. I saw a great documentary about him on PBS within the last year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I will have to see if they have it on my PBS station. If they had it here, I missed it! Maybe they will repeat it.

      Delete
  14. It was truly excellent and there are still clips to see on youtube and at the PBS website......https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJxXVnOjYo8 for example.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! I saw there were some clips from it and I watched some of them!
      I am still hoping to see it in full on TV. I really do like him!

      Delete
  15. I recognize his name and music, it is very lush ~

    And your header is gorgeous ~ Have a lovely Sunday ~

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you1 And oops, now I have just changed my header photo! But it is similar and it was taken just today!

      Delete
  16. Many thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a comment. I appreciate it very much. I've had a read through yours and I love it. Your London trip looks great. The Southbank is one of my fave area's (always stopping at Borough Market for food!!). I love your header photo very much too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Diane!
      I love your blog too! Our trip to London was just amazing, we loved it so!
      And I just changed my header photo, hope you like that one too!

      Delete