A Conversation with Composer Stephen Sondheim - Part 1

These interviews with Stephen Sondheim were conducted in his New York home for six-and-a-half hours over three days in 1997. With his music manuscripts at hand, they are a deep dive into his compositional process, though the conversation is wide-ranging, touching on many aspects of Sondheim’s career and craft. These interviews focus particularly on his shows (working backward chronologically) Passion, Assassins, Into the Woods, Sunday in the Park with George, Sweeney Todd, and Pacific Overtures, though virtually all of his shows to date come up in conversation. Edited transcripts of the interviews were co-published by the Library under the title Sondheim on Music: Minor Details and Major Decisions, wherein illustrations of most of the music examples being discussed appear. The interviews were conducted by Library of Congress senior music specialist, Mark Eden Horowitz. Part 1: November 19, 1997, 1 of 4 For transcript and more information, visit https://www.loc.gov/item/webcast-10188