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West Side story

Author: Leonard Bernstein
Publisher: Chilton Book Co
Category: Book


This item is no longer available

Avg. Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars 5 reviews


ASIN: B000711OZC

Publication Date: 1973

Also Available In:

  • Hardcover - West Side Story
  • Hardcover - West Side Story (Heinemann Floodlights)
  • Paperback - West Side Story Edition: Vocal Selections
  • Paperback - Vocal Selections from "West Side Story"
  • Paperback - West Side Story (Vocal Score)
  • Paperback - West Side Story: Vocal Selections
  • Unknown Binding - West Side story;
  • Unknown Binding - West Side story
  • Hardcover - West Side Story
  • Paperback - West Side Story (Vocal Score)
  • Unknown Binding - West Side story

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  • West Side Story (1957 Original Broadway Cast)
  • Les Miserables: Vocal Selections
  • West Side Story (Full Screen Edition)
  • You Sing The Hits of West Side Story (karaoke)
  • West Side Story

Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
This revised edition celebrates the legacy of one of the most famous musicals of all time with 13 newly engraved songs, a show biography and plot notes, facsimiles of Bernstein's original manuscripts, and 16 pages of photos from various productions. Songs include: America * Cool * I Feel Pretty * Jet Song * Maria * One Hand, One Heart * Something's Coming * Somewhere * Tonight * and more.


Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars High Quality Printing   January 1, 2008
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

The piano and vocals are clearly printed which makes for a good quality score. Chords for each harmony are printed in the vocal sections but not in the introductary measures. Difficulty of music depends on the particular song for example, "Somewhere" and "One Hand, One Heart" are easier. I've enjoyed playing this music and would recommend it.


5 out of 5 stars West Side Vocal Score   September 17, 2007
 2 out of 2 found this review helpful

If you want to play/arrange/orchestrate or simply see the genius of Berstein, this is the way to go. As an arranger, I needed reference to orchestrate a West Side Story Medley for a show, and I'm not talking your regular "standard" tunes. This vocal score is also a piano reduction of the orchestrations and was aboslutely what I needed. You can see nearly every instrument line, counter melody, even instrument indications. This was the best $50.00 I may have every spent. Saved me hours and hours of trying to "lift" off the lines. They were all there, even for the dance sections from Cool & The Rumble, which is what I really needed. Don't hestitate if you're looking for the real Berstein stuff!


4 out of 5 stars For the intermediate   December 28, 2006
The book is medium-it isn't an easy book you only play once and then you're bored, but it isn't very difficult. Some of the arrangements are needlessly crazy, but some are well done. A piano player of about 3-5 years is about the right level.


5 out of 5 stars Great transcription of the full score   April 21, 2006
 8 out of 8 found this review helpful

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.



5 out of 5 stars West Side Story is Fabulous   April 11, 2000
 2 out of 7 found this review helpful

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.

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