Music. It's such a critical part of this piece. For one, Firstborn is an actual song that the father character (Eli) and his wife (Audrey) are famous for. So in creating this song, it has to be a warm, loving song that also is catchy and familiar, so that the audience can see why they are famous for it.
I met with my Music Director, Cecilia Long, wonderful Jazz singer, last week. Brainstorming ideas about the music. I was also able to find a piece of music that I adore for inspiration. I've been listening to a lot of jazz with strong piano. I initially was drawn to Doug and Jean Carne's version of Infant Eyes, loving that whole concept of a couple singing about their baby. I first heard it when I was in my twenties, and always held that in the back of my mind as Eli and Audrey's inspiration.
Then I heard this story about their daughter went into a record store and heard her parents' album playing and told the record shop owner that she was the one they were singing about. It was very beautiful to me, to have that legacy--like when Marvin Gaye sings goodnight to his children then names them individually on "I Wanna Be Where You Are" on the "I Want You" album. Or even Aisha, on "Isn't She Lovely" by Stevie Wonder, and who can forget Maya's ode on Minnie Ripperton's "Loving You". It's that notion, that inspires me with Firstborn.
No comments:
Post a Comment