Irving Berlin Research Paper

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In this paper, I will be addressing the impact of a great figure in musical theatre, a man who made significant contributions in the history of musical theatre, the Russian born and Jewish American Irving Berlin. I will address some important phases in his life. I will start by giving an overview of his early life and family. Also, I will be talking about his major initial works as a lyricist and composer and some of his major early contributions in musical theatre. Moreover, I will discuss how he reached a higher level and became more famous which was when he began to establish significant connections with important entrepreneurs until he became one of them. Furthermore, I will talk about his unique songwriting methods and music styles. I…show more content…
This opportunity was a result of the comic song “Sadie Salome (Go Home)” which is about a Jewish burlesquer dancer. During this time, 1908, Berlin’s songs were inserted into several shows and his name was starting to be known on vaudeville and Broadway until Florenz Ziegfeld started adding Berlin’s songs in his follies production, which was taking place annually. Following that, Berlin traveled with Henry Waterson, a business partner in Ted Synder Company, to England where he began to find a great appreciation from the British audience especially after his songs were published by the British publisher, Bert Feldman. “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” was Berlin’s first hit in 1911. It became the fastest selling sheet music in the United States. Actually, this song won Berlin the impressive title “The King of Ragtime”. Likewise, this song made him an official partner in Ted Synder Company, which therefore became Waterson, Berlin and Synder Company. Furthermore, in 1912, Berlin wrote a song called “When I Lost You” as an expression of what he was feelings after the loss of his wife, Dorothy…show more content…
The world began to witness Irving Berlin not only as a songwriter, but also as a professional entrepreneur trying to establish strong connections in the Business field of Musical Theatre. Watch Your Step, a hit was produced by Charles Dillingham in 1914 is the first theatrical production where Berlin wrote a full Broadway score. On the following year, Berlin collaborated in Stop! Look! Listen! with two major hits including the famous song “I Love A Piano”. After that in the year of 1916, he again worked with the entrepreneur Ziegfeld in his production, The Century Girl, until he reached a higher degree of progress when he became the main songwriter of the Ziegfeld Follies in 1919. Moreover, a year earlier, Berlin was enrolled in the US army and was assigned to the Camp Upton in Yaphank, Long Island. Consequently, Berlin presented a musical revue in 1918 called Yip Yip Yaphank for the United States army. This show is about the army’s life. “Oh! How I Hate to Get Up in The Morning” was the major hit from this

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