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Virgin Books

Finishing the Hat by Stephen Sondheim & Sondheim on Music by Mark Eden Horowitz

by •
May 2011, no. 331
Michael Morley reviews 'Finishing the Hat: Collected Lyrics (1954–1981)' by Stephen Sondheim and 'Sondheim on Music: Minor Details and Major Decisions, Second Edition' by Mark Eden Horowitz

Given Stephen Sondheim’s well-known fondness for verbal games and puzzles (as a diversion from his day job, he has devised crossword puzzles for the New York Times), it seems appropriate to begin this review with a short quiz based on some of the ‘attendant comments and grudges’ referred to in the subtitle of, and dotted throughout, Finishing the Hat. Match the author’s critical judgements to the selected lyricists listed below:

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