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Writing “The Way We Were”

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Marvin Hamlisch composed the film score and title song to the film The Way We Were, starring Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford.

In this excerpt from Marvin Hamlisch: What He Did for Love, Hamlisch sits at the piano and explains what inspired the opening notes to the song “The Way We Were”: hearing bells toll at a college campus set location, and Streisand’s talent for holding long notes. Hamlisch collaborated with renowned American Songbook lyricists Alan and Marilyn Bergman on the song. The couple describe working with Hamlisch and his uncanny skill in putting his thoughts to music.

Marvin Hamlisch: What He Did For Love premieres nationally Friday, December 27, 2013 at 9 p.m. on PBS
(check local listings)

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