Customer Reviews

Monty Python's Spamalot

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

 

 

I decided to take a chance with this piano/vocal/guitar collection since I had already read a review warning that it was a fairly simplistic arrangement. It is indeed very basic; someone with four years of piano experience could handle just about every piece.

All that was taken from the actual score was the melody and the chords. Songs that had clear baselines, such as You Won't Succeed on Broadway's descending octaves at the end of each couplet, simply don't have them in these book. Typical left-hand arrangements are a series of eighth notes pairs with bass-root, inverted chord, over and over again no matter what sort of mood the piece should set. Given the range of tempos and their amusing descriptions, (where else would you find the term "Jaunty Madrigal"?), having identical left-hand arrangements is ridiculous. Right hand arrangements tend to double the melody with chords filling them out below. Most songs are cut down to a bare minimum, leaving out parts that could easily have been included such as accents, grace notes, and the like.

Most frustrating of all is missing lyrics for subsequent verses, which is absolutely unforgiveable. "Knights of the Round Table" only has 2 verses. Yes, you can pull the lines off the internet, but why should you have to?

Probably the best arrangement of the whole book is "You Won't Succeed on Broadway" which does include all the lyrics but inexplicably cut the piano solo! So when I say it's the best, that's where "best" gets a 7 out of 10. The Act II Finale does not appear, either. However, the book does include most all the other songs from the musical. Many sheet music books from musicals omit more. I am looking forward to a vocal score being offered as these are a reduction rather than an arrangement and offer all the incidental music as well as instrumental and lead-in sections.

Hal Leonard often rates their arrangements on a difficulty scale but I can't find one on this book. I would give it a "2" on their 6 point scale where 6 is the hardest.

A bit dissapointing that the arrangements in the book are so bland and simple with the melody doubled in the piano and basic work added around this. With great vocal scores like 'Wicked', 'The Producers'and 'Witches of Eastwick'available with fantastic accompaniments 'Spamalot' is a tad dissapointing. However, all the great numbers from the show are here and with a talented accompanist to improve the arrangments this book is still a great buy.

Funny show and enjoyable music. At least one of the songs is not in the same key as what's sung on the original Broadway cast CD - an annoyance but rather typical of "vocal selections" music books. This is the publisher's decision (Hal Leonard), not Amazon's fault. On the positive side, this book has many of the songs and is much cheaper than the full piano-vocal score.

I think this is a very hilarious musical and has great comedic songs in it and perfect for musical revues ("The Song That Goes Like This") and auditions ("Diva's Lament").

i sang "whatever happened to my part" for my school's fundraiser and i love this musical with all my heart! i recommend this for any singer who wants to sing a musical song but get lots of laughs too!!!

I've thoroughly enjoyed listening and relistening to the songs on this CD while on the road. It's funny to hear how Broadway-ized the memorable scenes from the movie are in these songs. The only thing that came close to disappointment was not hearing the phrase "silly Enlish k-nig-ht" during the "Run Away" song.