Editor’s note: Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.
All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.
Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student manager Danny (class of 2023) and features a collection of Alan Menken songs for piano, voice and guitar. Thanks, Danny!
If you’re any fan of Disney, or of musicals, there can be a 95% guarantee – if not 100%, that you have heard of Alan Menken. Menken, born in 1949 in Manhattan, is a composer and songwriter who has worked tirelessly since 1972 to give the American public and worldwide audiences the pleasures of listening to his incredible musical abilities, writing songs for some of our favorite Disney movies, musicals, and shows.
After graduating from New York University in 1971, Menken’s musical career took off. To name some of his most famous works, he was a songwriter for Little Shop of Horrors, The Little Mermaid, Rocky V, Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Aladdin, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, Enchanted, Tangled, and a variety of their stage adaptations.
Just the sheer variety of different types of films/musicals and the musical talent to be able to write completely original songs with varying styles is incredible. And all of them were absolute hits. This incredible discography is beyond fascinating. Just imagine – currently in New York, Little Shop of Horrors is playing again Off-Broadway. Aladdin is on Broadway. The Little Mermaid live action remake is coming out in 2023. The Hunchback of Notre Dame’s live-action remake is in the works. That is four – yes four – pending or active projects that have Menken’s name attached to them.
Parsons Music Library has had the privilege to house the Alan Menken Songbook, with scores for piano, voice, and guitar. Some of his most popular pieces are held in this 188 page score.
Songs that are included are “Sante Fe” (Newsies), “Somewhere That’s Green” (Little Shop of Horrors), “Proud of Your Boy” (Aladdin), “Go the Distance” (Hercules), “A Change in Me” (Beauty and the Beast) and a variety of other classics.
As you play, listen, or read the scores for all 28 songs included in the songbook, you can feel the different styles and the creativity needed to write songs for such Disney-esque plots. Nothing Disney has come out with has ever been less than imaginative – it takes an even more imaginative person to bring those creative tales to life through song. And that is all achieved through Menken’s song writing abilities.
