Sondheim’s Archives Donated to Library of Congress

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    Stephen Sondheim’s rich collection of documents, including manuscripts, musical drafts, recordings, notebooks, and scrapbooks, has been generously donated to the Library of Congress. This extensive compilation offers a unique glimpse into the creative genius of one of musical theater’s most influential figures.
    The collection encompasses around 5,000 items, featuring drafts of songs that were either omitted from productions or never reached rehearsal stages. Among these treasures is a spiral music book titled “Notes and Ideas,” which chronicles some of Sondheim’s musical endeavors during his time as a student at Williams College. The legendary composer passed away in 2021.
    Mark Horowitz, Senior Music Specialist, remarked on the collection’s significance, expressing astonishment at the meticulous nature of Sondheim’s work. “It’s like he never gives up on trying to perfect the things,” Horowitz noted, acknowledging Sondheim’s relentless pursuit of excellence.
    Excitingly, the collection contains drafts of alternate lyrics for songs like “I’m Still Here” from “Follies” and “Putting It Together” from “Sunday in the Park with George,” which Sondheim crafted for Barbra Streisand upon her request. The materials were transferred to the Library earlier this year.
    The archives also hold lyrics for a reprise of “Side by Side by Side” that was eventually excluded from “Company.” Furthermore, it includes 40 pages of lyric sketches for “A Little Priest” from “Sweeney Todd,” featuring over 150 proposed professions and people that might have ended up in pies, humorously noted in the margins.
    As Horowitz observed, Sondheim appeared to engage in more creative ‘sketching’ as he aged. “For the early shows, there may be three boxes of materials or four boxes. By the later shows, it’s eight or nine boxes,” Horowitz explained, pondering whether this indicated increasing difficulty or heightened attention to detail from the composer.
    The Library anticipates high demand to access the collection, which will be publicly available starting July 1. Anyone aged 16 or over, equipped with a driver’s license or passport, can request to view the original documents.
    Horowitz, known for his work “Sondheim on Music: Minor Details and Major Decisions,” has been astounded by some of the findings, including a song created by Sondheim for a public TV contest in the early 1970s. “I had no idea that existed,” Horowitz admitted, reflecting on the discovery made through personal correspondences he uncovered.
    Horowitz, who persuaded Sondheim to donate his papers in 1993 and found it included in the composer’s will, shared insights into their relationship. Having processed collections for over three decades, Horowitz forged a friendship with Sondheim. He even discovered his name within the collection. “With Sondheim, it’s the first time I’m processing a collection of someone I really knew,” Horowitz shared.
    The donation itself is considered miraculous, especially given a 1995 fire that broke out near Sondheim’s office. Fortunately, the collection was largely spared, sustaining only minor damage due to scorch marks. “It is truly the closest I’ve ever seen to a miracle,” Horowitz stated.
    The Library of Congress, America’s oldest federal cultural entity, was established in 1800 under President John Adams and enjoys bipartisan support. The library, headquartered on Capitol Hill, is an expansive resource housing over 100 million books, recordings, and artifacts, offering a comprehensive online archive. While it serves as a research library and not a traditional one, it is known for its vast collection, which includes works from other Broadway legends like Neil Simon and Arthur Laurents.
    Stephen Sondheim’s contributions to theater are immeasurable, with six of his musicals securing Tony Awards for best score. He also received numerous prestigious accolades throughout his career, including a Pulitzer Prize for “Sunday in the Park,” an Academy Award for “Sooner or Later” featured in the film “Dick Tracy,” five Olivier Awards, and the Presidential Medal of Honor. In 2008, he was honored with a Tony Award for his lifetime achievements.