Musical Legacy

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Some say that along with jazz the most important contribution the United States has made to the musical world is in musical theater.

With the recent  death of Sheldon Harnick at age 99, the creators (many of whom were Jews) of classic American musicals like Fiddler on the Roof, West Side Story, and South Pacific are gone. But they leave a legacy of hundreds of works that have entertained generations. Almost daily one of these classic shows is being performed somewhere in the world by a school or a theater group.

Sheldon Harnick, along with composer Jerry Bock, formed one of the most important musical partnerships of the 1960s according to a PBS documentary. Though the two eventually split, their work lives on. Harnick went on to write lyrics for more than 25 shows in his long career.

Harnick was nominated for every award available and won a Grammy, The Pulitzer Prize and 3 Tonys. He was a member of the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame.

In addition to his Broadway achievements, he provided English librettos for several classical operas,  wrote several movie theme songs and even worked with puppets.

According to Playbill: a trusted theatre resource since 1884 Harnick’s “ lyrics were characterized by their prosaic, humanity rich quality .He favored story over cleverness.”

Musicals like Fiddler on the Roof, She Loves Me, Fiorello, The Rothschilds and The Apple Tree and others tell stories and develop characters through words and music and – especially Fiddler on the Roof – have become part of the fabric of American life. Sunrise, Sunset from that show  is a popular wedding song and not just for Jewish weddings.

“Part of my talent, as a lyricist,” Harnick told NPR in 2014, “is that I believe I think like a playwright, in terms of character, so that I can find different diction, different voices for the different characters.”

For a few hours of escape, watch or listen to one of Harnick’s shows or check out one of these books on American musical theater. They are available either in our synagogue library or your local public library.

Buhle                    Jews and American Popular Culture

Hoffman              The Great White Way explains how race and ethnicity have impacted the Broadway musical.

Harnick                Sunrise, Sunset is a picture book version of the wedding song from Fiddler on the Roof.

Isenberg              Tradition!: the highly improbable, ultimately triumphant Broadway-to-Hollywood story of Fiddler on the Roof, the world’s most beloved musical.

Lehman                A Fine Romance takes a look at the great American songbook many of whose songs were written by Jews.

Lesser                   Jerome Robbins

Solomon              Wonder of Wonders: a cultural history of Fiddler on the Roof.

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