Chorus Line, A Vocal Score [Paperback] Review

This isn't "sheet music" for the songs on the cast album, this is the ENTIRE vocal score.This is a reduction rather than an arrangement; the full orchestral score was reduced to one piano with a number of extra notes added showing where you would throw in other instruments.This is more difficult and comprehensive than the "Piano/Vocal/Guitar" arrangement, also sold by the same publisher.But go ahead and try those challenging notes, because look what you get!

*Every* piece of incidental music in the show is included here.That means all the lead-ins to songs, not just the songs themselves.That means all the spoken cues to start the music.The filler songs "And" and "The Tap Combination" are included.The full version of "Hello Twelve, Hello Thirteen" is here.Both versions of "One" are here for your enjoyment; the "rehearsal" version (where the actors recite the dance steps, count the beat, and sing the song in a brilliant 4-part arrangement) and the finale used for curtain calls (which includes the countermelody "She walks into a room..." that turns into a terrific interwoven melody for verse 3, followed by fantastic 4-part harmony reprise in verse 4).

The 96-page "sheet music" (Hal Leonard SBN: 088188068X) does not have any of this detail.It features the same pieces in the cast album but only one version of One, which skips both the rehearsal thoughts and the final verse with harmony.It also severely truncates such great hits such as Hello Twelve (which has four parts) and "The Music and the Mirror" (which has an extended musical section where Cassie does her mirror dance).The Vocal Score, this product right here, has ALL that detail.

Don't be confused by the incorrect "look inside" for this product.It shows the identical contents of thePiano/Vocal/Guitar version I mentioned above, and that is NOT what you get with the Vocal Score.It really is over 200 pages of material, and that's why it costs so much more.And it is WORTH IT.

If you just want to play a few of your favorite songs from the show, buy the shorter, easier, and less expensive version.But if you want to capture every element of Marvin Hamlisch's score, if you just love everything about this show and want to recapture the music, THIS is the one to buy.

NOTE: There is something wrong with Amazon's handing of this product.This review is appearing for both the VOCAL SCORE product and the PIANO/VOCAL/GUITAR product.This is probably the same bug giving the wrong "Look Inside" information for the vocal score.However, if you buy the vocal score, they will ship you the correct product.

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Product Description:
One of the longest running shows on Broadway, A Chorus Line won nine Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Our updated songbook features vocal lines with piano accompaniment for ten songs: At the Ballet * Dance: Ten; Looks: Three * I Can Do That * I Hope I Get It * One * What I Did for Love * more.

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West Side Story (Vocal Score) [Paperback] Review

If you're looking for a faithful translation from the full score, this is the one. This score is based on Bernstein latest revision as reflected in the Carreras Te Kanawa recording (1985).

But be warned, this score is only for upper-intermediate/advanced pianist, classically trained. It's not a fakebook, it's not a simplified/reduced piano score for casual use. The arrangement gives two alternatives for playing some part of the song, and you can choose to play it the hard way or the easier way (which is still rather difficult). The hard way is of course the most faithful to the orchestral score.

For example, the dance part in "America" can be played by using single notes of the left hands rather than using full chord, which is great if you're trying to cope with the tempo. The arrangement for the slow pieces such as "one hand one heart", "maria", "tonight", and "somewhere" is really beautiful.

Tip: Listen to the "west side story" conducted by Bernstein himself to get a grasp of the tempo, dynamics and phrasing.

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Product Description:
The complete vocal score to one of the most beloved American musicals of all time. Includes complete cast list, vocal ranges, instrumentation list plus an introduction about the famous collaboration that worked together on this project: Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Arthur Laurents, and Jerome Robbins.

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Comedy Songs from Broadway Musicals (Piano/Vocal/Guitar Songbook) [Paperback] Review

"Comedy Songs" has a great selection of classic Broadway tunes that are sure to raise a smiler. Since the songs aren't listed, here they are: Adelaide's Lament - Guys and Dolls, Brush Up Your Shakespeare - Kiss MeKate, Civilization - Angel in the Wings, Eadie Was a Lady - Take a Chance,'Erbie Fitch's Twitch - Redhead, Everbody Ought to have a Maid - A FunnyThing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Honey Bun - South Pacific,Jubilation T. Cornpone - Li'l Abner, Kids - Bye Bye Birdie, Le Grand BoomBoom - Little Me, Life Upon the Wicked Stage - Show Boat, Little Tin Box -Fiorello!, Mutual Admiration Society - Happy Hunting, Tale of the Oyster -Fifty Million Frenchmen, To Keep My Love Alive - A Connecticut Yankee,Triplets - Between the Devil, Tschaikowsky (And Other Russians) - Lady inthe Dark.
Enjoy!

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Product Description:
17 humorous songs made famous in such fantastic Broadway shows as Guys and Dolls, Kiss Me Kate, South Pacific, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Bye Bye Birdie, Show Boat, and more! Also includes an introduction by noted Broadway historian Stanley Green, as well as a brief narrative on each song.

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The Complete Cabaret Collection - Author's Edition (Easy Piano Vocal Selections) [Paperback] Review

As you might guess - for the title above - I'm a huge, I mean, HUGE, 'Cabaret' fan and collector. So, of course, I found this book delightful, but - taking the risk of making a fool out of myself - I must warn to anyone who doesn't know it that these are the scores of the songs. I boughtit thinking that it was something else - I don't know exactly what -, and Idon't regret it, but it's not what I expected it to be... Thanks God I havea pianist friend so he can play it for me :-)Anyway, it's a must-have forevery 'Cabaret-collector' out there.

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Product Description:
This "Author's Edition" includes, for the first time in any publication, all of the songs from the 1966 original Broadway production, the 1972 film score, and the 1998 revival, plus songs cut from the original production, in new, revised piano/vocal arrangements by composer John Kander. Songs: Cabaret * Don't Go * I Don't Care Much * If You Could See Her * Married (Heiraten) * Maybe This Time * Meeskite * Mein Herr * Money, Money * Perfectly Marvelous * Sitting Pretty (The Money Song) * So What? * Telephone Song * Tomorrow Belongs to Me * Two Ladies * Willkommen * more.

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Lion King Broadway Selections (Easy Piano) [Paperback] Review

This book contains reasonable piano reductions from the Broadway version of "Lion King."The people at Hal Leonard have done a decent job at transcribing a score that relies heavily on percussion instruments, but no one should fool themselves into thinking that the piano will singularly be able to duplicate the multiple timbres used in the show's orchestration (I suppose you could prepare the piano ala John Cage, but I digress...).The reductions are often thin and unsatisfying to play (and hear), but anyone looking for the basic chord progressions or outlines of the show's score should be satisfied.So, if you want the music...buy it!

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Product Description:
Easy arrangements of 14 songs from this hit Tony -winning musical: Be Prepared * Can You Feel the Love Tonight * Circle of Life * Endless Night * Hakuna Matata * I Just Can't Wait to Be King * King of Pride Rock * The Morning Report * Shadowland * They Live in You * more.

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Miss Saigon (Easy Piano) [Paperback] Review

I saw Miss Saigon on Broadway, and it was a wonderful experience, the best musical i've ever seen.The music is very great, and being able to play it on the piano and sing it is simply wonderful.

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Product Description:
11 easy piano arrangements, including: The American Dream * The Heat Is on in Saigon * I'd Give My Life for You * The Last Night of the World * Sun and Moon * Why God Why? * and more.

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Wicked - Piano/Vocal Arrangement [Paperback] Review

After waiting for so long to finally get this book, I've discovered it to be well worth the wait.
Stephen Schwartz is releasing two versions of vocal selections for wicked, this version containing the melody interpolated into the piano part, and another book that is billed as a professional acompaniment without the melody necessarily built into the piano arrangement.This led many to speculate that the "with melody" version would therefore be much easier and less true to the music.Although I haven't seen the other book yet as it has yet to be released as I write this, you should definitely know that this book has not one "easy" arrangement.The arrangers have done a really excellent job of keeping the parts interesting while building in the melody.For instance, "Defying Gravity," the amazing Act-One closing number, is particularly well done, and if you can work through the key-- (it remains, as in the show, in Db) you will be VERY satisfied with the richness and fullness of the sound.
Schwartz has adapted the songs for use as solos or (where applicable) duets, removing longer instrumental breaks, trimming ensemble sections, and providing some new lyrics and endings to make the songs work really well for this new format.This in my opinion is yet another reason to purchase the book, as it gives fans of the show a way to interpret small sections of some of the songs differently.
Sometimes I do wish some cuts could have been avoided (notably I miss the wonderful "We deserve each other" theme that appears on the cast album intersecting "Dancing through Life" and the counterpoint melody "Who's that mage..." in "One Short Day"), but Schwartz is right, it would have impeded the creation of solo pieces to put those in.
The score for Wicked is definitely not to be missed, it really is a must have-- (especially while I wait patiently for the imminent release of the other version of the score!)
Overall, the music is wonderful, the arrangements remain challenging, but are extremely well edited and contain chord diagrams to help you along as well.Well done.

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Product Description:
Nominated for a whopping 10 Tony Awards in 2005, Wicked is an undeniable Broadway smash! A prequel to the all-American classic The Wizard of Oz, this new musical is a character study of Elphaba and Glinda, school roommates who grow up to become the Wicked Witch and the Good Witch, respectively. We are very proud to offer several songbooks featuring this delightful music, including a Vocal Selections book which contains the vocal line with piano accompaniment (00313268), and a Piano/Vocal Selections book, in standard piano/vocal format with the melody in the piano part (00313267). Songbooks feature a special section of color photos from the production, a note from composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz, and these fantastic tunes: As Long as You're Mine * Dancing Through Life * Defying Gravity * For Good * I Couldn't Be Happier * I'm Not That Girl * No Good Deed * No One Mourns the Wicked * One Short Day * Popular * What Is This Feeling? * The Wizard and I * Wonderful.

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