Overview
"The power of the music of the night." - The Phantom of the Opera
Have you ever left a theatre humming a song you heard? The songs of the stage help drive story and character when it comes to musicals, and many tunes have made their way into the cultural zeitgeist.
These resources have been curated to help you research all things music related to the Broadway stage, from favorite tunes to sheet music.
Resources
Broadway to Main Street: How Show Tunes Enchanted America by Laurence Maslon (ISBN: 9780199832538)
In many ways, the history of Broadway music is the history of popular music. Between 1949 and 1969, 15 original cast albums hit number one on the popular music charts. This book chronicles the history of how show tunes became popular and how legendary cast albums were created. It features interviews from composer Steven Schwartz, Broadway legend Chita Rivera and prominent critics and producers.
Internet Broadway Database: Songs
The Internet Broadway Database is a comprehensive source for all things theatre. This link takes you specifically to the section of the site that features information on the songs that have enchanted Broadway audiences. Typing in the name of a song will bring you a list of the productions that have featured that number, and take you to a page with complete production information, including the other songs in the show, and who performed them. Be aware, if you do not type the name of the song exactly how it appears in the database, it will produce no results.
Sheet Music of the Musical Theatre from the Library of Congress
Looking for something old or obscure? The Library of Congress’ Sheet Music of the Musical Theatre database features over 16,000 pieces of sheet music published between 1880 and 1922. The music is from musicals, revues and operettas. Results can be sorted by date, format, contributor and subject.
Best Broadway Songs of All Time by Adam Feldman and David Cote
Art is subjective, but if you’re in need of some of the top Broadway songs of all time, look no further than this list. These 50 songs are all original tunes written for the stage (no juke box musicals allowed!). The authors also limited themselves to only allowing one song per show. Adam Feldman is the National Theatre and Dance Editor and chief theatre critic at Time Out New York, while David Cote is the theatre editor and chief drama critic.