Richard Rodgers and Islam during the Song dynasty: Difference between pages

Revision as of 00:38, 16 February 2007

Revision as of 06:02, 15 April 2007

Line 1:

{{Expand|date=January 2007}}

:''{{otherpeople|Richard Rodgers}}''

{{Islam and China}}

:''For the British architect, see [[Richard Rogers]].''<br />

The change in dynasty in China from the [[Tang]] to the dynasties that included the [[Song]] did not greatly interrupt the trends of [[Islam in China|Muslims]] established during the [[Tang]].

For more on his work with his two partners, see [[Rodgers and Hart]] and [[Rodgers and Hammerstein]].

==Islam continues to increase its influence==

[[Image:RichardRodgers.jpg|right|frame|An autographed photo of Richard Rodgers]]

Many Muslims began to go to China to trade during the [[Tang]] Dynasty. During the [[Song]] Dynasty, Muslims began to have a greater economic impact and influence on the country. During the [[Song Dynasty]] (960-1279), Muslims in China dominated foreign trade and the import/export industry to the south and west.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/history/china_1.shtml BBC Religion and Ethics ISLAM Origins]</ref>

==Migration of Muslims to China==

'''Richard Charles Rodgers''' ([[June 28]], [[1902]] &ndash; [[December 30]], [[1979]]) was one of the great composers of musical [[theater]], best known for his song writing partnerships with [[Lorenz Hart]] and [[Oscar Hammerstein II]]. He wrote more than 900 published songs, and forty [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] musicals. Many of his compositions continue to have a broad appeal and have had a significant impact on the development of [[popular music]].

In 1070, the Song emperor, Shen-tsung (Shenzong) invited 5,300 Arab men from [[Bukhara]], to settle in China. The emperor used these men in his campaign against the Liao empire in the northeast. Later on these men were settled between the Sung capital of Kaifeng and Yenching (modern day [[Beijing]]). The object was to create a buffer zone between the Chinese and the Liao. In 1080, 10,000 Arab men and women migrated to China on horseback and settled in all of the provinces of the north and north-east.<ref>Israeli (2002), pg. 283-4</ref>

The Arabs from Bukhara were under the leadership of Prince Amir Sayyid "So-fei-er" (his Chinese name). The prince was later given an honorary title. He is reputed of being the "father" of the Muslim community in China. Prior to him Islam was named by the Tang and Song Chinese as ''Ta-shi fa'' ("law of Islam"). He renamed it to ''Hui Hui Jiao'' ("the Religion of Double return").<ref>Israeli (2002), pg. 284</ref>

==Career==

Born in New York City to a prosperous Jewish family, Rodgers attended the same public school as [[Bennett Cerf]]. Later, in [[1919]] Phillip Leavitt, a friend of Rodger's older brother, introduced him to lyricist [[Lorenz Hart]]. Rodgers, Hart, and Rodgers' later partner [[Oscar Hammerstein II]] all attended [[Columbia University]] in the 1920s; Rodgers dropped out in [[1923]].

==Notes==

===Rodgers and Hart===

<references/>

{{main|Rodgers and Hart}}

[[Rodgers and Hart]] struggled for years in the field of musical comedy, and finally broke through in 1925. Rodgers was considering quitting show biz to sell children’s underwear when he and Hart had a chance to write songs for a benefit show presented by the prestigious [[Theatre Guild]]. ''[[The Garrick Gaieties]]'' (1925) featured many relative newcomers, and the critics found the show fresh and delightful. Only meant to run one day, the Guild knew they had a success and allowed it to re-open later. The show's biggest hit, the song that Rodgers believed "made" Rodgers and Hart, was "[[Manhattan]]." The two were now a Broadway songwriting force.

Throughout the rest of the decade, the duo wrote several hit shows, including ''[[Dearest Enemy]]'' (1925), ''[[The Girl Friend]]'' (1926), ''[[Peggy-Ann]]'' (1926) and ''[[A Connecticut Yankee]]'' (1927). Their 1920s shows produced standards such as "[[Here In My Arms]]," "[[Mountain Greenery]]," "[[The Blue Room]]," "[[My Heart Stood Still]]" and "[[You Took Advantage Of Me]]."

With the [[Great Depression|Depression]] in full swing, the team sought greener pastures in Hollywood during much of the first half of the 1930s. The hardworking Rodgers later regretted these relatively fallow years, but he and Hart did create some classics while out west. In particular, they wrote the score for ''[[Love Me Tonight]]'' (1932) (directed by Rouben Mamoulian, who would direct Rodgers' ''[[Oklahoma!]]'' on Broadway) which included such hits as "[[Lover (song)|Lover]]," "[[Mimi (song)|Mimi]]" and "[[Isn't It Romantic?]]." Also, after trying several different lyrics that didn't quite work, they put out a song that became one of their most famous, "[[Blue Moon (song)|Blue Moon]]."

In 1935 they returned to Broadway with a vengeance, writing an almost unbroken string of hit shows that only stopped when Hart, a troubled alcoholic, died in 1943. Among the most notable are ''[[Jumbo]]'' (1935), ''[[On Your Toes]]'' (1936), ''[[Babes In Arms]]'' (1937), ''[[The Boys From Syracuse]]'' (1938), ''[[Pal Joey]]'' (1940) and their last original work ''[[By Jupiter]]'' (1942). Rodgers also contributed to the book on several of these shows.

Many of the songs from these shows are still being sung today, including "[[The Most Beautiful Girl In The World]]," "[[My Romance]]," "[[Little Girl Blue (song)|Little Girl Blue]]," "[[There's A Small Hotel]]," "[[Where Or When]]," "[[My Funny Valentine]]," "[[The Lady Is A Tramp]]," "[[Falling In Love With Love]]," "[[Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered]]" and "[[Wait Till You See Her]]."

===Rodgers and Hammerstein===

{{main|Rodgers and Hammerstein}}

Anticipating the end of a partnership, Rodgers began working with [[Oscar Hammerstein II]]. Their first musical, ''Oklahoma!'' (1943), was groundbreaking, and marked the beginning of the most successful partnership in musical theatre history. Their work revolutionized the form. What was once a collection of songs, dances and comic turns held together by a tenuous plot became an integrated work of art.

The team went on to create four more hits that are among the most popular of all musicals, ''[[Carousel (musical)|Carousel]]'' (1945), ''[[South Pacific (musical)|South Pacific]]'' (1949), ''[[The King And I]]'' (1951) and ''[[The Sound Of Music]]'' (1959). Other shows include the minor hit, ''[[Flower Drum Song]]'' (1958), as well as relative failures ''[[Allegro (musical)|Allegro]]'' (1947), ''[[Me And Juliet]]'' (1953) and ''[[Pipe Dream (musical)|Pipe Dream]]'' (1955). They also wrote the score to the movie ''[[State Fair]]'' (1945) and a special TV production of ''[[Cinderella]]'' (1957).

Their collaboration produced many well-known songs, including "[[Oh What a Beautiful Mornin']]," "[[People Will Say We're In Love]]," "[[If I Loved You]]," "[[You'll Never Walk Alone]]," "[[It Might As Well Be Spring]]," "[[Some Enchanted Evening (song)|Some Enchanted Evening]]," "[[Getting To Know You]]," "[[My Favorite Things]]" "[[Sixteen Going on Seventeen]]" and "[[Climb Ev'ry Mountain]]."

Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals earned a total of 34 [[Tony Awards]], 15 [[Academy Awards]], two [[Pulitzer Prizes]], two [[Grammy]] Awards and two [[Emmy]] Awards.

Rodgers worked without a lyricist to provide music for the [[World War II]] television documentary "[[Victory at Sea]]" (1952-53). This NBC production (26 half-hour episodes) pioneered the "compilation documentary"--programming based on pre-existing footage--and would be eventually syndicated for broadcast in dozens of countries worldwide.

After Hammerstein's death in 1960, Rodgers wrote both words and music for his first new Broadway project ''[[No Strings]]'' (1962). The show was a minor hit and featured perhaps his last great song, "[[The Sweetest Sounds]]." He went on to work with lyricists [[Stephen Sondheim]] (protege of Hammerstein), [[Sheldon Harnick]] and [[Martin Charnin]], with uneven results.

A survivor of cancer of the jaw, a heart attack and a laryngectomy, Richard Rodgers died aged 77 in 1979. In 1990 he was honored posthumously when the 46th Street Theatre was renamed The Richard Rodgers Theatre. In 2002, his centennial was celebrated worldwide.

==Critical reputation==

In his landmark book ''[[American Popular Song: The Great Innovators, 1900-1950]]'', [[Alec Wilder]] said of Rodgers:

{{Quotation|Of all the writers whose songs are considered and examined in this book, those of Rodgers show the highest degree of consistent excellence, inventiveness, and sophistication...[A]fter spending weeks playing his songs, I am more than impressed and respectful: I am astonished.<ref>Wilder, Alec. ''American Popular Song: The Great Innovators, 1900-1950'' Oxford University Press, ([[1973]]) pg. 163 ISBN 0-19-501445-6</ref>|Alec Wilder|American Popular Song: The Great Innovators, 1900-1950}}

==His family==

Rodgers' daughter, [[Mary Rodgers|Mary]], is the composer of ''[[Once Upon A Mattress]]'' and an author of children's books.

Rodgers' grandson, [[Adam Guettel]], also a musical theatre composer, recently won the 2005 Tony Award for Best Score and Best Orchestrations for ''[[The Light in the Piazza]].''

Peter Melnick, another grandson and composer, received a world premiere production of ''Adrift In Macao'' which debuted at the Philadelphia Theatre Company.

==Major works==

*''[[Fly With Me]]'' (1920) (lyrics by Hart)

*''[[The Garrick Gaieties]]'' (1925&ndash;26) (lyrics by Hart)

*''[[Dearest Enemy]]'' (1925) (lyrics by Hart)

*''[[The Girlfriend]]'' (1926) (lyrics by Hart)

*''[[Showboat]]'' (1927) (lyrics by Jerome Kern)

*''[[A Connecticut Yankee]]'' (1927) (lyrics by Hart)

*''[[Present Arms]]'' (1928) (lyrics by Hart)

*''[[On Your Toes]]'' (1936) (lyrics by Hart)

*''[[Babes in Arms]]'' (1937) (lyrics by Hart)

*''[[I'd Rather Be Right]]'' (1937) (lyrics by Hart)

*''[[I Married an Angel]]'' (1938) (lyrics by Hart)

*''[[The Boys from Syracuse]]'' (1938) (lyrics by Hart)

*''[[Too Many Girls]]'' (1939) (lyrics by Hart)

*''[[Higher and Higher]]'' (1940) (lyrics by Hart)

*''[[Pal Joey]]'' (1940&ndash;41) (lyrics by Hart)

*''[[By Jupiter]]'' (1942) (lyrics by Hart)

*''[[Oklahoma!]]'' (1943) (lyrics by Hammerstein)

*''[[Carousel (musical)|Carousel]]'' (1945) (lyrics by Hammerstein)

*''[[Allegro (musical)|Allegro]]'' (1947) (lyrics by Hammerstein)

*''[[South Pacific (musical)|South Pacific]]'' (1949) (lyrics by Hammerstein)

*''[[The King and I]]'' (1951) (lyrics by Hammerstein)

*''[[Me and Juliet]]'' (1953) (lyrics by Hammerstein)

*''[[Pipe Dream (musical)|Pipe Dream]]'' (1955) (lyrics by Hammerstein)

*''[[Cinderella]]'' (1957) (lyrics by Hammerstein)

*''[[Flower Drum Song]]'' (1958) (lyrics by Hammerstein)

*''[[The Sound of Music]]'' (1959) (lyrics by Hammerstein)

*''[[No Strings]]'' (1962) (lyrics by Rodgers)

*''[[Do I Hear a Waltz?]]'' (1965) (lyrics by [[Stephen Sondheim]])

*''[[Two by Two (musical)|Two by Two]]'' (1970) (lyrics by [[Martin Charnin]])

*''[[Rex]]'' (1976) (lyrics by [[Sheldon Harnick]])

*''[[I Remember Mama (musical)|I Remember Mama]]'' (1979) (lyrics by [[Martin Charnin]])

==Wider influence==

*In 1960, the waltz "[[My Favorite Things (song)|My Favorite Things]]" from ''[[The Sound of Music]]'' was adopted and transformed into a seminal jazz performance by the [[saxophonist]] [[John Coltrane]] (The tune became a regular part of Coltrane's répertoire).

*"[[Blue Moon (song)|Blue Moon]]", a song written with lyricist [[Lorenz Hart]], has become a [[pop standard]].

*"[[You'll Never Walk Alone (song)|You'll Never Walk Alone]]", originally from ''[[Carousel (musical)|Carousel]]'', is the anthem of [[Liverpool F.C.]] and has become almost synonymous with that [[football (soccer)|football]] club.

*"[[Oh What a Beautiful Mornin']]" from the musical ''[[Oklahoma!]]'' is sometimes mistaken for an authentic folk song.

*Equally, "[[Edelweiss (song)|Edelweiss]]", the "[[Ländler]]" (Rodgers' version of a traditional Austrian dance-tune) and "[[Do-Re-Mi]]", from ''[[The Sound of Music]]'' frequently go unrecognized as Rodgers' work.''

The song "Happy Talk" is covered by Daniel Johnston and Jad Fair. The Chorus is also used by Dizzee Rascal.

==Honors and memorials==

In [[1950]], the team of Rodgers and Hammerstein received [[The Hundred Year Association of New York]]'s Gold Medal Award "in recognition of outstanding contributions to the City of New York."

Numerous US schools are [[Richard Rodgers School|named after Richard Rodgers]].

==See also==

* [[Islam during the Tang Dynasty]]

*[[List of people who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony Award]]

* [[Islam by country]]

* [[Religion in China]]

==References==

* [[Demographics of China]]

* {{cite book | author=Secrest, Meryle | title=Somewhere For Me | publisher = Alfred A. Knopf, a division of Random House, Inc. | year=2001| id = ISBN 1-55783-581-0}}

* [[Chinese Patriotic Islamic Association]]

<references/>

* [[Tibetan Muslims]]

* [[Islam in China]]

==External links==

* [[Ma Yize]]

* {{ibdb name|id=8323|name=Richard Rodgers}}

* [http://www.city-journal.org/html/13_4_urbanities-richard_rodgers.html City Journal article on Rodgers]

* [http://www.rnh.com The Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization]

* [http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.music/eadmus.mu002002.3 The Richard Rodgers Collection at the Library of Congress]

* [http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/database/rodgers_r.html Bio @ American Masters on PBS]

* [http://www.sbgmusic.com/html/teacher/reference/composers/rodg-hamm.html Musicals by Rodgers and Hammerstein]

* [http://www.pbs.org/weta/onstage/rodgers/about_timeline.html TimeLine on Richard Rodgers's Life]

{{Great American Songbook}}

[[Category:American songwriters|Rodgers, Richard]]

[[Category:American musical theatre composers|Rodgers, Richard]]

[[Category:American dramatists and playwrights|Rodgers, Richard]]

[[Category:Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees|Rodgers, Richard]]

[[Category:Best Song Academy Award winning songwriters|Rodgers, Richard]]

[[Category:Pulitzer Prize for Drama winners|Rodgers, Richards]]

[[Category:Jewish American musicians|Rodgers, Richard]]

[[Category:Jewish classical musicians|Rodgers, Richard]]

[[Category:Jewish composers and songwriters|Rodgers, Richard]]

[[Category:1902 births|Rodgers, Richard]]

[[Category:1979 deaths|Rodgers, Richard]]

[[Category:Columbia University alumni|Rodgers, Richard]]

[[Category:Grammy Award winners|Rodgers, Richard]]

[[Category:Islam in China|China]]

[[cy:Richard Rodgers]]

[[de:Richard Rodgers]]

[[fa:ریچارد راجرز (آهنگساز)]]

[[nl:Richard Rodgers]]

[[fi:Richard Rodgers]]

[[sv:Richard Rodgers]]

[[fr:Richard Rodgers]]