Sheet Music
1970s (printed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The musical West Side Story, inspired by Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet, opened in New York in 1957 and was staged in London the following year. The film version, starring Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer, was released in 1961. The cover of the sheet music uses the lettering and fire escape logo of the film poster designed by Saul Bass.
In 2004 'Somewhere' was voted 20th in the American Film Institute's list of Top100 Movie Songs. It has been recorded by many artists, including Barbra Streisand, Aretha Franklin, Kylie Minogue and the Pet Shop Boys
In 2004 'Somewhere' was voted 20th in the American Film Institute's list of Top100 Movie Songs. It has been recorded by many artists, including Barbra Streisand, Aretha Franklin, Kylie Minogue and the Pet Shop Boys
Object details
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| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Printed paper |
| Brief description | Sheet music for the song 'Somewhere' from the musical West Side Story, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Published by Chappell & Co., 1970s |
| Physical description | Printed sheet music for the song, Somewhere. Six unstapled pages, the cover in orange with black lettering. Each word of the title West Side Story on a separate line, linked at right by zigzags representing a fire escape, with the stylised figures of a dancing man and woman in white. At lower left a list of other available music sheets for the songs from West Side Story and at lower right the credits for the film version. |
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| Gallery label | Re:Imagining Musicals, 15 October 2022 - 4 February 2024
West Side Story
Jerome Robbins (concept), Leonard Bernstein (music) and Arthur Laurents (book) first conceived the idea of a contemporary musical adaptation of Romeo and Juliet centring on the conflict between Irish Catholics and Jews in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Eventually retitled West Side Story to reflect the revised Polish-Irish and Puerto Rican communities, the show used music, song and dance to ‘articulate inarticulate adolescence’. The musical has been adapted twice for cinema, with the latter updating many of the socio-political themes, including casting non-binary actor iris menas as the character Anybodys.
London studio cast recording of West Side Story
1963
Printing ink on card
Museum no. BMT/2/1/3061
Given by Overtures: The Bunnett-Muir Musical Theatre Archive Trust
Poster for West Side Story, His Majesty’s Theatre, London
1962
Photograph by Friedman-Abeles
Printing ink on paper
Museum no. BMT/9/TEMP/7
Given by Overtures: The Bunnett-Muir Musical Theatre Archive Trust
Sheet music for ‘Somewhere’ from West Side Story
1962
Designed by Joseph Caroff
Printing ink on paper
Museum no. S.28: 1 to 2-2008(2022) |
| Credit line | Gabrielle Enthoven Collection |
| Object history | The musical West Side Story, with book by Arthur Laurents, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and music by Leonard Bernstein, opened at New York's Winter Garden Theatre in 1957. The London production which opened the following year, played at Her Majesty's Theatre for 1040 performances. The film version (1961), starring Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer, won 11 Academy Awards. |
| Summary | The musical West Side Story, inspired by Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet, opened in New York in 1957 and was staged in London the following year. The film version, starring Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer, was released in 1961. The cover of the sheet music uses the lettering and fire escape logo of the film poster designed by Saul Bass. In 2004 'Somewhere' was voted 20th in the American Film Institute's list of Top100 Movie Songs. It has been recorded by many artists, including Barbra Streisand, Aretha Franklin, Kylie Minogue and the Pet Shop Boys |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.28:1,2-2008 |
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| Record created | February 16, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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