The Musical Wonders of Alan Menken Lauren Skipps Music 1010

Introduction Who is Alan Menken? He is a famous composer who has won many awards for his work He is mostly known for his work with Disney

Biography Alan was born on July 22, 1949 in New Rochelle, New York He earned a music degree from New York University He partnered with Howard Ashman after their success together with the music of Little Shop of Horrors leading to them being picked up by Disney He continues to compose for big companies not just Disney. He currently lives in New York with his wife and two kids.

Composition History I chose three songs that Alan composed. My attempt was to show his versatility “The Tear Heals” From Tangled “So Close” From Enchanted “Main Titles” The Little Mermaid

The Tear Heals Composition History From the 2010 Film, “Tangled” is 7 minutes and 37 seconds long Story behind the music is Flynn and Rapunzel’s Rescue and the defeat of the Mother Gothel Alan had to “Popify” the music Presenter Notes: Tangled the album came on November 2010 as well and was number 44 on the billboard 200 chart. It was published by Walt Disney Records. Tangled had made a big deal because it was the first Disney CGI Movie that was a musical versus the usual hand drawn animation. Also to keep up with the times Alan also “popified” the music versus his traditional Broadway style. Alan attempted to blend medieval music with the modern pop to create the score of the film.

The Tear Heals Composition History Album released November 2010 Was number 44 on the Billboard 200 chart Uses a full symphony with a large range of instruments First Disney CGI Movie Presenter Notes: Alan does all the scoring and works with different Disney composers who do the lyrics. In this song there is only about 20 seconds of singing done by Rapunzel as she sings her Healing song. The way this song was scored has many different tempos and volumes to fit with telling the story. The music takes a darker and more sinister sound when Mother Gothel is in the center. There is a sweet melody played as the love story is played out as well as that magical Disney twinkle when the moment turns magical. Trumpets and violins are the main story tellers with drums and percussion cueing the change of the mood or event. A Piano or guitar comes in on many of the slow moments to play the emotion and sometimes a theme of an earlier song intertwined with the texture of the current event. Though the songs of the film have that current touch Alan often goes back to what he loves, which is the sound of the majestic orchestra.

So Close Composition History From The Movie, “Enchanted” Differs from His Orchestra Favors in attempt to portray music of “Our World” John Mclaughlin sings the lyrics written by Steven Schwartz Presenter Notes: John Mclaughlin sings the lyrics written by Steven Schwartz (another Disney composer). The song was nominated for an Academy Award in 2008 for Best Original Song. The song is a 3 minute and 46 second piano ballad that gradually builds as it tells a love story between the heroine and her true prince. Though it’s only 3 minutes it becomes the love theme for Giselle and Robert and builds up to the declaration of their feelings for each other the build-up drops as they are cut in by their fiancées and must depart separate ways.

So Close Composition History The Album was released November 20, 2007 by Walt Disney Records. The song was nominated for an Academy Award in 2008 for Best Original Song. The song is a 3 minute and 46 second piano ballad Presenter Notes: The Album was released November 20, 2007 by Walt Disney Records. The movie only has about 5 songs with lyrics but the album includes all the songs that he scored which add up to about 20. Alan studied a lot of the older princess movies to create the music for this film; Particularly Cinderella and Snow White. That Disney twinkle comes out at the climax of the song that is the fluffy over the top traditional Disney. It still stays contemporary though and current. I know a few friends who have played the song at their wedding because of how its look at as a pop song versus a Disney song. I think because it has a famous singer, John Mclaughlin, singing it.

Main Titles Composition History From the film, “The Little Mermaid” First Disney Film Alan scored 1 minute and 46 seconds long Album Released Nov 1989 Presenter Notes: I notice it more of course because I love all the Disney music so when you hear the music and melody in the main title piece you recognize pieces of “Part of Your World” and other themes that play in other scores throughout the film. He is true to his themes. This movie and its music started the “Disney Renassaince Era” which is considered 1989-1999 and credits the creative resurgence and success with Disney.

Main Titles Composition History 3 Academy Awards and Golden Globe Nominations won two from both. Originally only hired for the songs of the show. Song Shows his Use of Themes Presenter Notes: “The Little Mermaid: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack” was released in November 1989 following the release of the film. There has been many re-releases of the track and the movie was taken to Broadway where Alan composed more music for the show. He composed with his pal Howard from WPA Theater for this movie and was inspired. He was originally only hired for the songs of the show but he sent underscore demos to the executives growing his assignment to score the whole film

Listening Guide The Tear Heals 0:00 Introduction: Allegro Tempo. Quadruple Meter, Compound Division. The rhythm is played by a marching drum and accented by the strings to give the image and timbre of a horse galloping 0:16 Theme A The brass is blared as the score turns into a triumphant timbre the trumpets and the horns echo in a conjunct melody. Strings play Romantic Theme 0:32 Theme B The Melody is cut off as the drums change the form. The tempo becomes grave and the timbre becomes sullen. The melody takes a dark texture played by the woodwinds 1:07 Theme B Variation A As the Horns break, the form reverts back to the sullen melody played by the violins painting a hopeless emotion. Grave tempo

Listening Guide The Tear Heals 1:36 Theme B Variation B The variation is continued but the tempo begins to increase as well as the dynamic. Starting with the low bass it is deep and strong and takes over the melody as it begins to widen its range and move up the scale. 2:06 Theme C The violin leads perfectly into a soft theme that has a hopeful timbre as more strings join in to strengthen the form. The tempo is andante. 2:41 Climax A The Brass section as well as the rest of the strings join the high pitch violin and crescendo in a dramatic build up. Vivace Tempo 2:54 Theme A Variation A The dissonance breaks and we are overpowered by the dynamic strength of the trumpets and the horns. They play the first triumphant theme. 3:31 Theme C Variation A The timbre is sentimental. There is sadness felt when a flute carries a major tune.

Listening Guide The Tear Heals 3:52 Theme C Variation A The harp comes in playing the medieval romantic melody. It’s slow and soft plucking one note at a time. The melody is sweet. 4:27 Bridge Piano stops playing the melody and is replaced by Rapunzel singing her healing incantation. She sings softly keeping the dynamic. 5:01 Theme A Variation B The score gradually crescendos and this time the cellos lead the melody. The violins begin to harmonize widening the range and filling the space with hope and sound creating a light timbre. Disney Twinkle 6:20 Theme C Variation B This theme is always softer and slower so after being built up and proving love can overcome anything. 7:15 Coda The score creates a pleasant timbre as the heroes have won. 7:37 The score ends

Listening Guide So Close 0:00 Intro The Disney Twinkle starts us off giving us a starry emotion of love. The piano begins the melody in an andante tempo and a moderate dynamic. 0:14 Verse 1 The piano continues a different melody and is accompanied by asimple percussion tap on the cymbals to give the rhythm a triple meter, simple division time signature. 0:45 Verse 2 The tempo has sped up and gradually the music is becoming stronger increasing our emotion. Same Form 1:22 Chorus The dynamics become stronger as the vocals get louder and more passionate. The melody form is the same as the verses just more instruments become present. 1:52 Bridge Climax As John holds out his last note the piano begins to dominate the melody and our attention. The dynamics build until the harp plays a major chord turning the score to magic.

Listening Guide So Close 2:25 Bridge The music decrescendos and we lose the trumpets, violins and strong percussion. 2:42 Chorus The harp strums a chord starting the chorus. The vocals are much stronger turning the music into a proclamation. The Tempo increases 3:11 Coda The harp strums again, the music stays soft but confirms our fears of the characters fate. The song still has a sweet melody but it is just that, nothing more. The lyrics leave us with “So close but still so far”. 3:46 Ends The musical number ends

Listening Guide Main Titles 0:00 Introduction Theme A The music starts with chimes. We then hear a triad play over and over. The melody begins and is played by a flute. 0:22 Theme The melody changes, though the form is still the same. The range becomes wider and deeper. Cellos play the melody and violins play a pleasant harmony. 0:48 Theme A Variation A The dynamics become stronger Symbols crash 1:05 Climax Violins play the form and cymbals crash on every 4 beat (Simple Quadruple Meter.)

Listening Guide Main Titles 1:05 Climax Violins play the form and cymbals crash on every 4 beat (Simple Quadruple Meter.) 1:23 Coda The score has all instruments playing loud and strong to top off the climax 1:46 Ends The Score Ends

Conclusion I never would have known how much Alan Menken contributed to Disney movies that I love and sing to every day. My appreciation for the musical scores increased as well. All the scores that go into the movie make all the moments that much better. Walking into Disneyland none of the music has words. That’s because we don’t connect with the lyrics as much as the music itself

Bibliography Listen to the Music, Aaron Copeland 2014 The Music behind the Magic Steve Daly www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,304630,00 c1994 "Disney: Notes on the end of the Disney Renaissance” decentfilms.com c2008 http://app.rhapsody.com/artist/various- artists/album/enchanted/track/so-close insidemovies.ew.com/2010/11/24/alan- menken-tangled/ c2010 www.AlanMenken.com c2010 www.allmusic.com/artist/alan-menken c2014

Picture References http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/def ault/files/2011/10/menken_a.jpg http://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb2014093 0003923/disney/images/9/94/Disney_- _Logo.png http://rise-of-the-brave-tangled- dragons.wikia.com/wiki/File:Tangled-Movie- Poster.jpg http://collider.com/enchanted-2-news/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097757/ Microsoft ClipArt