Leonard Bernstein Stephen Sondheim: West Side Story: Piano: Album Songbook

From one of the most famous musicals of all time here is the swingin' and aptly titled ?Cool.? Mark's version for young players remains true to the original but adds a touch of contemporary flair with the melody passed from section to section and solo space for trumpet. Timeless!

West Side Story-One Hand One Heart is another wonderful song from West Side Story. With music written by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim this piece is for SSA with piano accompaniment.

Easy Piano Selections-Eight easy Piano selections from the hit Broadway show with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Now you can play some of the most popular and iconic braodway anthems with these simplified uncomplicated arrangements. Arranged for Piano with full lyrics and chord symbols and includes many highlights with America Maria and I Feel Pretty.

One Hand One Heart is a duet from the hit musical West Side Story. It is sung by the two main protagonists Maria and Tony as they dream about their wedding and their life together. It is a bittersweet song as it marks the sole moment of happiness for the couple before reality returns and fear and violence are restored. West Side Story is possibly the most famous musical ever. Inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet it is set in 1950s New York City and chronicles the life love and losses of two rival gangs. Written in 1957 with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by StephenSondheim the original setting was highly topical as gang violence was rife at the time but it is often seen as a metaphor for many areas of conflict - one of the reasons the production has remained popular to this day.

Contemporary marimba virtuoso William Moersch has consistently commissioned the best musicians possible to create works for his instrument. In 1984 Bennett wrote his first work for Moersch After Syrinx II based on Debussyâ??s Syrinx for Flute solo and written. Then in 1988 Richard Rodney Bennett agreed to create an â??Americanâ?? concerto and so composed this concerto in two movements I con moto and II con brio that display the versatility of the instrument. Both movements feature blazing cadenzas by the marimba but it is in the cadenza in the second movement that the marimba essentially becomes the entire Orchestra in the Orchestraâ??s dominant 6/8 time signature andleads the piece on to a brilliant ending. Composer performer and arranger Richard Rodney Bennett was internationally respected for his serious music and many award-winning film scores (Murder on the Orient Express Nicholas and Alexandra) as well as his works for children and his religious pieces. In addition this markedly versatile musician frequently performed as a jazz pianist. On his move to the United States the two sponsors for his green card (work permit) were Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim.