alan menken american musical theatre composer. alan menken born july 22, 1949 in new rochelle, new...
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Alan Menken
• Born July 22, 1949 in New Rochelle, New York
• Composer, singer-songwriter, musician
• Musical theatre, classical, jazz, rock, pop, latin, country, and folk
• Never stuck with just one style of music, known for having diversity in his musical and movie compositions
• Mostly known for compositions and productions of songs in musical theatre and in Walt Disney movies.
Education and Early Career
Degree in music from New York University
After graduating, he volunteered at the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop, and then later got a job there.
Performed frequently in local clubs and worked as a composer of jingles and songs
In 1979, he met Howard Ashman, an artistic director, at the BMI Engel Musical Theatre Workshop, and Howard asked him to help him direct a musical. Which came to be, God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater. This was his first time writing music for a major Broadway musical.
Little Shop of Horrors1982
• Since God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater was a success, Howard Ashman invited Menken to write all the songs for his next production
• His most famous musical
• It was after this musical that people really gained knowledge of him and his compositions
• After this musical was released, many doors were opened for him which lead him to have a successful career
MoviesWrote the songs for the following Walt Disney
movies:• The Little Mermaid
• Beauty and The Beast
• Aladdin
• Hercules
• Pocahontas
• The Hunchback of Notre Dame
• Home On The Range
• The Shaggy Dog
• Tangled
• Enchanted
• Mirror Mirror
• Newsies
MusicalsWrote the songs for the following musicals:
• God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater
• Little Shop of Horrors (Film and Musical)
• Weird Romance
• Aladdin, The Musical
• Beauty and The Beast, The Musical
• A Christmas Carol
• King David
• The Little Mermaid, The Musical
• Sister Act
• Leap of Faith
• Newsies
AwardsHe won awards from the following films:
Academy and Golden Globe Awards
The Little Mermaid
Aladdin
Beauty and the Beast
Pocahontas
11 Grammy Awards
8 Oscars
Examples
Little Shop of Horrors
Intro Song
“Little Shop of Horrors”
Listen for: ballad, high vocals, chorus, steady beat,
cries, calls, and hollers
Type of ballad because they’re introducing the story
of the musical
Bass, drums, keyboard
http://youtu.be/EOdqriSeY7k
Examples
Hercules
“The Gospel Truth”
Listen for: ballad, high vocals, long meter,
verse and chorus form
Keyboard, piano, electric guitar, bass,
percussion
http://youtu.be/RPSGRd3eLuA
Sources
Menken, Alan. "The Whole New World of Alan Menken - HOME." The Whole New World of Alan Menken - HOME. N.p., 17 Feb. 2000. Web. 23 Nov. 2014.
"Alan Menken." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2014.
"Alan Menken." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 19 Nov. 2014. Web. 23 Nov. 2014.
Menken, Alan. "Alan Menken." Alan Menken Biography Comments. N.p., Feb. 2007. Web. 23 Nov. 2014.
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