January 30, 2025: Jerome Kern: London and Broadway, 1904-1924

Class Preparation

Recommended Reading: 

• Broadway: The American Musical: Read these sections for background on the development of American musicals in the 1910s and '20s:
  • "Tin Pan Alley," pages 10-12
  • "Victor Herbert and American Operetta," pages 40-42
  • "Jerome Kern," pages 42-45, 57
• Stephen Sondheim, "Jerome Kern: The Simplicity of Artfulness" (an essay published in the liner notes for the recording ​The Land Where the Good Songs Go, ​PS Classics 2012) I found Sondheim's comments useful in understanding distinctiveness of Kern's music.
• Class 1 Selected Lyrics (to follow)
• ​Handout of Key Class 1 slides (to follow on Wednesday, January 28

Links & Playlists

 Playlists:

• Playlist (Description)
• Class 1 Videos (to follow after class)