[Fiji Hill]

Woke Up This Morning--The Four Tops, 1956 (unreleased)

[Publius]

THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK

RICHARD RODGERS

CAROUSEL

Following the success of “Oklahoma,” Richard and Oscar sought to duplicate their success knowing they had a tough hill to climb. Richard had already adapted one Hungarian play with Larry Hart, but now they attempted to adapt “Lilliom” by Ferenc Molnar. The problem with that 1909 play is that the protagonist dies in the second act. After acquiring the rights, the team created lengthy sequences of music that made the ending more hopeful. The 1945 musical was a massive success, and Richard thought it contained his best work.

”CAROUSEL WALTZ”

Although it doesn’t properly belong to the songbook, this overture to the musical is an astonishing piece, showing just how skillful Richard was as a writer of melody. Johann Strauss, both elder and younger, could not have topped this.

Jonathan Tunick: “Carousel Waltz”