{"product_id":"writing-music-for-the-stage","title":"Writing Music for the Stage","description":"\u003c!-- Hook --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe essential guide to composing and scoring for theatre.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- Tagline --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePerfect for composers, dramatists, and theatre makers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\u003c!-- Access Your Content --\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"border: 2px solid #ddd; padding: 16px; border-radius: 6px; background: #f9f9f9; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: bold; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003eAccess Your Content in Seconds\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col style=\"margin-left: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComplete your purchase on our store.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDownload \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/thegreyhill.com\/pages\/the-grey-hill-app\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Grey Hill App\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e (free).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLog in using the same email from checkout.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour ebook will appear instantly in your library.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size: 14px; color: #555;\"\u003eAll content is securely delivered through our app and not offered as a Shopify download.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\u003c!-- About the Ebook --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout the Ebook\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe definitive guide to writing music for the stage, by the Composer-in-Residence at the Donmar Warehouse.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMusic has played a vital part in drama since the earliest days of theatre. For composers, writing music for the stage is an opportunity to exercise their utmost creativity and versatility: a good musical score will both support and enhance the play it serves, and can lift a prosaic moment into something quite extraordinary.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this book, Michael Bruce takes you through the entire process – from initial preparation, through composition, rehearsals and recording, and finally to performance. He covers everything a composer needs to know, including:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e• \u003cb\u003eGetting started\u003c\/b\u003e – spotting when and how music might be used in a play, doing research, considering form and content\u003cbr\u003e• \u003cb\u003eBuilding a 'sound world'\u003c\/b\u003e – finding and using source music, creating incidental music, choosing the best instrumentation, scoring, utilising technology, writing music to accompany song lyrics\u003cbr\u003e• \u003cb\u003eWorking on the production\u003c\/b\u003e – understanding the composer's role in rehearsals, collaborating with key creatives, employing actor-musicians, getting the show on\u003cbr\u003e• \u003cb\u003eRecording\u003c\/b\u003e – knowing when to record, booking and working with musicians – and the studio engineer, running a recording session\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThroughout the book, the author draws on his own experience of creating music for a wide variety of plays at the Donmar Warehouse, the National Theatre, in the West End and on Broadway, including detailed case studies of his work on \u003cem\u003eThe Recruiting Officer\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eCoriolanus\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003ePrivacy\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eThe Winslow Boy\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eNoises Off\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eStrange Interlude\u003c\/em\u003e. The book is accompanied by online excerpts from his scores.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn essential companion for all composers – amateur, student or professional – \u003cem\u003eWriting Music for the Stage\u003c\/em\u003e is also invaluable reading for other theatre professionals, including directors, playwrights, producers, actors, designers and sound designers – in fact, for anyone seeking to understand how music helps to create worlds and tell stories on stage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'This fascinating book – like its author (with whom I've had the good fortune to work on three productions) – is bursting with practical advice, good sense and invention. A must-read for all those with an interest in how music works on stage.'\u003c\/b\u003e Mark Gatiss\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'A good score makes a world of difference to an actor. Read Michael Bruce's book and you'll understand why. He is a genius.'\u003c\/b\u003e Judi Dench\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Michael's music is wonderful: inclusive, original, respectful and – in its rightness – sheer joy.'\u003c\/b\u003e Josie Rourke, from her Foreword\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eReviews\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'plenty of detailed practical advice here for you wherever you are in your learning journey. It’s also a good read for anyone who simply wants to understand how theatrical music works without necessarily wanting to create it.'\u003cbr\u003eSusan Elkin - \u003cstrong\u003esusanelkin.co.uk\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'A joy to read… an incredibly interesting viewpoint of this vital aspect of the creation of a performance… Michael Bruce successfully conveys his passion and work ethic, constantly inspiring the reader and encouraging us to continue to learn from his words' \u003cstrong\u003eDrama Magazine\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\u003c!-- Why You'll Love This Ebook --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy You'll Love This Ebook\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePractical wisdom from masters of theatre composition.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow music shapes theatrical moments.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublished by Nick Hern Books, leading contemporary theatre publisher.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA masterclass in theatrical sound design.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\u003c!-- About the Author --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMichael Bruce is a composer and lyricist who has written scores and songs for many theatre productions around the UK, in London and New York.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter training at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) he worked as a musical director and musician. In 2007 he won the Notes for the Stage prize for songwriting run by the \u003cem\u003eStage\u003c\/em\u003e newspaper, which led to a concert of his musical-theatre work being staged at the Apollo Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue. Following the success of this, his album \u003cem\u003eUnwritten Songs\u003c\/em\u003e was released and debuted at number one on the iTunes vocal chart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe has held the position of Composer-in-Residence at both the Bush Theatre and the Donmar Warehouse in London. His work at the Donmar has included scores for \u003cem\u003eThe Vote\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003ePrivacy\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eCoriolanus\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eTrelawny of the Wells\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eBerenice\u003c\/em\u003e, P\u003cem\u003ehiladelphia, Here I Come!\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eThe Physicists\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe Recruiting Officer\u003c\/em\u003e; at the National Theatre:\u003cem\u003e Sunset at the Villa Thalia\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eThe Beaux Stratagem\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eMan and Superman\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eStrange Interlude\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eMen Should Weep\u003c\/em\u003e; and at the Royal Shakespeare Company: \u003cem\u003eThe Two Gentlemen of Verona\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eCandide\u003c\/em\u003e. He has written scores for shows at the Old Vic, Hampstead Theatre, the Finborough Theatre and the Lyric Hammersmith, and in the West End his credits include \u003cem\u003eMuch Ado About Nothing\u003c\/em\u003e,\u003cem\u003e Relatively Speaking\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eHay Fever\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eNoises Off\u003c\/em\u003e. On Broadway his work has included \u003cem\u003eLes Liaisons Dangereuses\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe Winslow Boy\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMichael has worked extensively as an arranger, orchestrator and conductor – and is also incredibly proud to have played table tennis for Scotland in his youth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\u003c!-- Publication Details --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePublication Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e Nick Hern Books\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e 14 July 2016\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePrint Length:\u003c\/strong\u003e 272 pages (Ebook edition)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN (Ebook):\u003c\/strong\u003e 9781780017686\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ebook\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/strong\u003e English\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\u003c!-- FAQ --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow do I access my ebook?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDownload \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/thegreyhill.com\/pages\/the-grey-hill-app\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Grey Hill App\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e and log in using the same email you used at checkout. Your ebook will appear instantly in your library.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I read it online?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — you can also access your purchases via our online reader at \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reader.thegreyhill.com\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ereader.thegreyhill.com\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eI can't see my ebook — what should I do?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTap the refresh button in the app or online reader. If it still doesn't appear, ensure you're logged in with the same email used at checkout. If issues continue, contact us and we'll help right away.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I gift this ebook?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — you can purchase a Grey Hill Gift Card here: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/thegreyhill.com\/products\/the-grey-hill-gift-card\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBuy a Gift Card\u003c\/a\u003e. The recipient can redeem it on our store, and the ebook will appear in The Grey Hill App.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick Hern Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57072629318005,"sku":"9781780017686","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0921\/5662\/5269\/files\/9781780017686.jpg?v=1776255756","url":"https:\/\/thegreyhill.com\/products\/writing-music-for-the-stage","provider":"The Grey Hill","version":"1.0","type":"link"}