Home / Authors / Meredith Willson Biography

Meredith Willson Biography

Composer

Meredith Willson was a renowned American composer, best known for his musical 'The Sound of Music'. His musical works have been beloved by audiences and have had a profound impact on musical theater and film music.

Greek Librarian Shakespeare Balzac Marian Musicman The Piano Lesson

Author:Meredith Willson

“A man can't turn tail and run just because a little personal risk is involved. What did Shakespeare say? "Cowards die a thousand deaths, the brave man... only 500"?”

Men Littles Running Dies Turns Risk Involved Thousand Brave Coward Tails Brave Man Music Man

Author:Meredith Willson

“I haven't seen Iowa people get so excited since the night Frank Gotch and Strangler Lewis lay on the mat for three and a half hours without moving a muscle.”

People Moving Night Three Hours Half Havens Lays Excited Muscles Frank Half Hours Iowa

Author:Meredith Willson

“It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas; Soon the bells will start, And the thing that will make them ring Is the carol that you sing Right within your heart.”

Looks Heart Rings Christmas Bells Carols Christmas Season

Author:Meredith Willson

“Where is the good in goodbye?”

Goodbye Farewell

Book:Libretto for Meredith Wilson's the music man: book, music and lyrics

Source: Libretto for Meredith Wilson's the music man: book, music and lyrics

“From the explanatory notes that Willson wrote to accompany his symphony, A Symphony of San Francisco,: "Generally speaking, the first movement is intended to convey pioneer courage, loyalty, strength of purpose and freedom." The trumpet motive in the closing Allegro "is a call of defiance to the very elements themselves that had the temerity to dispute the spiritual strength and courage of the golden city of the West."”

“The coward dies a thousand deaths — the brave man only 500.”

Men Dies Five Arms Thousand Hundred Brave Coward Favourite Brave Man Farewell To Arms

Author:Meredith Willson

“It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go; Take a look in the five-and-ten, glistening once again. With candy canes and silver lanes aglow.”

Looks Five Ten Christmas Silver Candy Lanes Christmas Eve

Author:Meredith Willson

“Regarding The Music Man, Jay Nordlinger wrote: The Music Man (for which Willson also wrote the lyrics) is an astonishing creation. It came in a spurt of brilliance. It is shot through with originality, verve, and-why not go all the way?-genius. People love it, can't get enough of it, can't stop performing it-and they are not wrong. For closing in on a half- century now, The Music Man has been performed continually, in every American city, town, and village, and in other parts of the world as well, not excluding Peking.”

People Men World Way Wells Has Beens Enough Cities Half Century Creation Genius Shots Towns Performing Why Not Village Originality Closing Astonishing Brilliance American Cities Music Man

Author:Meredith Willson

“You pile up enough tomorrows and you'll be left with nothing but a bunch of empty yesterdays. I don't know about you, but I'd like to make today worth remembering.”

Knows Enough Motivational Today Remember Left Tomorrow Empty Yesterday Bunch Music Man

Author:Meredith Willson

“Never let the demands of tomorrow interfere with the pleasures and excitement of today.”

Today Pleasure Tomorrow Demand Excitement Interfere

Author:Meredith Willson

“Most playwrights go wrong on the fifth word. When you start a play and you type 'Act one, scene one,' your writing is every bit as good as Arthur Miller or Eugene O'Neill or anyone. It's that fifth word where amateurs start to go wrong.”

Writing Play Bits Type Scene Theatre Fifth Playwright Arthur Eugene O Neill

Author:Meredith Willson

“Regarding the current Broadway revival of The Music Man, Jay Nordlinger wrote: There will always be those who sniff that the show is "feel good"-but, oh, it feels good to feel good. And the main reason The Music Man feels so good is that it is good-a great American musical.”

Men Feels Reason Shows Music Musical Currents Feel Good Broadway Revival Great American Music Man

Author:Meredith Willson

“Speaking of River City in The Music Man & his home town, Mason City, Iowa: I didn't have to make up anything. I simply remembered Mason City as closely as I could.”

Men Home Cities Music Rivers Towns Remembered Iowa Masons Home Town Music Man

Author:Meredith Willson

“There were birds in the sky, but I never saw them winging, No I never saw them at all, Until there was you.”

Saws Sky Bird

Book:Libretto for Meredith Wilson's the music man: book, music and lyrics

Source: Libretto for Meredith Wilson's the music man: book, music and lyrics

About the Author

Born: May 18, 1902
Died: June 15, 1984
Known for: Composer
Quotes: 15

Books & Sources

Libretto for Meredith Wilson's the music man: book, music and lyricsRelated source material

Similar Authors

Milt JacksonBrowse related quotes
Robby TakacBrowse related quotes
Ned BeattyBrowse related quotes
William RosecransBrowse related quotes
Charlie ParkerBrowse related quotes
Joey JohnsonBrowse related quotes
Dave PriceBrowse related quotes
MadlibBrowse related quotes
AlcaeusBrowse related quotes
William VacchianoBrowse related quotes

Meredith Willson Biography

Related Quotes