Sheet Music Review
Listen To My Heart, The Songs of David Friedman
Published by: Midder Music Price: $49.95 (On Line Price -see below)
Often
we are counselled to be careful what we wish for just in case we get it;
but when innumerable singers and performers
told Colony Records in New York that they wanted a collection of the songs
of David Friedman, no such caution was required, for if the collective
wish were ever to come true the outcome was assured: a mighty volume of
some of the finest contemporary song writing around. Fortunately for us
all, David Friedman is altogether too nice a person to ignore such
entreaties and lo, the wish was granted. Now everyone has access to the
amazing canon of work that Friedman has produced, both as a solo
songwriter and in collaboration with many other gifted musicians and
writers and an ever-increasing audience will indeed be able to listen to
the heart that has poured itself into this work.
Friedman
writes at length about how he came to be where he is today and is generous
in his praise and thanks for all who have in even the smallest way
contributed to his success, whether through collaboration, encouragement
or just choosing one of his songs to sing. It is fascinating to read
through the “thousand thank you’s” at the start of the book, a kind
of ‘who’s who’ of the music scene where famous and
not-quite-so-famous names are illuminated and appreciated for their own
contribution to the artistic process. This is a generous heart to which we
are invited to listen, whose very generosity of spirit has probably
contributed most of all to the insights afforded within these songs.
If
you know even one of the songs you’ve probably already bought the book.
If you don’t, consider the musical pedigree of a man who has worked with
the likes of Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, Tim Rice and Stephen Schwarz; a
man whose music let Nancy Lamott say what she wanted in song; a man about
whom Barry Manilow describes himself as his number one fan. Within these
pages there are gentle, loving ballads and there is raucous, irreverent
good humour, songs to uplift and inspire, songs to keep you company in the
loneliness of despair. Each piece is provided with the accompaniment with
which the composer would ideally like to hear them, sometimes this might
be a transcription of a particularly fine arrangement, but even those who
might only plonk out the chords are urged by Friedman to make music with
him. What’s more, these songs are so well crafted that no matter how
simply they are performed, they have the air of masterpieces. When they
say that no-one writes songs like they used to, perhaps what they’re
really saying is that no-one listens to songs like they used to, for they
wouldn’t say it if they knew this work.
The
book itself is a handsome object to own. Spiral bound, it does what all
music books should do, actually staying open at the page, and this despite
running to 526 pages! Whilst page turning at speed isn’t recommended,
each song is printed without any repeats, so the wear and tear of
continuously leafing backwards and forwards through individual items is
avoided. The print is laser sharp and the paper sufficiently opaque to
prevent music showing through from the other side.
In
all probability, having chosen the songs which appeal, performers will
take advantage of the service available through Midder Music to order any
piece in the key of their choice, preserving the book from over
enthusiastic page turning and pointing the way for major music publishers
too, who surely must see that printing songs in only one key in
collections full of other items that not everyone wants (for the tenth
time) is not the way forward. It will be interesting to see whether the
approach taken at Midder, which does, of course, still rely greatly on
trust and the integrity of the public in respecting copyright, catches on
with the likes of Hal Leonard and Warner Bros, perhaps leading to a new
kind of licensing of sheet music downloaded from the Internet.
The book is available directly through Midder Music (www.MIDDERmusic.com). If you’re looking for high quality new material to sing, this is an investment you’ve got to make for it will certainly repay you a hundredfold over the years.
Footnote:
A Review of David's songs
Listen To My Heart; The Songs of David Friedman
Opens
Off-Broadway in October 2003 for more information click on link above