Broadway and “The Little Mermaid” ushered in a monumental era of Disney films! The Houston Symphony presents The Little Mermaid—Film with Live Orchestra on August 31 and September 1.
For many fans, the “Disney Renaissance” is a highpoint in the history of animated films. Covering a decade (1989–1999) of feature films, this era brought a Broadway-like feel to classic, well-known fairy tales, thanks in large part to lyricist Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken. Until Ashman’s untimely death in 1991, this dynamic duo would create many unforgettable songs for Disney; it was The Little Mermaid, however, that ushered in one of the most successful eras of Walt Disney Studios’ 96-year existence. With the help of the Broadway vocal talents featured in the film, Ashman and Menken created the memorable earworms that keep us singing along.
A proverbial power ballad, “Part of Your World” is the “I want” song typically found in a Broadway show when the main character sings about his or her dissatisfaction and yearning for something more. Jodi Benson’s soprano vocals did exactly that in her portrayal of Princess Ariel as she longed for something beyond the sea. In addition to this powerful number, Ariel also vocalizes a wordless theme that frequently appears in Menken’s orchestral score, played by the flute and supported by the rippling chords of the harp— orchestrations that become especially vivid when played live. Benson’s brilliant performance made her Disney royalty and has kept her in the Disney family for decades, reprising the role of Ariel in subsequent sequels and making a cameo appearance in Enchanted.
Samuel E. Wright’s portrayal of Sebastian the crab produced two Calypso-styled songs: “Kiss the Girl” and the Academy Award-winning “Under the Sea.” For these songs, Ashman and Menken were inspired by the characteristic rhythms and vocal harmonies of Afro-Caribbean music. While the original script called for a Jamaican accent for Sebastian’s character, Wright could not quite nail the accent and instead opted for a Trinidadian-Tobagonian accent in his audition—winning him the role.
René Auberjonois lent his high-range baritone vocals for the comic relief of “Les Poissons,” but perhaps the real gem of this film comes from the raspy, contralto voice of Pat Carroll, who portrayed the sea-witch Ursula. Her villainous anthem, “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” combines harsh low brass and wild woodwinds that shape her iconic theme and set the stage for other classic Disney villain songs in films to follow.
Rounding out the lyrical compositions, “Fathoms Below,” “Daughters of Triton,” and “Happy Ending” showcase the ensemble melodies typically found at the beginning, middle, and end of Broadway musicals. “Happy Ending” reprises the main title theme of the orchestral score.
As we celebrate its pearl anniversary, The Little Mermaid still holds strong as a Disney classic not only for its stylized animation, but also for the music that launched a renaissance.
—Melanie O’Neill
Presentation Licensed by Disney Concerts.
Hear this iconic, Oscar-winning score when the Houston Symphony presents The Little Mermaid—Film with Live Orchestra on August 31 and September 1—the final concert in this year’s Bank of America Summer Sounds series! Learn more and get tickets.
