Ed Kliman's Contemporary Music for Modern Shakespeare

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Ed Kliman Contemporary Music For Modern Shakespeare

Music was a vital part of theatrical productions in William Shakespeare's day, with live musicians providing music for pre-show, intermission and even special effects in addition to the many songs written into Shakespeare's plays themselves.

Ed has had the pleasure of being retained for numerous professional theatrical productions to set Shakespeare's words to music ranging from Japanese classical to Eurodisco (and in the Czech language, no less), electronic pop, rock, jazz, reggae, Delta blues and more. Ed is frequently incorporated into productions as a combination onstage one-man orchestra and Greek chorus, performing the music he has written and being incorporated into the staging.

You need music for your next production of Shakespeare. Ed is available to work as a resident composer and/or performer or to work remotely, writing and recording music at Regulus Sound, our in-house recording studio. Demo recordings can be uploaded to our website server for discussion with clients and to make adjustments where necessary, with final recordings shipped to you on CD for use by your tech crew. Please also see our production services page for other theatrical and musical genres.

Music for Shakespeare

As You Like It

Eclectic, freewheeling and fun are the hallmarks of this production's music, which became a successful cast CD release for the Austin Shakespeare Festival. Folk to heavy rock, electronica to bossa nova, the music from this score earned a "Top Ten of 2006" nod from the Austin Chronicle and a 2007 Austin Critics Table award. I am singing on tracks 1, 3, 5 and 6.

		Sample
1. All The World's A Stage	3.8mb - 4:09
2. Come Hither	3.25mb - 3:33
3. The Green Holly	3.03mb - 3:18
4. A Lover And His Lass	3.97mb - 4:20
5. The Lusty Horn	3.17mb - 3:28
6. Juno's Crown	2.92mb - 3:11

Pericles, Prince of Tyre

Set in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, this production drew heavily on Greek and Arabic music forms. The song Pericles was split up (using additional written verses) and strung through the production as a co-narrative with Gower. The song is all my own and a very rare instance of being able to add something effective to Shakespeare's words.

		Sample
1. Song for Pericles	3.8mb - 4:09
2. Antioch Theme	3.25mb - 3:33
3. Theme For The Lords	3.03mb - 3:18
4. Minor Pericles	3.97mb - 4:20
5. Tyre Theme	3.17mb - 3:28
6. The Fifth Knight's Theme	2.92mb - 3:11

Music for Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar

Set in medieval Japan and performed as Noh theatre, I was restricted to using bambo flute and percussion when writing and performing this score in order to stay within the strict format for this type of theatre.

(Right click on title to download full mp3)		Sample
1. Julius Caesar Main Theme	3.8mb - 4:09
2. Portia Pleads	3.25mb - 3:33
3. The Storm	3.03mb - 3:18
4. Slaughter At Phillipi	3.97mb - 4:20
5. Julius Caesar Closing Theme	3.17mb - 3:28

Music for Shakespeare's The Twelfth Night

The Twelfth Night

Simple pop songcraft which can be adapted to many styles. Offered here are my songwriter's demo recordings.

(Right click on title to download full mp3)		Sample
1. O Mistress Mine	5.42mb - 3:23
2. O Mistress Mine (alternate demo)	6.6mb - 4:07
3. Come Away Death	8.5mb - 5:18
4. Goodman Devil	5.52mb - 3:26
5. For The Rain	6.26mb - 3:54

Midsummer Night's Dream

I wrote this score with the idea that the songs and all music could be performed by a single musician. Of particular note is the song made from Puck's famous epilogue - a bit radical, but a rousing way to end the show if you have a Puck with a good singing voice.

(Right click on title to download full mp3)		Sample
1. Break Of Day	2.67mb - 1:56
2. Dust Behind The Door	1.96mb - 1:25
3. Goodnight With Lullabye	2.8mb - 2:02
4. Puck's Last Words	3.03mb - 2:12

Romeo and Juliet

For this contemporary production, we focused on the play's darker elements and emotions. The song "The Flame" was used as a central theme throughout this production.

(Right click on title to download full mp3)		Sample
1. The Flame	2.1mb - 1:29
2. Cue 9	475kb - :19
3. Death In the Streets	3.8mb - 2:42
4. The Wedding of Juliet	1.59mb - 1:09
5. After The Flame (curtain/house music)	5.33mb - 3:28

The Sonnets

Salsa, electronic ambient, late-night nylon string guitar ballad, it's easy to find inspiration when working with lyrics like these...

(Right click on title to download full mp3)		Sample
1. When Mine Eyes Best See (Sonnet 43)	6.42mb - 4:02
2. Lie (Sonnet 138)	4.09mb - 2:33
3. Love Is Too Young (Sonnet 151)	4.93mb - 3:04
4. If This Be Error (Sonnet 116)	6.0mb - 3:44
5. Thy Lips To Kiss (Sonnet 128)	5.77mb - 3:36

All music and data on this site ©2009 TexasMusicForge.com. Unauthorized usage of music and/or data from this site is strictly prohibited and will get you tied up and dragged behind my horse.
E.M. Kliman, Proprietor.