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Hamilton: An American Musical Sensation
Mar 2, 2016
Album: “Hamilton-An American Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording)”
Artists: Lin-Manuel Miranda (Alexander Hamilton), Leslie Odom Jr. (Aaron Burr), Anthony Ramos (John Laurens/ Philip Hamilton), Phillipa Soo (Eliza Schuyler Hamilton), Christopher Jackson (George Washington), Daveed Diggs (Marquis de Lafayette/ Thomas Jefferson), Okieriete Onaodowan (Hercules Mulligan/ James Madison), Renée Elise Goldsberry (Angelica Schuyler), Jonathan Groff (King George III), Jasmine Cephas Jones (Margarita “Peggy” Schuyler/ Maria Reynolds), & Original Broadway Cast.
Genre: Hip-Hop, Rap, R&B, Pop
Release Date: Sept. 25, 2015
Our Rating: A+
Yes, it is that good.
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical masterpiece is this season’s hottest ticket! But to those of us that don’t have the privilege of witnessing it live, the original cast soundtrack is a great alternative. A show about young rebels uniting to mold the future of a new nation, “Hamilton” is making its own resonant history by changing the language of musicals. Lin-Manuel Miranda manages to exquisitely blend various modern musical genres, like hip-hop, R&B and rap, to create a brilliant illustration of the Founding Fathers’ journeys to building a new democratic country.
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What I really love about the “Hamilton” soundtrack, and all of Lin Manuel Miranda’s work, is the diversity of his style of composition. He goes beyond the typical Broadway pop and incorporates other musical genres like rap, hip-hop, and R&B. “Hamilton” is a musical that presents history in a fun and accessible [way].
— Tracy Barrow, Drama Teacher
The soundtrack opens with an upbeat rap rendition of Alexander Hamilton’s humble upbringing and how it inspired him to rise above and aim for excellence. The first act details Hamilton’s climb to the top, as he fights for the colonists in the American Revolutionary War, eventually becoming George Washington’s right hand man and earning the title of Secretary of the Treasury. The first act is characterized for Miranda’s dexterous composition, as “Hamilton” depicts lyrical masterpieces like “My Shot,” “The Schuyler Sisters,” “Guns and Ships,” “Yorktown,” and “Non-Stop.”
Just as one thinks Miranda’s talent is exhausted, the second act serves as further proof of his musical genius. The second act welcomes a new array of multi-faceted characters like Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, who all play a pivotal role in Hamilton’s demise. This act masterfully intertwines deception, rivalries, lust, duels and politics to create a set of melodies such as “Say No to This,” “The Room Where It Happens,” “We Know,” “The Reynolds Pamphlet,” “Burn,” “Stay Alive (Reprise),” “Your Obedient Servant” and “The World Was Wide Enough,” which will keep any listener on the edge of their seat.
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What’s interesting about Hamilton is its seamless combination of musical styles that capture the personality of the characters. Music is so integral to character development in musical theatre and Lin-Manuel Miranda never ignores this, the music itself is treated as equally important as the lyrics. The amount of thought put into the multi-layered structure of the composition is astounding.
— senior Evan Caldwell
If you would like to know what all the fuss is about, listen to the Hamilton Original Cast recording for free here.
To purchase the whole album on iTunes ($19.99), click here.