The song of the day for Friday, March 22, 2024, is “Two By Two.”

About Today

We honor the late Stephen Sondheim, who co-wrote today’s song with Richard Rodgers. Sondheim was born on March 22, 1930, and died on November 26, 2021. My very first Broadway show was the original production of Company. He was one of the greatest composers who ever wrote for the musical theatre.

About This Song

Richard Rodgers and Stephen Sondheim wrote “Two By Two” in 1965 for the musical Do I Hear a Waltz?, though it was cut before the production opened. Sondheim was mentored by Oscar Hammerstein, and recommended to both Rodgers and Sondheim that they should work together after Hammerstein died in 1960. Do I Hear a Waltz? was based on Arthur Luarents’ book The Time of the Cuckoo and wrote the book for the musical. Laurents and Mary Rodgers (daughter of Richard Rodbgers and a close friend of Sondheim) asked Sondheim to write lyrics. Laurents had previously worked with Sondheim on West Side Story, for which he also wrote the book.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Two By Two” on February 19, 1965, for If I Ruled the World: Songs For the Jet Set. Don Costa wrote the arrangement.

“Two By Two,” as well as If I Ruled the World: Songs for the Jet Set/em>, is available on Apple Music.