Aspects on Lloyd Webber (Andrew Lloyd Webber Anthology)

Member Name: muppa

Product:	Andrew Lloyd Webber Anthology
Date:	25/06/07 (32 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Contains the best of the best by Lloyd Webber

Disadvantages: Misses out the last two deccades of his composing

This is a collection of some of the finest songs Andrew Lloyd Webber has written, dating from 1969, when his first musical Joseph and the amazing Technicolor dreamcoat was written, up to 1987, Starlight express being the most recent show in the book. Although Lloyd Webber has written several musicals since then, none of them have been as successful as his early shows. That makes this anthology a very good collection of his fines songs, although it misses the last twenty years of his career. The book contains songs from the shows Joseph…, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Cats, Song & Dance (Tell me on a Sunday), Requiem, Starlight Express and Phantom of the Opera. Lloyd Webbers composing stretches over a wide arrange of styles, from the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar, via the pop-style Starlight Express and Song & Dance to the semi-classical Requiem. His earlier works are less through composed and thematic than some of his later shows (ex Aspects of Love, Women in White). This is another reason why the earlier shows suit this anthology better than the later would have done. Publishing just a few songs from a thematic and throguh somposed musical never does the music justice.
The songs are presented with vocal line and piano accompaniments, as well as chords for the less experienced pianist. The layout of the music is big and clear, making it easier to read the many changes of key signature and time signature that appear in many of the songs, one of Lloyd Webbers hallmarks in composing. Most of the songs are solo songs from the shows, both for female and male voice. Where duets and ensemble songs appear, they do appear complete with all the parts, for example in Pie Jesu from Requiem for soprano and SATB choir, and All I ask of you from Phantom of the Opera, a duet.
As this book contains the best songs from the best of Lloyd Webbers shows, this book is a good alternative to buying the vocal selections of each individual show, to a very reasonable price. I can strongly recommend the book. Weather you are working vocally with a specific song for a concert, or just playing through all the songs in the book for fun this book will certainly give you a lot of pleasure.

Summary: A good alternative to buying all the seperate vocal selections from the shows.