Stephen Sondheim Orchestrations CD?

[raulmark]

Posted: 3/16/09 at 1:43am

Hey everyone
Does anyone know if there is a CD that exists that has the orchestrations on Sondheim's music? Not sung, just the music?
If so, please let me know and a revue of it if you own it.
thanks!
Sometimes I want to hear the music and not have the words in the way...

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 3/16/09 at 1:45am

I have the Company karaoke CD. It's not that bad. But, the guide vocal CD that comes with it is pretty bad. I've also heard a few of the in Jazz CDs and they're pretty fun. I especially liked "You Can Drive a Person Crazy" in jazz.

[nobodyhome]

Posted: 3/16/09 at 5:58am

I can't tell if you want instrumental versions of the music or if you just want the orchestral parts as they'd be played for the show, without the vocal line. You say you want the orchestrations, but then you write "Sometimes I want to hear the music and not have the words in the way...," which suggests something different.

If you just want to listen, as opposed to singing along, a CD that would have just the accompaniment probably wouldn't be much fun.

If you want instrumental versions of the song, you might try the Symphonic Sondheim CD. It's out of print but available cheaply from amazon sellers.

The Trotter Trio did jazz versions of several Sondheim scores. Most of those CDs are out of print. Some are pretty cheap from amazon sellers, some are not. But some of those might be a little more jazzy than what you want.

It's too bad that the Book of the Month Sondheim two-CD set has never been reissued as that had some lovely chamber versions of some songs, along with a substantial Pacific Overtures suite. A couple of numbers from the suite have been recorded elsewhere, for instance, on Sondheim Tonight! but it may not be worth you getting that two-CD set for a couple of relatively brief tracks.

Updated On: 3/16/09 at 05:58 AM