Hamilton Shows Soundtracks and Their Importance to the Performance

Table of Contents

Introduction
Main body
Summary
References

Introduction

Hamilton is one of the most famous Broadway shows which won the audiences hearts and received numerous awards. There were multiple performances and movies based on the musical, and each offered something unique to the spectator. Perhaps, the most outstanding and exciting part to me was the music since it constitutes the predominant part of the musical. This review will be based upon the Disney version of Hamilton issued in 2015 and will mainly focus on the soundtracks and their importance to the performance.

Main body

First, it is necessary to summarize the musicals ideas to understand its main themes. Generally speaking, it tells the story of the first American Secretary of the Treasury, founding father, and statesman Alexander Hamilton. The main idea is to show the audience those people are used to seeing on green bills as real individuals and create an image of young desperate freedom fighters. Musical Hamilton shows us the most typical illustration of leaders.

But his main idea is even more profound it lies in the fact that we are all people, honest, different, but the same, we love, we believe, we suffer, and we want a better life for our children.

The secret of Hamiltons success is multifaceted and first of all, it is worth thanking the musical part, which consists of hip-hop and RnB tracks. It is incredibly fascinating that Disney directors could incorporate the elements of modern music genres into the performance, making it more appealing to the younger audience. The opening composition of the musical, which sets the pace for the entire production, is a monologue by Aaron Burr, the antagonist of the title character. Burr essentially introduces Hamilton to the audience in the first track and uses the classic hip-hop refrain Whats your name, dude? (Lindahl 2020).

Precisely the same lines can be found in the lyrics of almost every rapper, from the notorious B.I.G to A$AP Rocky. The whole of Hamilton is full of references to the best performers of the genre, both textual and musical.

Hamilton is too diverse to single out one of the most apparent influences because there are parts in it where the text is superimposed on the violin and cello, and there are verses stylized as freestyle, and there is no bit at all in them. This American rap musical shows how great a human voice can sound, reflecting feelings. One final song, Who Lives, Who Is, Who Tell Your Story, is able to move so much that one can cry at the very first choral notes. In total, the musical has 46 songs which together create a foundation for the plotline development.

Undoubtedly, I should note that the actors choice was brilliant. Noteworthy, Lin-Manuel Miranda demonstrated his professionalism as an actor and composer. However, his singing was not the best since his colleagues were more professional. Mainly, I loved the performance of Brian dArcy James, who played Henry III (Akbar 2020). In general, the acting cast was as great as in the original version, and I would like to see a show with other actors for comparison.

Summary

Summing up, it should be stated that this is an actual show which impresses with its style and scope, beauty and sincerity, pain and struggle. These central ideas are expressed through music which petrifies even more because the actors can transmit emotions to the spectator easily. Consequently, the most striking aspect of Disneys Hamilton to me was the music and its influence on the whole performance.