Why does Sondheim use this chord so often? (Analysis) 

Cool detail: Into the Woods begins on the dominant of G Major and ends on the tonic of the same key

Very nice effort and video! One thing only to say, that on sattie's piece the composer doesnt cycles between tonic and 5th (as you probably meant - G=Tonic --> D=5th). The key is in D major (2 sharps) and it also sounds like D major (since we have C#). So gymnopedie cycles between the Subdominant-4th(Gmaj7) and Tonic-1st(Dmaj7). A dominant chord can never be heared, said or named ''dominant'' if there is a major 7th on it (if the major 7 extension is Real note and not just a flourish, ornament or chromatical approach etc ofc - on gymnopedie the major 7 extensions are real notes. Thats why we dont hear any I-->V progression and instead we hear it as IV-->I).

It could be worse Ed, we could be waiting for a Gin and Tonic that may never arrive.

I just found this while looking up sondheim chord on google so I could play a joke on my roommates piano, but this is legitimately one of the most well constructed and clear to follow teachings of classical and theatrical music structures I've seen. If you ever decided to come back to this, I would be happy to see it! If not, thanks for what you did here, it was a gift!

Oh my goodness! I am in awe. It’s great to have things broken down so simply because it makes it really easy to follow 😊

Thanks for this lesson, I am in awe.

You are truly amazing! 🙂

Fascinating!

Good stuff :D

Great video. I'm showing my students.

G-SUS