Music and the Fictive Dream: Fiddler on the Roof
Initial Thoughts: The 1971 film "Fiddler on the Roof" is probably my favorite musical. From its humor and wonderful music, to the way it addresses the sobering reality of life's hardships and cultural struggles, this musical is a gem! For this post, I am going to explore the song Sunrise, Sunset from the musical. The only song that I think is somewhat out of character would be Miracle of Miracles. For some reason, I never felt like it fit quite right with the rest of the songs. If you have never seen the "Fiddler on the Roof" musical, it is definitely worth watching! I chose Sunrise, Sunset, because I think that it contains an important message for each generation, not just during the time period of the film itself.
The Musical: Fiddler on the Roof was originally a Broadway production that began in 1964. It was based on stories written by Sholem Aleichem, and the original musical production surpassed 3,000 performances. The music and lyrics for the Broadway production were written by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick, respectively, and then adapted and conducted for the film by John Williams. In 1971, the musical was adapted for film (this is the version that I enjoy most), and was directed by Norman Jewison. The film stars Chaim Topol, who skillfully and humorously plays the character of Tevya the Dairyman (Wikipedia, 2022). The Hollywood Reporter wrote that "...Jewison demonstrates a concern for human values that gives the film a more serious purpose than the stage production ever seemed to have, and he makes his points subtly and without excessive sentimentality" (2022).
Plot: The film is set in Anatevka, a Ukrainian village in the Pale of Settlement of Imperial Russia. Villages such as Anatevka were called "shtetls" and were known for having a predominantly Askkenazi Jewish population (Wikipedia, 2022). Tevye, a poor dairyman is the main character, and he and his wife Golde are parents to five daughters (the two youngest daughters have very minor roles in the film). There are a number of scenes in the movie that show Tevye talking with God about his problems, and wrestling through cultural rules and important decisions in his mind.
The village matchmaker, Yente, is intent on finding husbands for Tevye's girls, and the confusion between Tevye and Lazar (a potential suitor) regarding Tzeitel is a hilarious interchange in the film. One by one, all three of Tevye's oldest girls decide to marry men that were not found by the matchmaker. Tevye grants permission only to Tzeitel and Hodel, but refuses to grant permission to Chava, because the man she loves is not Jewish. Tevye tells the rest of the family that Chava is "dead" to them, and refuses to speak to her after she elopes with Fyedka.
The tension begins to escalate as Perchik (Hodel's husband) takes part in the revolution in the "outside world" (outside Anatevka), and then the town of Anatevka begins to experience political upheaval. The ending scene of the film is serious and saddening, because all of the Jewish families are forced to leave Anatevka. Most of Tevye's family decides to immigrate to America, with the rest of the family planning to follow in later years as they have enough money.
Note, all character names taken from Wikipedia, but the plot description is my own interpretation after seeing the film.
Sunrise, Sunset: In the 1971 film adaptation of 'Fiddler on the Roof', the song Sunrise, Sunset is performed during the wedding of Motel and Tzeitel. The chorus is chant-like, and has a lilting, bittersweet tone like a slow waltz or ballad. The recording is included in this post at the end of the current section.
The song begins as a conversation between Tevya and his wife, Golde, as they contemplate the marriage of their oldest daughter (Tzeitel) to Motel, the tailor. The bittersweet tone of the song comes from the realization of fleeting time, and how the years of childhood have passed so quickly. Tevya and Golde both express disbelief that their daughter is old enough to be married, when it seems that just yesterday she was a tiny girl that they could carry easily. The second half of the song transitions to Hodel and Perchick (their second daughter and her future husband) singing about their uncertainty of Tevye letting them marry one day. In the Jewish culture portrayed in the film, the girls were expected to marry men chosen by the local matchmaker within their own religious group. All three of Tevya and Golde's oldest daughters rejected this tradition in their own way. The song ends with everyone joining in the chorus to sing: "Sunrise, sunset, sunrise sunset, Swiftly flow the days, Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers, Blossoming even as we gaze..." Click here to see the the complete lyrics by Jerry Bock.
The instrumentation includes strings, horns, winds, and distinct harp parts, as well. It also sounded like there was an accordion or bayan part in the middle section, which seems like a very appropriate instrument for this musical selection. Violin solos were performed by Isaac Stern, and help to convey the emotions expressed by the characters in the song. (Wikipedia, 2022).
There are also a few instances that sound like harmonic minor or the use of an augmented second. This is a typical sound from Klezmer music, as are short trills and similar instrumental instrumentation. Here is a great selection of pieces by The Chicago Klezmer Ensemble. This style of music has a very distinct sound and is fun to explore. Klezmer music was often intended for dancing, which is how it is used in 'Fiddler on the Roof'. It is also characterized by sounds, particularly from the violin, that were intended to imitate the human voice, such as crying, laughing, and wailing (Romer, 2019). In the film, there is a great dancing scene following Sunrise, Sunset at Motel and Tzeitel's wedding.
Sunrise, Sunset - 1971, USA (as performed in the 1971 film)
Role of Sunrise, Sunset: I think that the role of Sunrise, Sunset in the 1971 film adaptation of 'Fiddler on the Roof' is to emphasize that time is precious, and the rhythms and cycle of life seem to be embodied in the chant-like chorus and swaying rhythms of the song itself. Just like one role of the performer is to be true to the original context and intent of a certain piece, I think that this song captures the emotions that Tevya and Golde were experiencing, along with the influence of their Jewish-Russian culture. I think that Sunrise, Sunset serves as a "stop and think" or "stop and ponder" section in the film. It is retrospective and you can almost sense that Tevye and Golde see the young Tzeitel and Motel in their minds as they are singing. It is a reminder to treasure life's special moments, and in the film, you can really observe the communal aspect of the song and of the wedding, as well. According to one critic, 'Fiddler on the Roof' "...ranks high among the best musicals ever put on film" (The Hollywood Reporter, 2022). This song is just one example that shows how the music really draws the audience into the bigger story of the film.
References:
"Fiddler on the Roof (film)." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 5 Oct. 2022. Web.
"'Fiddler on the Roof': THR's 1971 Film Review." The Hollywood Reporter, 2022. Web.
Romer, Megan. "Klezmer Music 101", LiveAbout, 2 May 2019. Web.
"Shtetl". Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 4 Nov. 2022. Web.
"Sunrise, Sunset." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 10 Sep. 2022. Web.
I am in agreement with what you had said about the production of Fiddler on the Roof and the song Sunrise, Sunset. The lyrics of the song mention how everyone goes through different stages in life. From birth, to growing older, to death. Which is why life is a precious gift that should not be taken for granted, but always treasured though the happiest and the worst of times."Theatre Ink’s Fiddler on the Roof is a moving and relevant show, its success buoyed by a superb cast, an intricate set, and captivating choreography. The show transports the audience to Russia in the early 1900s, taking them on a journey of laughter and tears that will leave them with many deeper messages to ponder long after they leave."
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