Assassins: Vocal Selections
Category: Books,Arts & Photography,Music
Assassins: Vocal Selections Details
(Vocal Selections). This musical, with a book by John Weidman, explores the history of presidential assassination in America, from John Wilkes Booth to John Hinckley, Jr. Assassins climaxes in a surreal sequence where the assassins convince Lee Harvey Oswald that his act is the only way he will connect with them, with history, and with the world. Newly edited, with new music engravings, added songs, articles and photos. Includes: The Ballad of Booth * The Ballad of Czolgosz * The Ballad of Guiteau * Everybody's Got the Right * Something Just Broke * Unworthy of Your Love.
Reviews
This is, in my opinion, Sondheim's greatest musical to date. The score, although shorter than most of his, contains some of his wittiest lyrics: 'Or we'd have been left / Bereft / Of F.D.R.!', and some of the greatest tunes ('The Gun Song' is a personal favourite). Sondheim cleverly uses the marches of John Philip Sousa to evoke the ironic feeling of patriotism in a tale about presidential assassins. He also pastiches the music of Aaron Copland in many numbers. The combination of these styles and composers provides a truly American atmosphere, which, when heard out of context make wonderful songs, but in context of the show carry a deeper underscore of menace. Whether you're intending to produce the show or you just want to own a piece of Sondheim history, this score is a must!