{"product_id":"writing-music-for-the-stage-a-practical-guide-for-theatremakers","title":"Writing Music for the Stage","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe definitive guide to writing music for the stage, by the Composer-in-Residence at the Donmar Warehouse.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMusic 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn 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:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e• \u003cstrong\u003eGetting started\u003c\/strong\u003e – spotting when and how music might be used in a play, doing research, considering form and content\u003cbr\u003e\n• \u003cstrong\u003eBuilding a 'sound world'\u003c\/strong\u003e – finding and using source music, creating incidental music, choosing the best instrumentation, scoring, utilising technology, writing music to accompany song lyrics\u003cbr\u003e\n• \u003cstrong\u003eWorking on the production\u003c\/strong\u003e – understanding the composer's role in rehearsals, collaborating with key creatives, employing actor-musicians, getting the show on\u003cbr\u003e\n• \u003cstrong\u003eRecording\u003c\/strong\u003e – knowing when to record, booking and working with musicians – and the studio engineer, running a recording session\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThroughout 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 \u003cem\u003eThe Recruiting Officer\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eCoriolanus\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003ePrivacy\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eThe Winslow Boy\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eNoises Off\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eStrange Interlude\u003c\/em\u003e. The book is accompanied by online excerpts from his scores.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAn essential companion for all composers – amateur, student or professional – \u003cem\u003eWriting Music for the Stage\u003c\/em\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'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.'\u003c\/strong\u003e Mark Gatiss\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'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.'\u003c\/strong\u003e Judi Dench\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'Michael's music is wonderful: inclusive, original, respectful and – in its rightness – sheer joy.'\u003c\/strong\u003e Josie Rourke, from her Foreword\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick Hern Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40296956362835,"sku":"9781848423930","price":18.5,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0278\/1295\/4195\/files\/9781848423930.jpg?v=1777841124","url":"https:\/\/agendabookshop.com\/products\/writing-music-for-the-stage-a-practical-guide-for-theatremakers","provider":"Agenda Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}