Linear Prosody end. Recall it’s not merely a question of high notes. Music can emphasize a syllable with pitch, accent, Linear prosody: the alignment of phrases of music duration or even by shifting harmony underneath the with units of meaning in the lyric melody.

Linear prosody has two general principles: Encroachment. A corollary to linear prosody is encroachment, in which a phrase begins so soon upon 1) The meaning of one phrase flows easily from the conclusion of the previous phrase that its first the meaning of the preceding phrase word(s) affix themselves to the previous phrase, affecting the meaning. and Examples of Linear Prosody 2) the shape of the stanza or section points inevitably to the word or words which, when An initial example of Exemplary linear prosody, in stressed, underscore or deliver the meaning of which the syllables, phrases, and thoughts drive from the passage. one moment to the next, and have an inevitable ultimately focus. 1. Flow 10. Now Pausing a phrase, even for a very short duration, can (Stephen Sondheim, A Little Night Music) alter its meaning or clarity enormously. Pausing a sentence, or a stanza, even for a very short duration, Now, as the sweet imbecilities can alter its meaning or clarity enormously. Tumble so lavishly Onto her lap, Linear prosody might be broken by: Now, there are two possibilities: A, I could ravish her, • Elongated syllables within a given word B, I could nap. • Elongated time between syllables Say It's the ravishment, then we see • Elongated time between phrases The option • Overly short phrases That follows, of course: • Overly long phrases A, • Cumulative effect of too many short phrases The deployment of charm, or B, (which by themselves might be fine) The adoption • Cumulative effect of too many long phrases Of physical force. (which by themselves might be fine) Now, B might arouse her, But if I assume 2. The shape of the phrase I trip on my trouser Leg crossing the room... If your phrase includes a very important word, you Her hair getting tangled, will want it to coincide with the most important note Her stays getting snapped, of the phrase. This sounds obvious, but sometimes a My nerves would be jangled, musical setting can change an emphasis which the My energy sapped... lyrics originally had on paper. Sometimes a problem Removing her clothing with linear prosody can be solved merely by Would take me all day, swapping the order of words. If the musical phrase And her subsequent loathing peaks in the middle, but the word which really wants Would turn me away, a good smack appears at the end, you might need to Which eliminates B rewrite the phrase such that the word in question now And which leaves us with A. appears in the middle. Or, the composer might need to re-write the musical phrase such that it peaks at the

Broken Linear Prosody 15. So Many People (Stephen Sondheim, Marry Me a Little) 11. Am I A Good Girl? (William Zeffiro, The Road to Ruin) I said the man for me Must have a castle. Am I a good girl A man of means he’d be, Or just a girl A man of fame. Who never had half a chance to.... And then I met a man Who hadn’t any. 12. Where is Love? Without a penny (Lionel Bart, Oliver!) To his name. I had to go and fall Who can say where she may hide? For so much less than Must I travel far and wide? What I had planned Till I am beside From all the magazines. The someone who I can mean Something to? 16. Radithor Where? Where is love? (William Zeffiro, The Road to Ruin)

13. Radithor, Radithor! (Stephen Sondheim, A Little Night Music) Energizing your every pore. Epilepsy or losing weight, One thousand whims to which I give in, Simply radiate. Since her smallest tear turns me ashen. Drink up your Radithor I never dreamed that I could live in Three times daily, or make it for. So completely demented, contented a fashion. Just the way to stay on the go, With a healthy glow. 14. Marry Me a Little (Stephen Sondheim, Marry Me a Little) The radioactivity sends bursts Of electricity, arousing all your entrails and cells. Love me just enough. They discharge with haste Warm and sweet and easy. The refuse and waste Just the simple stuff That make those unpleasant smells. Keep a tender distance So we’ll both be free. Then amour will be your prize That’s the way it ought to be. For drinking your Radithor. I’m ready! Mother Nature and science Marry me a little, Can make a brand new man. Body, heart and soul Passionate as hell but 17. Everyone Likes to Watch . (William Zeffiro, The Road to Ruin) Want me first and foremost, Keep me company.... Now’s the time to light you up. Kid, you’re gettin’ human. Take a sip from Evie’s cup. Say goodbye to doom ‘n’ Hi to Evie’s pup!

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Examples of Exemplary Linear Prosody 20. Taking Back the Garden (Kellen Blair, Cain and Abel: the Naked Truth) 18. (Stephen Sondheim, Company) Fam’ly and friends of New Eden, Our liberty’s starting to slip. Pardon me, is everybody here? Because if Governor Abel is stripping our freedom everybody's here, I want to thank you all for coming By stripping our right to strip. to the wedding, I'd appreciate your going even more, But think of that glorious Garden I mean you must have lots of better things to do, and And the lack of repression thereat. not a word of this to Paul, remember Paul, you know, They say we’ve been banished forever, the man I'm gonna marry, but I'm not, because I Well I used to subscribe to that. wouldn't ruin anyone as wonderful as he is-- But I’m positive God’ll redeem us Thank you all If you’ll listen to what I propose. For the gifts and the flowers, We’ll prove that we’re finally finished with shame Thank you all, By disposing of all of our clothes. Now it's back to the showers, Don't tell Paul, Join in the revolution. But I'm not getting married today. Respond to the siren’s call. We’re taking back the Garden 19. The Miller’s Son And our life before the Fall! (Stephen Sondheim, A Little Night Music) Strip away all the layers Till nothing but skin remains. I shall marry the miller's son, We’re taking back the Garden Pin my hat on a nice piece of property. So remove your fabric chains! Friday nights, for a bit of fun, Free your sacred body, We'll go dancing. Unshackle your physique. Meanwhile... Escape the bonds of clothing. Reserve your right to streak. It's a wink and a wiggle and a giggle in the grass Life is better naked. And I'll trip the light fandango, Absolutely naked. A pinch and a diddle in the middle of what passes by. Naked, naked, naked.... It's a very short road From the pinch and the punch To the paunch and the pouch And the pension. It's a very short road To the ten thousandth lunch And the belch and the grouch And the sigh. In the meanwhile, There are mouths to be kissed Before mouths to be fed, And a lot in between In the meanwhile. And a girl ought to celebrate what passes by.

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