An Analysis of the Musical and Narrative Characteristics through the Mash-up of I Dreamed a Dream and On My Own from the Musical Les Misérables

This study aims to analyze the musical and narrative characteristics of the mash-up technique applied to the representative songs I Dreamed a Dream and On My Own from the musical Les Misérables and to explore its artistic value. By examining how the independent narratives and emotional flows of each song are integrated and expanded through the mash-up, the study investigates whether the combined piece offers listeners a complex and multi-layered musical experience. The findings indicate that the melodic peaks and harmonic resolutions of the two songs effectively express emotional buildup and release within the mash-up structure, thereby transforming the distinct narrative flows into a unified storyline. Additionally, the mash-up technique enhances emotional transitions, serving as a critical creative strategy that deepens audience engagement. This study suggests that mash-ups are not merely a combination of songs but a meaningful tool for reinterpreting existing works and expanding their artistic value. It also hopes to encourage future research on the use of mash-up techniques in various musical theater compositions.