Sunrise, Sunset

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"Sunrise, Sunset" is a song from the musical Fiddler on the Roof written in 1964 by composer Jerry Bock and lyricist Sheldon Harnick. The song is performed at the wedding of Tzeitel (Tevye and Golde's eldest daughter). The two parents sing about how they can't believe their daughter and her groom have grown up, while Hodel and Perchik sing about whether there may be a wedding in the near future for them.

Contents

Production

Lyricist Sheldon Harnick said:

I do remember when we wrote "Sunrise Sunset," the first person we played it for was Jerry Bock's wife... and when I finished, then I looked at Jerry's wife Patti and I was startled to see that she was crying. And I thought, my goodness; this song must be more effective than we even know. And the same thing happened – I am not a pianist but the music to "Sunrise Sunset" is easy enough so that I could learn the piano part – and I played it for my sister. And when I finished I looked and she had tears in her eyes. And that was a very unusual experience. [1]

The album Sheldon Harnick: Hidden Treasures (1949-2013) [2] features the demo recording of "Sunrise, Sunset" featuring Harnick, accompanied by composer Jerry Bock. [1] Harnick said, "This CD set is supposed to be the unknown songs, and the two men who created it, Bill Rudman and Ken Bloom, when they said they wanted to use "Sunrise, Sunset," I said, but that's a very familiar song. They said, not with you singing it." [3]

Critical reception

The Irish Times said the song has a "hypnotic chorus". [4] AllMusic deemed it one of the film's "famous and now-standard songs". [5] Splash Magazine named it one of the musical's "big Broadway numbers". [6] The Style Weekly critic said the song, along with Tradition, had "infectious strains". [7] The Des Moines Register noted that the musical "melts into bittersweetness" at this song. [8] The Northampton Chronicle critic opined that it was "poignant". [9] Virtual Shropshire's critic wrote that the song "wrings the heart ... as Tevye's daughters approach marrying age." [10] Register Citizen described the song as a "heartbreaking parental cry to slow down the years, to keep their children young: 'Wasn't it yesterday when they were small?'" [11] AZ Central noted the song was "haunting and emotional". [12] Blue Coupe wrote, "Musically, the scene's centerpiece is the classic 'Sunrise, Sunset'". [13]

Recordings

As a wedding song

"Sunrise, Sunset" is often played at weddings. In 2011 Sheldon Harnick wrote two versions of the song, suitable for same-sex weddings, with minor word changes. For example, for male couples, changes include "When did they grow to be so handsome". [31]

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References

  1. 1 2 "At 90, 'Fiddler' Lyricist Tells His Story | WBUR & NPR". wbur.org. Retrieved 2014-07-12.
  2. ↑ "allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
  3. ↑ "At 90, 'Fiddler' Lyricist Tells His Story". Music Interviews. Fresh Air. NPR. April 30, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Review: Fiddler on the Roof". The Irish Times . Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  5. ↑ "Fiddler on the Roof [Original Broadway Cast Recording] – Original Broadway Cast | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2014-07-12.
  6. ↑ "Fiddler on the Roof Reviews". theatreinchicago.com. Retrieved 2014-07-12.
  7. ↑ "Theater Review: "Fiddler on the Roof"". styleweekly.com. Retrieved 2014-07-12.
  8. ↑ "Theater review: 'Fiddler on the Roof' at the Playhouse". blogs.desmoinesregister.com. Retrieved 2014-07-12.
  9. ↑ "REVIEW: Fiddler On The Roof plays a delightful tune – Northampton Chronicle and Echo". northamptonchron.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-07-12.
  10. ↑ "Theatre Review : Fiddler on the Roof at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre". virtual-shropshire.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-07-12.
  11. ↑ "Review: Warner's "Fiddler on the Roof" a timeless stage tradition". registercitizen.com. 7 November 2013. Retrieved 2014-07-12.
  12. ↑ "Review: 'Fiddler' enthralls once again in Desert Stages' production". azcentral.com. Retrieved 2014-07-12.
  13. ↑ "Review | Fiddler on the Roof". bluecoupe.com. Retrieved 2014-07-12.
  14. ↑ "allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
  15. ↑ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. 1965. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
  16. ↑ "www.discogs.com". discogs.com. 1966. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  17. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 916.
  18. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 259.
  19. ↑ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. May 1967. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
  20. ↑ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. 1966. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
  21. ↑ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. 1965. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
  22. ↑ Lee Morgan — Delightfulee, 1967, retrieved 2023-03-22
  23. ↑ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. 1969. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
  24. ↑ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. 1967. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
  25. ↑ "allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
  26. ↑ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. September 1970. Retrieved May 15, 2017.*
  27. ↑ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  28. ↑ "Juan Pablo Di Pace -Sunrise Sunset (Fuller House)- YouTube". YouTube.com. Retrieved December 26, 2018.
  29. ↑ "allmusic.com". AllMusic . Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  30. ↑ João, Victor. YouTube Music, September 7, 2023, accessed June 25 2023
  31. ↑ "'Sunrise, Sunset' gets gay lyric - Dallas Voice". 2018-08-18. Archived from the original on August 18, 2018. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
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