Reviews (3)

An Academic View of the Musicals of Sondheim
Of all the books currently published on Sondheim's musicals, Gordon gives the best academic treatment to his works.Mainly a formal analysis of the shows, she peppers in enough historical and biographical facts to provideany reader with a better understanding of the plays.The chapter on_Sunday_ is particularly good.It does help to be familiar with the showsbefore reading, as Gordon wastes little time on plot synopsis.A must forany Sondheim scholar.

Sondheim fan?Wanna become one?
This book takes us musical-by-musical through some of the most famous and artistically valuable of Sondheim's musicals (the latest entry being Assassins).Each chapter looks at the musical with a critical eye (orlistens with a critical ear, as the case may be) and responds to criticismabout the musical in question.This is not a book simply about sellingSondheim - when the author is unimpressed, she lets us know.But Gordanfinds much to admire in Sondheim's musicals, and helps us to appreciatethat.Each chapter outlines in detail the plot, characters, and songs -especially useful for in-depth study.You can't get much more specificwithout actually taking out the libretto or following along in the score! All her arguments are well-founded and supported with examples from thetext.The use of lyrics is especially appropriate.This book isespecially valuable from a literary and theatrical standpoint.Theobservations on the music itself are correct, but not plentiful, asGordan's expertise is in theatre, not music.Accessible to the casualaudience member and the Sondheim groupie.

Comprehesive and informative for any Sondheim fan.
Whether you are well versed in all of Sondheim or have just seen a show once this books covers everthing from plot, to technique, to reviews. I used this for my thesis on Sondheim and found it very informative. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Criticism and interpretation    2. Genres & Styles - Musicals    3. History and criticism    4. Music    5. Music/Songbooks    6. Musicals    7. Sondheim, Stephen    8. Theater - General    9. United States    10. Musical theatre    11. Opera   

Reviews (3)

Difficult to play, but fun to have!
You don't need to play the piano to enjoy this book.With 8 pages of picture, it's pretty enjoyable.Plus it has the lyrics, and the different stage ending for "cell Block Tango".

AMAZING!!! THE BEST YET!!!
I have the Broadway Vocal Selections, and that was just fabulous, but this one is by far my favorite. Kander and Ebb (Cabaret) are the kings of Broadway. And this one has my favorite Chicago song, "Cell Block Tango" which i loved on stage and loved even more on screen. These songs are the best, and I hope broadway shows get better and better, because in my opinion, these two gentlemen have set the bar...and it is high!!

Chicago: A Musical Vaudeville
The script behind the smash hit broadway show "CHICAGO!". Complete with original cast list, synopsis at the beggining, characters and descriptions, and lyrics/libretto included in the text of the show. A wonderful play that wraps you in the wrath of two young women, Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, in a murder scaldal trying to escape with the help of sleezey lawyer, Billy Flynn. A great read and fantastic musical. Availabily my be difficult as it is out of print (I bought it used) so you can buy it from the publiser, Samuel French online from the website by the same name (samuelfrench.com) Thanks for reading! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Instruction & Study - Voice    2. Music    3. Music/Songbooks    4. Scores & Soundtracks    5. Songbooks - Showtunes    6. Performing Arts   

Reviews (3)

Excellent insight, but couldn't there have been more?
This is a great book for the Sondheim aficionado.I learned a lot about the technical aspects of his style.My only complaint is that Merrily We Roll Along is mentioned only briefly in the book.I consider Merrily to be one of Sondheim's three best scores, and its absence made very little sense.Further, all Sondheim musicals pre-Overtures are also absent (perhaps more understandable because I suppose Sondheim remembers those less and there was little time in the interviews).Nevertheless, for the hefty price I would have expected more info.Perhaps a second volume?

For anyone who wants more insight on Sondheim
This was a beautiful book, capturing every reason why Sondheim's music is so brilliant.This series of interviews explores several of his most celebrated works, and goes into everything from music theory, to lyric phrasing, to lyric choices, to what inspired him.If you really want to know what goes on in his head while he is composing his masterpieces then buy this book!Though it concentrates heavily on musical theory and sondheim's pieces from a composer's point of view, you do not need to be an expert in music theory to appreciate this book, because it is filled with exciting tidbits of everything you would ever want to know about his pieces.You also really get to know the man behind the music, and you get to see what his original manuscripts looked like!This is an exciting read for a Sondheim fan (or someone curious about what the big fuss is over him)...you will not be dissapointed!

Sondheim on Music: Minor Details and Major Decisions
This book gives us a view within the process of Stephen Sondheim as a creative genius. At the same time it is encouraging because he takes us into glimpses in his creations: methods, favorites, changes, mistakes and growth that illustrate how he actualized his dreams into reality. For anyone that has ever considered writing for an audience with a level that takes into consideration all the nuances of color, texture, overt and underlying meaning, this book is a must read. It is followed with lists of suggested material for review based on the personal influence they had for Sondheim. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Analysis, appreciation    2. Composers    3. Criticism and interpretation    4. Genres & Styles - Musicals    5. Instruction & Study - Composition    6. Interviews    7. Music    8. Music/Songbooks    9. Musicals    10. Sondheim, Stephen    11. United States    12. 20th century music    13. Composers & musicians    14. Music / Musicals    15. Musical theatre   

Subjects:  1. Music    2. Musical Instruments - Piano   

Reviews (5)

The Secret Garden had a slow start,
The Secret Garden had a slow start and gave too much detail, but
In Short --You Must Read
I bought the script and the vocals after listening to the wonderful C.D. This is great for any young struggling actor or actressor anyone who has an interest in the theater.
A Magnificent Book
The book the Secret Garden is one of the very few books that I have read that actually got me interested in wanting me to finish it. It was a great page turning historical fiction book that could relate to reality in some ways of which were very interesting to learn about. Mary Lennox at first played a very keep to yourself type person, in the end she learned to loosen up and respect those around her like Dickon for example or Ben Weatherstaff. So if your looking for a FANTASTIC historical fiction book read the secret garden. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Genres & Styles - Musicals    3. Librettos    4. Musicals    5. Performing Arts/Dance    6. Plays / Drama    7. Drama / General    8. Drama texts: from c 1900 -   

Reviews (2)

Great transcription of the full score
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).
West Side Story is Fabulous
The music from West Side Story is captivating, and I love being able to relive it again and again.Hearing the music from the show takes you back to the story of a modern-day Romeo and Juliet. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Genres & Styles - Musicals    2. Instruction & Study - Voice    3. Music    4. Music/Songbooks    5. Musicals    6. Songbooks - General    7. Songbooks - Showtunes    8. Vocal scores with piano    9. Music / Voice   

Subjects:  1. Genres & Styles - Musicals    2. Music/Songbooks    3. Songbooks - Showtunes    4. Theater - Broadway & Musical Revue    5. Musical scores, lyrics & libretti   

Reviews (2)

If you want broadway, this isn't it...
I did alot of searching on the internet for a vocal selections book from the broadway musical version of The Wiz. This book you are looking at now is the vocal selections from the 1978 movie 'The Wiz,' starring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson. I finally found a vocal selections book from the broadway show, and it is out of print, originally published by Fox Fanfare Music. Just letting you know, because the movie is quite different from the broadway show.

*The Wiz*- Almost in it's Entirety!
This book has almost every song from the Wiz, an fantastic musical. The songs in the book are: Ease On Down The Road,Home, He's The Wizard, Be A Lion, The Feeling We Once Had, What Would I Do If I Could Feel, Slide Some Oil To Me, You Can't Win, Don't Nobody Bring Me No Bad News, Soon As I Get Home, I'm A Mean Ole Lion, Believe In Yourself, Can I Go On?, A Brand New Day,Is This What Feeling Gets? Dorothy's Theme, and Emerald City Sequence. This book didn't get the full five stars just because the Wiz isn't the BEST musical ever. (I'm a harsh critic.) Don't let that stop you from buying a great book of selections from a classic musical! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Music   

Reviews (1)

Delights and Duds
I've resd lots of Conversations books over the years.Usually the interviewers uncover some sharp talkers as well as some duds.Here the unpleasant event is Jason Robert Brown, who seems like an egomaniacal nitwit with nothing good to say about anybody, who blames the failure of PARADE on the stupidity of American theater audiences, yet allows that there's no reason really for anyone to have a good time while seeing it.
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Subjects:  1. Composers    2. General    3. Genres & Styles - Musicals    4. History and criticism    5. Interviews    6. Lyricists    7. Music    8. Music/Songbooks    9. Musicals    10. Performing Arts    11. Performing Arts/Dance    12. Theater - Broadway & Musical Revue    13. Theater - History & Criticism    14. United States    15. Musical theatre    16. USA   

Reviews (4)

Unforgettable, moving and haunting
I saw the London stage version of "Blood Brothers" last summer and left the Adelphi Theater completely and satisfyingly exhausted from the emotions that the story wrung out of me. What I loved most was the uncalulated, "sorry but this is life" attitude, and the total believability of all of the characters. Shoes Upon The Table
It's an excellent story, full of laughs and tears. Mrs. Johnstone, who is barely getting by with the several children she already has, discovers she is pregnant again with twins (Micky and Eddie). She cannot support both of them so her employer, Mrs. Lyons, who is unable to have children, convinces Mrs. Johnstone to let her keep one of the babies. However, the boys are never to know that they are twins, for if they find out, so superstition says, they will both immediately die. "I'm Not Saying a Word."
Though it is a bit crude in some parts, BLOOD BROTHERS remains and probably always will be my favorite musical of all time. The plot of the story revolves around a set of twins (Mickey and Eddie) separated at birth because their mother cannot afford to raise two more children. A deal is struck with the infertile employer of Mrs. Johnstone, Mrs. Lyons, and one of the children is raised by the Lyons in luxury. The only catch, no one must ever know the truth. As life has it, the boys eventually meet anyway and become the best of friends, blood brothers.Read more

Subjects:  1. English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh    2. General    3. Genres & Styles - Musicals    4. Performing Arts    5. Performing Arts/Dance    6. Plays / Drama    7. Drama / General    8. Drama texts: from c 1900 -   

Subjects:  1. Genres & Styles - Musicals    2. Instruction & Study - Composition    3. Music    4. Music/Songbooks    5. Musical Instruments - General    6. Songbooks - Popular    7. Music / Songbooks   

Reviews (6)

Unnecessary Revisons Ruin Sondheim's Best Musical
I absolutely agree with the reviewer here who said that this edition of the book Follies has weakened the original play.Let me first reiterate what this book is, exactly - it is the published libretto (script, stage directions and song lyrics) for the 2001 revival of Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman's landmark musical, Follies.There is no sheet music in this book, just the complete dialogue and song lyrics - of the 2001 revival.
It's the Piano-Vocal Book, All Right
Yes, this is the complete piano-vocal score, but when you click on the image (to "look inside"), you get taken to a completely different book. That's why the reviewer below is cautioning against this volume. But I recently ordered it, and it's got all the music from the original production of this show.

A disappointing revision
First, it's important to clarify what this book is, since a couple of the reviewers below seem to think it's the piano-vocal score for "Follies." There is no music in this book. This is the script of "Follies": the book, lyrics, and stage directions.Read more

Subjects:  1. Drama    2. General    3. Genres & Styles - Musicals    4. Librettos    5. Musicals    6. Plays    7. Plays / Drama    8. Drama / General    9. Drama texts: from c 1900 -   

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Composers & Musicians - General    5. Genres & Styles - Musicals    6. History & Criticism - General    7. Theater - Broadway & Musical Revue    8. Biography: film, television & music    9. Composers & musicians    10. Essays, journals, letters & other prose works    11. Music    12. Music / History & Criticism    13. USA   

Reviews (5)

Into The Woods...where's all the music???
I can't believe The Last Midnight and Moment in the Woods aren't in this book...the two biggest female solos in the show!!!

Into the Woods:A Must-Have
I love this show, and am glad to have at least this many songs from it in one place. However, I wish several more songs were in it, like the whole of "Children Will Listen" and the second "Agony."Oh well -- I guess they have to give us some incentive to buy the complete vocal score. Great songs, though.

Lesser Sondheim Makes an Interesting Vocal Selection.
This is definetly not my favorite Sondheim show. It tends to repeat it self too much, and the music becomes long in the tooth after a while. However, for the vocal selection, they picked some wonderful highlights.
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Subjects:  1. Instruction & Study - Composition    2. Instruction & Study - Voice    3. Music   

Reviews (2)

Simpsons Songbook: Fun for the enitre family!
Happy fifteenth birthday to me! The perfect gift for a Simpsons-loving, band nerd like myself: The Simpsons Songbook! As soon as I opened it (And after some practicing, of course!) by entire family soon became a chorus; singing along to the famous melodies from the show. I highly recommend the sheet music and lyric combo for any musician! :-)

Simpsons songbook a hit with the whole family!
Happy 15th birthday to me! The best present for a Simpsons-loving, band nerd like myself: The Simpson's Songbook! :-) As soon as I unwrapped it, I ran to the piano to start learning the famous melodies. After some practicing, the songs became recongnizable and my entire family began to sing along. I would highly recommend this book for any musician; the music and the lyrics are included...So open it, have fun, and enjoy! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Music / Songbooks    2. Pop Arts / Pop Culture    3. Television - General    4. Music    5. Piano music    6. Simpsons (Television program)    7. Songbooks    8. Songbooks - Popular   

Reviews (3)

Beautiful Music
The "Best of Cole Porter" far exceeded my expectations for beautiful music.The arrangements are complex enough for the advanced pianist, but also easily practiced by the beginner.The songs selected, are a delight.

A great gift for any Cole Porter Fan
"The Best of Cole Porter" contains some of his best songs ever (in my opinion at least).The only thing that would make this item better is if it contained all of Mr. Porter's songs.For anyone not to familiar with Cole Porter, this book offers a great introduction to his music.

A Must-Have for Cole Porter Lovers
If you love Cole Porter's music there is nothing better than thiscollection of songs.I've made use of every song.Each one of the piecesare from some of his best works.It's a nearly perfect combination of someof the greatest songs ever written.One minor disappointment is that itdoesn't contain more, or that there isn't other volumes of the same book. Basically, if you need/want a collection of Porter's music there isn't anyreason why you shouldn't have this book.:-). ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Discography & Buyer's Guides    2. Instruction & Study - Composition    3. Music    4. Music/Songbooks    5. Musical Instruments - Piano    6. Popular Culture - General    7. Songbooks - Popular    8. Music / Songbooks   

Reviews (1)

The Greatness Of Music
The book is awesome. I love singing and it has a wide variety of song that are very good. I look forward to singing them. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Instruction & Study - Voice    2. Music    3. Music/Songbooks    4. Songbooks - General    5. Music / Voice   

Reviews (1)

Everything I Hoped It Would Be!!
This book covers everything you could ever want to know about HAIR, The American TRibal Love-Rock musical, it's background, it's creation, what everything in it means, how it fit in history, how ti changes peoples lives, everything!! If you love HAIR, you'll love this book!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Genres & Styles - Musicals    3. Hair    4. MacDermot, Galt    5. MacDermot, Galt.    6. Performing Arts    7. Performing Arts/Dance    8. Production Of Musical Drama    9. Theater - General    10. Theater - History & Criticism    11. Performing Arts / Theater / General    12. Theatre, drama   

Subjects:  1. General    2. Instruction & Study - Voice    3. Music    4. Scores & Soundtracks    5. Songbooks - Popular   

Reviews (5)

decoding Bolero-style Afro-cuban music
As a fan of Afro-Cuban music, this book allows insight into the complexity of rhythms, chords and words. The content is as authentic as it can be to the material on its CD (not included). The print is good and easy to read. The music? Great!! I only with it includes pages on the production of BVSC, maybe photos of artists orfootnotes.

Nice photographic support to the book, but...
I am a fan of Wim Wenders' work, and I loved the BVSC CD and the movie, but in all honesty, except for the intro by Wenders and the closing interview with Ry Cooder, the entire book basically consists of shots from the movie along with the dialogs by the BVSC stars and the lyrics to the songs they interpret, i.e. material that the movie and the CD already provide. Yes: I admit I had higher expectations with it. In any case, I have to say Ibrahim Ferrer's monologue toward the end, when they visit NYC for their performance at Carnegie Hall, is a very touching moment.

A photo album that depicts the key moments in the movie
I recently saw the movie Buena Vista Social Club for the first time and I liked it so much that I wanted to learn more about it. That's why I ordered this book.Read more

Subjects:  1. Ethnic    2. Music    3. Musical Instruments - General    4. Songbooks - Folk/Ethnic    5. Songbooks - General    6. Films, cinema    7. Jazz    8. Music / Songbooks