Purchasing Complete Vocal Scores

[macheath]

Posted: 2/23/07 at 12:24am

Where can I purchase the complete vocal musical score for a show?

I am looking for Kiss Of The Spider Woman. There is a vocal selections score but it doesn't include the song I'm looking for: Marta.

[lesmisforever]

Posted: 2/23/07 at 12:32am

I don't think there are any available.. perhaps contact the composer.

[macheath]

Posted: 2/23/07 at 12:44am

Where do theatre companies get the scores then? Am I not able to retrieve it myself without purchasing the rights? I want to have the entire character off book before my audition.

[sondhead]

Posted: 2/23/07 at 1:00am

Are you freaking kidding me? You don't think they're available? Try going to a music store.

As for Spiderwoman, it is not published. Theatre companies rent them from the licensing agent and if they want them early they pay more in rental fees. The only way you as a not theatrical producing company to rent one from a licensing agent would be to ask for a perusal which usually involves a security deposit of some sort (around $50) to be refunded upon safe return of the score. However, I don't really know of any licensing company that would let you do this without at least pretending to be a producer of musicals.

There are many other scores that are published, however. Do a search online. Many many many older shows (think golden age) are published as are most Sondheim shows (except for Evening Primrose Frogs Bounce and other such oddities of the Sondheim collection). Some more recent publications include both of Guettel's earlier works (Floyd Collins and Myths & Hymns--some editions say Vocal Selections but it is in fact the score as licensed through R&H. Actually, it's the score as licensed with an additional song entitled Prometheus), and Gordon's "My Life With Albertine". I'd be willing to bet Piazza will be published once the professional production runs its course, opening the show up to amateur productions.

Alas, most Kander and Ebb shows are unpublished. The only one I can think of is Cabaret. That book for The World Goes 'Round is marked as a vocal score but anyone who has done that show and seen the book know that it is most definitely not.

Keep in mind scores are not like selections books. Most newer shows will set you back $100 and even the oldies are $50. The only less than $50 scores I can think of are Myths & Hymns because it is so skinny they billed it as a selections (has this been changed for subsequent printings?) and the British printings (on 8.5x11 paper instead of A3) of My Fair Lady and Oliver.

[sondhead]

Posted: 2/23/07 at 1:03am

Amazon's image shows it marked as a score now, but mine definitely says Vocal Selections! Regardless, Score is more accurate. When licensed, they really do send the Saturn Returns that combines the two pieces on the CD. Very odd, if you ask me. There is also no licensed orchestration for it--you can only do Piano alone. Shame.

[BroadwayPenguin2]

Posted: 2/23/07 at 2:04pm

Try asking someone who is doing the show right now Updated On: 2/23/07 at 02:04 PM

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 2/23/07 at 2:09pm

They's just have the vocal line with no accompinament. That wouldn't suit you well.

[maybethistime]

Posted: 2/23/07 at 2:10pm

...or just wait. Having an entire character off-book before an audition (that you might not even get) is slightly ridiculous.

[sondhead]

Posted: 2/23/07 at 4:43pm

"They's just have the vocal line with no accompinament. That wouldn't suit you well."

No. You can order a perusal piano-vocal score. The scores I listed for purchase are piano-vocal as well.

However, I hadn't read that this is a search for a show you haven't even been cast in.. and ya.. that's kind of ridiculous.

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 2/23/07 at 5:01pm

That was in reference to the post right above me. You can't ask someone who's doing the show right now to get a piano-vocal score. They won't have one. What they will have is what I mentioned in that post.

[sondhead]

Posted: 2/23/07 at 5:10pm

That's not true. If you're doing a show you would definitely have the piano-vocal score or at least any competent production company would.

[markymatt]

Posted: 2/23/07 at 5:12pm

This is a link to a music store in Va. They do mail order.
Cramer's Music Center

[Jon]

Posted: 2/23/07 at 6:22pm

If you're doing the show, the MUSICAL DIRECTOR has the complete score. In most cases, the actors only have "chorus books", which have no accompaniment. If the actors have complete scores, it's probably because they were given xerox copies (which is technically illegal).

[yankee_fan907]

Posted: 2/25/07 at 10:01pm

It's not illegal if it's coming from the person who wrote the musical or if their permission is given, which wouldn't surprise me in a newer production...

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 12:14am

Sondhead, I've done plenty of shows. I've NEVER had a full piano-vocal score for any musical I've done. I've never had a full one in an opera I've done. Believe me it doesn't happen. It's not even a given for newer shows. You'll have what you numbers you're in a lot of times.

[shanescot]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 2:23am

You might want to check your local library-probably the main branch. I don't know about 'Kiss of the Spider Woman,' but I was at the library today and got the complete scores for 'A Chorus Line' and 'Closer Than Ever.' I saw loads of other scores, but they weren't very recent (lots of 'old school' shows prior to the 80's). You will most likely find the Vocal Selections for the show you are looking for. Good luck.

[JBSinger]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 11:01am

1) contact John Kander and ask for a copy of the song. He'll likely have his assistant send you a copy.(PM me for the address)
2) pretend you're a theatre company and order the perusal score from Sam French. costly, time wasting.

[sondhead]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 11:08am

"Sondhead, I've done plenty of shows. I've NEVER had a full piano-vocal score for any musical I've done. I've never had a full one in an opera I've done. Believe me it doesn't happen. It's not even a given for newer shows. You'll have what you numbers you're in a lot of times."

She said shouldn't the theatre have it, and I when someone responded that all the theatre gets is the vocal line I said that was incorrect. I have never said that cast members get scores.

In response to an earlier post, your library had Closer Than Ever and Chorus Line because they are both published. Occassionally libraries will have unpublished scores, but that's a pretty special occasion. Lincoln Center and a few others have such things.

By the way, most theatres keep archival copies of scores to shows they've done, so contacting a theatre company that has done the unpublished show you're looking for can also work sometimes.

[Horton]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 12:20pm

check your pm's macheath.