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WHAT COMES FIRST
Posted by Thomas Molzahn, M.A.
on March 18, 1998 at 11:35:15:
In Reply to: What Comes First?? posted by Charlie Hughes on March 18, 1998 at
10:13:25:
: I am not a musician so this question has always bothered me. Does one write
the lyrics first and then another write music to fit the words or visa versa? I
notice that many times Mercer did not compose the music. If the words are
written first could you not call him a poet?
Dear Charlie, Johnny was a songwriter, both gifted in lyrics and composing.
Others like Porter or Berlin set their own words into music like Johnny
frequently did with the wonderful words of his own.
: : I am not a musician so this question has always bothered me. Does one
write the lyrics first and then another write music to fit the words or visa
versa? I notice that many times Mercer did not compose the music. If the words
are written first could you not call him a poet?
: Dear Charlie, Johnny was a songwriter, both gifted in lyrics and composing.
Others like Porter or Berlin set their own words into music like Johnny
frequently did with the wonderful words of his own. Johnny was an universal
genius like Hoagy Carmichael. Sometimes the composer is inspired by the lyrics -
either of himself or by other poets - or the tune was first and later words were
added to the melody. Very often - in a rather romantic coincidence - lyrics and
music are created at the same time. Richard Strauss e.g. formed a fertile
symbiosis with Hofmannsthal for the great poet inspired always him not only in
the context of vocal music.
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