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parsleymusic's review against another edition
5.0
normally don’t rate non fiction but yes yes yes yes for writing process!!!! Anais Mitchell speaks to me
petepilgrim's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
I first found Hadestown (and Anaïs Mitchell) with the studio album in late 2010 when I was in college. I've loved both ever since.
Working on a Song isn't just the lyrics of the show in it's broadway form, but a chronicling of the numerous rewrites and revisions a project takes over more than a decade. It's an insight into a magnum opus, that as a writer you have to prude elements you love for the good of the whole. Maybe you'll never be finished.
In that sense, Working on a Song is fascinating in hearing the artists process in their own words. I myself hold particular reverence for the studio album version of a lot of these songs since that is the version I lived with for so long myself, and attached a lot of memories to. Working on a Song is a rare insight in walking through those changes with the creator, and their love for all versions.
But of course I shouldn't overlook the subtitle of this book, the lyrics of Hadestown. Anaïs Mitchell is a supremely talented poet, lyricist, and storyteller. Even in just the written form, the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, and Hades and Persephone leaves you needing a moment.
Truly, a masterpiece.
Working on a Song isn't just the lyrics of the show in it's broadway form, but a chronicling of the numerous rewrites and revisions a project takes over more than a decade. It's an insight into a magnum opus, that as a writer you have to prude elements you love for the good of the whole. Maybe you'll never be finished.
In that sense, Working on a Song is fascinating in hearing the artists process in their own words. I myself hold particular reverence for the studio album version of a lot of these songs since that is the version I lived with for so long myself, and attached a lot of memories to. Working on a Song is a rare insight in walking through those changes with the creator, and their love for all versions.
But of course I shouldn't overlook the subtitle of this book, the lyrics of Hadestown. Anaïs Mitchell is a supremely talented poet, lyricist, and storyteller. Even in just the written form, the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, and Hades and Persephone leaves you needing a moment.
Truly, a masterpiece.
trisha_sutton's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
4.5
I think this is a fascinating read as someone who loves the musical. To be able to see the thought process and growth of what we have today is amazing.
meagan_kay's review
informative
inspiring
reflective
5.0
the real tragedy is that I can’t go see Hadestown live right now (or at least watch a proshot of it) because this book somehow made me love this musical even more.
rosaok's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
such a good book, exactly what i hoped it would be. i love hearing about the processes artists go through to create their work, and anaïs mitchell is so good at exploring and reflecting on it.
i got into hadestown midway through bits of the broadway soundtrack being released, and the first version of it i got into was the concept album - i definitely have a soft spot for the more abstract, poetic earlier versions of the work, but seeing how the tensions between drama and music played out behind the scenes makes me appreciate the broadway version even more. can't wait to see it in london in just over a week!!
mitchell tying the continued cycles of revision to the lyrics into the cyclical nature of the show itself gives the book a really satisfying parallel narrative alongside the narrative of the lyrics themselves
i got into hadestown midway through bits of the broadway soundtrack being released, and the first version of it i got into was the concept album - i definitely have a soft spot for the more abstract, poetic earlier versions of the work, but seeing how the tensions between drama and music played out behind the scenes makes me appreciate the broadway version even more. can't wait to see it in london in just over a week!!
mitchell tying the continued cycles of revision to the lyrics into the cyclical nature of the show itself gives the book a really satisfying parallel narrative alongside the narrative of the lyrics themselves
tifferschang's review
informative
fast-paced
4.0
Exactly what the you expect the book to be. Insightful to read and see the development of the lyrics. Would also love to read about the development of the cast and set.
whattaylorreads's review against another edition
challenging
informative
medium-paced
5.0
If you are a fan of musicals, especially Hadestown, this book was a fascinating look at the process of writing and rewriting a show. Not every show goes through this process, but for an original idea to be formed, make several stops along the way, and finally reach the destination over a decade later is a testament to the dedication it takes to be creative.