Customer Reviews

The Singer's Musical Theatre Anthology: Mezzo-Soprano/Belter, Vol. 4

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

 

 

Hi!

I got this book from Amazon.com a few weeks ago and it is great.

It includes songs from classic Broadway shows -familiar shows and others not very known- and more recent plays, such as Spamalot, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Wicked and Urinetown.

The print format is very spacey and the songs are quite accurate. Occasionally I've found little differences between the recorded tracks I own and whats written in the book, but I'm talking about one-two notes top.

The book includes and introduction clearing a lot of things, which is worth reading, and an appendix about all the shows included with usefull information (authors, directors, number of performances, premiere dates, as well as a context paragraph with the show's story line, so you can know what the songs included are about).

I love this book. And I will keep on buying this series.

Two things I want to clear that were a bit confusing for me when I bought it:

1. This book is just the sheet music. It does not include any CD or audio tape.

2. The list of songs is the one mentioned in the first reviews listed. I know there's a review for another book with the same song list, but those are the songs for this book. (This was hughely confusing for me when I first bought this).

Just in case, I'm re-copying the list of the song included in this volume (Singer's Musical Theater Anthology, Volume 4, Mezzo-Soprano/belter, Blue Cover), so no one else gets confused.

AIDA: The past is another land

I know the truth

ANNIE GET YOUR GUN: I got lost in his arms

ASPECTS OF LOVE: Anything buy Lonely

AVENUE Q: There's a fine, fine line

THE BEAUTIFUL GAME: Our kind of love

BELLS ARE RINGING: I'm going back

THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS: Hard Candy Christmas

THE BOY FROM OZ: Don't cry out loud

CHESS: Heaven help my heart

CHICAGO: Nowadays

Roxie

A CHORUS LINE: The Music and the Mirror

ELEGIES FOR ANGELS, PUNKS, AND RAGING QUEENS: Angels, Punks and Raging Queens

FOLLIES: I'm still here

THE FULL MONTY: Life with Harold

GRAND HOTEL: I want to go to Hollywood

GREASE: There are worse things I could do

HAIRSPRAY: I can hear the bells

Miss Baltimore Crabs

I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE: I will be loved tonight

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR: I don't know how to love him

THE LAST FIVE YEARS: Still hurting

See I'm Smiling

THE LION KING: Shadowland

SPAMALOT: Whatever happened to my part?

THE PRODUCERS: When you got it, flaunt it

SONGS FOR NEW WORLD: Just one step

A STAR IS BORN: The man that got away

THOROUGHLY MODERN Millie: Gimme gimme

WICKED: Popular

I'm not that girl

The wizard and I

THE WILD PARTY: Look at me now

How did we come to this?

WISH YOU WERE HERE: Shopping around

WONDERFUL TOWN: One hundred easy ways

(Show titles are in CAPITAL LETTERS and songs follow).

Best of luck!

This book is an important addition to any mezzo's musical theater collection. Some may say that this volume is a bit heavy with the number of contemporary pieces, but I feel it picks up where the previous volumes have left off. Includes work by JRB, Marc Shiman, and pieces from Lippa's production of "The Wild Party". Of course the mega-musical of the decade, Wicked, is represented, though the show's most memorable piece "Defying Gravity" is not included. The book is, as is the case with most of the volumes, rather ballade heavy. Good up-tempos are few and far between, and many of those that are included are a overdone (i.e. Wicked's "Popular").

But, despite a few short-comings, overall this volume is a must-have for anyone looking to beef up their contemporary repertoire.

One review said that this was the book of sheet music and not the CDs. It's this opposite. This is the CDs and NOT the book of sheet music. Since Amazon's decription didn't say either way, I trusted the review. I will have to return. If you want the book of sheet music, DO NOT ORDER THIS!!!!!

Excellent collection for "mezzos" from the world of musical theater entertainment.

The only negative is that it needs updating so soon - there were 35 new musicals on Broadway alone in the last 15 months.

This series is one of the most useful ever, because of the scope of the selections and the pracicality of them.

Just exactly what it says it is, this set does not disappoint!! You can use this accompaniment for performances or even karaoke!

I got it fast, it was in great condition and it was easy to find in the stores. I am extremely happy.

I thought I was getting the CD and the songbook, but it seems that I was wrong. This product is just the CDs, which are great. I now have to separately order the book, which is a bit annoying.

I was disappointed to open my package and find that the book only included CDs, and no music to actually sing from. The seller should have specified that the book did not include music. If you are looking for the music AND accompaniment, be sure to look for an item that states that it includes music and accompaniment CDs, so you don't make the same mistake I did.