Customer Reviews

Godspell (Vocal Score Series)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

You may or may not care for "Godspell" -- for what it's worth, I'm rehearsing it right now. But before spending fifty dollars on this book, you should know that, despite the fact that it's been in print for 30 years, it is full of flat-out typos, misspelled accidentals, mislabeled parts, unexplained divisi, and other musical grekh. The publisher should be ashamed. If you plan to use this book for a performance, be prepared to spend many hours correcting it before rehearsal. (It is also often musically different -- even in the melodies -- from the Original Cast Album, but I don't know who was responsible for that.)

As an example of how slovenly the engraving is, consider the word "Stained!" in "We Beseech Thee". In the first place, it doesn't read "Stained!", it reads "Strained!". But, more than that, it's on two notes, so what the score is actually telling you to sing is "Strainèd!".

I agree with an earlier reviewer. This is one of the most mistake ridden scores I have ever come across. The compositions I love, but the printer needs to reprint this score, making a ton of corrections. I love the music, but it takes a lot of detective work to figure out what is supposed to be happening in this score. It leaves out meter changes and accidentals. It has the wrong clef at the end of ALL FOR THE BEST. It list the wrong chord changes in Prepare Ye. It leaves out the repeat vamp in Save The People. In one bar of Alas For You there are too many beats in the measure. The list is endless. I am sure this sloppy printing must drive Stephen Schwartz, the composer wild!

"Godspell" is one of the best musicals around, with one of the best scores ever. "All for the Best," "We Beseech Thee," and "On the Willows" are the best, I think. It's hard to separate them! *Everyone* should experience this musical in some way, shape, or form.

I believe Godspell to be one of the greatest musicals I have ever seen. The script is easy to follow and the play turns out glorious!