Stephen Sondheim & the art of the obituary

The New York Times, in this era of newspaper decline, continues to do many things well --- including its practice of the art of the obituary.

As an example, here's a link to Bruce Weber's tribute to Stephen Sondheim, who died at 91 on Friday at his home in Roxbury, Conn.

The recipe includes an ability to write gracefully and while doing so, condense great detail with elegant economy.

Mr. Sondheim was of a rare breed in musical theater --- a composer who for the most part wrote the words to accompany his own scores (yes, he wrote just the lyrics for Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story score.)

And having celebrated Thanksgiving with family and friends after reaching old age with few apparent complications, he died unexpectedly --- survived by a husband some 50 years his junior. Not a bad way to go out, all in all.

Here's a link to what probably is his best known song --- "Send in the Clowns" from 1973's A Little Night Music, a reference not to the circus but to advice offered in the theater to divert audiences when scheduled performances are not going well. Frank Sinatra's performance probably has higher mileage, but I liked the Judy Collins version better.