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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Richard Rodgers wrote the music and Oscar Hammerstein II wrote the lyrics for the 1959 stage musical The Sound of Music. Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse wrote its book—the script and dramatic text. The 1965 film has one important songwriting difference: Rodgers wrote both the music and lyrics for the two songs added to the movie.
Who wrote the 1959 stage musical?
The official Rodgers & Hammerstein credits divide the work among its creators:
- Music: Richard Rodgers
- Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II
- Book: Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse
In musical theater, the “book” is the show’s script and dramatic structure; it is a separate contribution from the music and lyrics. The musical was suggested by Maria Augusta Trapp’s memoir, The Trapp Family Singers. The original Broadway production opened at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on November 16, 1959, and ran for 1,443 performances before closing June 15, 1963, according to the official production history.
Who wrote the songs added to the 1965 film?
The film adaptation added “I Have Confidence” and “Something Good.” Oscar Hammerstein II had died in 1960, so Richard Rodgers wrote both the music and lyrics for these two film songs, according to Concord Theatricals.
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That distinction explains why a credit for the stage show is not quite the whole answer for the movie: Rodgers and Hammerstein shared the stage musical’s songwriting, while Rodgers alone wrote both parts of the two additions to the film.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is the connection to the film soundtrack?
The film’s soundtrack album was released on March 2, 1965, the day of the movie’s New York premiere. The official production history reports that it was issued in long-play record, cassette, 8-track, and reel-to-reel formats, with CD editions following later. It also reports more than 250,000 albums sold by April 10, 1965, and 20 million records sold worldwide; those are the rights-holder’s historical sales figures.
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- In 1978, the Grease soundtrack became a phenomenon and has since become one of the best-selling albums of all time
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