Composer, actor, and activist Lin-Manuel Miranda (American, b. 1980) has become a household name after record-breaking successes in musical theater, film, and television. After graduating Wesleyan University, his musical In the Heights, which he wrote and starred in, made it to Broadway and won four Tony Awards in 2008. 2015’s Hamilton was even more successful, generating two chart-topping albums, 11 Tony Awards, a Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and endless fan adulation. Miranda has since collaborated with the Walt Disney Company on several projects, notably Moana, Mary Poppins Returns (as an actor), and Encanto, which led again to chart-topping success.
Encanto was released in 2021. It tells the story of the family Madrigal, a Colombian family in the early 20th century whose matriarch, Alma, flees prosecution with her husband and infant triplets. Her husband dies protecting the family, but a mysterious magical power saves them from danger, creating an isolated mountain hamlet with an enchanted house for them to live in, and eventually granting unique magical gifts to each of Alma’s children and grandchildren. The story proceeds from the perspective of granddaughter Mirabel, the only grandchild who does not receive a gift, as she has visions of the magic’s collapse and attempts to save it. In the process, the movie poignantly explores family relationships and the unspoken burdens that each character carries.
Miranda wrote the songs for the movie. Many of them became viral sensations, especially “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.” “Dos Oruguitas” was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song. Their success quickly led to several wind band adaptations, notably a medley arranged by Paul Murtha that features five of the songs:
The medley begins with “The Family Madrigal,” which gives us the backstory of the present state of the family:
“We Don’t Talk About Bruno” comes next. This video features the choreography developed with live dancers (including the cameraman!) alongside the final animation:
This transitions into “Dos Oruguitas” (Spanish for “Two Little Caterpillars”), which is the poignant soundtrack for the story of Alma’s struggles that led to the appearance of the magic:
“Surface Pressure” peers into the mind of Mirabel’s sister Luisa, whose self-worth is based on her magical strength and its usefulness to the family and the community:
The medley ends with “Waiting on a Miracle,” Mirabel’s “I Want” song that she sings as she feels set apart from the rest of the family:
See more about Encanto at Wikipedia and Rotten Tomatoes. Miranda has his own website as well as pages on Wikipedia and IMDB, for starters.