Product Description

Jason Robert Brown, the creator of Parade and Songs for a New World, has written a distinctive new Off-Broadway musical. The Last Five Years tells the story of a failed marriage of 20-somethings: he a successful novelist, she a struggling actress. Her story is told in reverse, his conventionally moving forward. They meet in the middle at the point of their wedding. Brown's strong writing has found a solid following among musical theatre fans. Our songbook features piano/vocal arrangements of 12 songs: Goodbye Until Tomorrow/I Could Never Rescue You * I Can Do Better Than That * If I Didn't Believe in You * Moving Too Fast * The Next Ten Minutes * Nobody Needs to Know * A Part of That * The Schmuel Song * Shiksa Goddess * Still Hurting * A Summer in Ohio * When You Come Home to Me."Short, bittersweet and nearly perfect, Brown has come up with a winning combination of music and book."- Variety

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #80385 in Books
• Brand: Hal Leonard
• Published on: 2003-05
• Released on: 2003-07-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 128 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780634048289
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Customer Reviews

a terrific songbook
Let provide a little more information about this book, which i absolutely love. Like all of the other Jason Robert Brown vocal selections, this one is characterized by complex piano arrangements (for the most part transcriptions of the actual piano parts you hear on the recording). The casual player will find these arrangements MUCH more difficult to play than the average broadway vocal selections (such as Phantom, Les Miz) because they are not simplified. However, the intermediate player will find much to love in these pieces. I think of the JRB trifecta (last 5 years, parade, songs for a new world) to be a pretty great workshop in how to play rock piano accompaniments.

This book is definately my favorite of the 3. The first reason is that it is by far the most complete. All but 2 songs are presented (See I'm Smiling, and A Miracle Would Happen), although a few songs lose interludes (the intro to Still Hurting and the matching exit from Goodbye Til Tommorow). Climbing Uphill is combined into "When you come home to me".

Second, wow, the music. This stuff just feels great under the fingers and I think Brown has really matured as a composer with the variety in this work.

Music For A Great Show
I, like many many others, have fallen in love with the Off-Broadway recording of The Last Five Years. I was also very fortunate to have seen it as well. Awesome show, awesome music. There isn't anything else to say. This is really the best as far as small musicals go in my opinion. Not only is it startling realistic, but the music is sophisticated and the lyrics are complex. But only in the very best ways. So of course, being a thespian I must have the music for this spectacular show so that I can feel somewhat connected to it. Of course there is the benefit of being able to sing the great songs by myself instead of with the recording (which isn't all that bad either). First thing to consider: The music is very difficult to play. The piano score for this is incredibly complex and difficult and hasn't really been toned down from the actual music. Therefore, those looking to get this book for audition songs, I wouldn't reccomend it. Unless the pianist has seen it, is an excellent piano player, and has had time to study it, it will not go over well. You would have be an absolute genius at the piano to be able to sight read this music well. So that is very unfortunate. Another odd thing about this music book is that almost every song in the show is in it. The only ones that aren't in it are See I'm Smiling and A Miracle Would Happen. Usually they leave out more songs than that, but it makes for the fact that you'll probably get everything you're looking for. But this music collection is essential for anyone who loves theatre and wants their own music. Then again, even if you aren't into theatre, the music in this book is also appealing to many who are simply into music itself. A big reccomendation.

Just about everything you want
Piano playing is my hobby, singing is my passion. The music is not the easiest I've played, but I really bought the book because the songs are great for singing: auditions, cabaret, or just for fun! It's GREAT music! It does not include all the songs on the CD however, but it has the fun ones, so I wasn't too disappointed. It also does not include the haunting little piano ditty that plays at the beginning and the end of the show. The melody is not in the accompaniment, so it's probably not too good for piano solos, but overall, it's a good buy.