Always Quote by Alan Menken
“It's writing songs within the structure of telling a story, so it becomes a platform for diverse songwriting, for a writing process that's broader than just figuring out a song. You're also dealing with always pushing the story forward, with casting the voices, with the orchestration, with the arrangements.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Composer Alan Menken on songwriting process, 2023
Songwriting blends narrative structure with musical composition, creating a versatile framework that goes beyond simple songcraft.
In simple terms: Combining story and music makes songwriting broader.
Key Takeaway
Embrace narrative when writing music.
Themes
songwriting
storytelling
creativity
structure
Mood
inspired
analytical
Type
instructional
creative
When to use this quote
- film scoring
- album concept
- theatre production
- musical education
Key Concepts
narrative arc
character voice
arrangement
orchestration
Questions to Reflect On
- How does narrative shape your melodies?
- What challenges arise when merging story and song?
A Different Perspective
Balancing story flow and musicality can limit spontaneity.
