Letters to the Editor
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‘Longing for Song’
Was the irony intentional that placed the photo of Audry Hepburn as “My Fair Lady’s” cinematic Eliza Doolittle with John McWhorter’s lament on the decline of melodies on Broadway, “Longing for Song” [Oped, “Longing for Song,” January 4, 2007]? It was not, of course, the voice of Ms. Hepburn that is heard on the “My Fair Lady” soundtrack.
The decline of Broadway melody is suggested, perhaps, by musicals based on songs taken out of a composer’s, or performer’s, trunk. An early form of this genre, I think, was “Crazy for You,” based on Gershwin songs—words from Ira; melodies from George.
In the 1950’s a composer thought about putting a musical on Broadway and he opened up his trunk and took out his unpublished work. That, I understand, is how “The Music Man” came to be — except that Meredith Willson decided to shut the trunk’s lid and write new songs for the musical that, on December 19, marks the 50th anniversary of its Broadway opening.
Another musical’s Broadway golden jubilee this year is “West Side Story,” which hits 50 on September 26. Other Broadway musical 50th anniversaries in 2007 include “Jamaica,” “New Girl in Town,” and “Shinbone Alley.” We are, I believe, justified in lamenting the loss of the Broadway melody. Indeed, in the 1950’s I regarded a Rodgers & Hammerstein musical every year or two as just about a right of American citizenship.
DAVID ZUKERMAN
Bronx, N.Y.
‘Bloomberg Prepares for a 25-Year Boom in the City’
Mayor Bloomberg’s plan for New York City 2030 offers laudable goals for housing, infrastructure/transit and the environment [New York, “Bloomberg Prepares for a 25-Year Boom in the City,” December 13, 2006]. However, Plan NYC does not address details of the role that a coordinated municipal telecommunications/information technology and internet/wireless policy could have achieving these goals.
Applications such as telecommuting, e-learning, broadband content, social networking, and other emerging trends will have a marked impact on the city in the coming years. The planners may wish to consider proactively addressing such technologies as they develop future scenarios.
LLOYD TRUFELMAN
President TrylonSMR
New York, N.Y.
‘Make Bush’s Day’
[Editorial, “Make Bush’s Day,” January 10, 2006]
Dead Soldier’s Lament
No liquid glance or moistened breath
Is worth an almost certain death.
It is not love that brought us here,
But hard-edged duty and its clear
Demand that outweighs child and wife
And the bliss of ordinary life.
Think hard on it when in command; See what you’ve done, and then be damned.
© Brian Eskenazi
BRIAN ESKENAZI
New York, N.Y.
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