At 8:26 PM -0800 3/30/06, Mark D Lew wrote:

I think one's attitude toward such a relationship depends on the individuals involved. I once collaborated with a songwriter who did as you describe: He wrote beautiful melodies which were very expressive of his texts, with sophisticated harmonies implied in the melody. His basic musical ideas were excellent, but the accompaniments he wrote were clumsy and awkward. He knew that they were, and that's why he hired me to root out and realize what was implied.

There's a story about Berlin that I think is true. A young man applied for the position as his musical secretary. Berlin turned him down, saying, "You're too good. You should be writing your own songs." The young man's name was George Gershwin.

John


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John & Susie Howell
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