Lerner and Loewe refers to the American musical comedy writing team of lyricist and librettist Alan Jay Lerner and composer Frederick Loewe. Musical theatre is a form of Theatre combining Music, Songs spoken Dialogue and Dance. A lyricist is a Writer who specializes in Song Lyrics, usually paid for by a band to write a custom song(s A libretto is the text used in an extended Musical work such as an Opera, Operetta, Masque, sacred or secular Oratorio and Alan Jay Lerner ( August 31, 1918 &ndash June 14, 1986) was an American Broadway Lyricist and Librettist
Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, more commonly known as Fritz, met in 1942 at an exclusive club where, according to Loewe, after mistakenly taking a wrong turn to the men's room he walked past Lerner's table. Having recognized him he asked if Lerner wrote lyrics and Lerner confirmed Loewe's question.
Lerner claimed to be the more dominant one of partnership, which is supported by interviews with their close friends, saying that he would throw out the first two melodies that Loewe would write to any song even if they were both perfect. He said he always knew, with a little pushing, Loewe was capable of greater work. Loewe also worked perfectly with Lerner, who would agonize for weeks over a lyric. Unlike other collaborators Lerner would work with, Loewe was the most understanding of the time Lerner needed for his lyrics and would never pressure him to complete the work.
Their dynamic partnership is somewhat of a mystery as it is not clear as to why they would end their collaboration only to begin again (until The Little Prince, their last work together). The Little Prince is a 1974 Musical film with a Screenplay and Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe After Brigadoon, their first major success, Loewe was heard telling his close friends that, as long as he lived, he would never work with Lerner again. Brigadoon is a musical with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. But they did work together again, reaching the pinnacle of their partnership with My Fair Lady. My Fair Lady is a musical based upon George Bernard Shaw 's Pygmalion and with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner Again, for unknown reasons, their partnership grew frazzled as they were knee deep in work with Camelot. Camelot is a musical by Alan Jay Lerner (book and lyrics and Frederic Loewe (music After Camelot, Fritz Loewe retired and swore he would never write another note.
Their last collaboration came with the 1974 musical film, The Little Prince, which received mixed reviews but was lauded as one of the teams most cerebral scores. The year 1974 in film involved some significant events Events February 7 - Blazing Saddles is released The musical film is a Film genre in which several Songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative The Little Prince is a 1974 Musical film with a Screenplay and Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe
Regardless of their professional relationship, Lerner and Loewe were close friends and remained so until the end of their lives.
Theatre works
- Life of the Party (musical) 1942
- What's Up? 1943
- The Day Before Spring 1945
- Brigadoon 1947
- Paint Your Wagon 1951
- My Fair Lady 1956
- Camelot 1960
- Gigi 1973 - stage version adapted from the film
Film adaptations
- Brigadoon 1954
- Gigi 1958
- My Fair Lady 1964
- Camelot 1967
- Paint Your Wagon 1969
- The Little Prince 1974
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