Sheet Music thumbnail 1
Not on display

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

Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Cover
  • Sheet Music
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.
Dimensions
  • Height: 27.5cm (closed)
  • Width: 21.5cm (closed)
Gallery label
(2022)
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
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 createdFebruary 16, 2009
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