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Oklahoma!
(Easy Piano). 6 easy piano arrangements of songs from this Broadway classic, including: Many a New Day * Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin' * Oklahoma * Out of My Dreams * People Will Say We're in Love * The Surrey with the Fringe on Top.
16 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1943
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 1, 2016
So sue me- I'm not a big "Oklahoma!" fan. Sure, it's the first modern American integrated book musical. Sure, it's the first Rodgers and Hammerstein score. Sure, it's launched careers from Shirley Jones to Hugh Jackman. But... it's not a perfect work. R&H hadn't mastered the balance between Americana and corn yet, so some moments feel a little too "aww, shucks" to be taken seriously. On the other hand, while the team would excel at creating complex, antiheroic protagonists later (Billy Bigelow in "Carousel," The King in "The King and I"), the two created here are somewhat undercooked. Curly is portrayed as almost a perfect cowboy cliché, except for the scene where he repeatedly insists that Jud should probably kill himself and is better off dead; Jud, on the other hand, is unevenly characterized as sometimes dangerous psychopath, sometimes bumbling buffoon. The supporting characters come off better than the leads- endlessly idealistic Will, lovably slutty Ado Annie, even ethnically ambiguous huckster Ali Hakim. Overall, though, "Oklahoma!" can feel like a first draft for a career that would later improve considerably.
October 20, 2019
I loved Oklahoma. I really want to see it. Here's my analysis:
The Musical Oklahoma, with music by Richard Rogers, and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, is considered the first “true book musicalâ€�. This is because the songs, music and dance of the show are well integrated into the musical and help tell the story and further the plot. In fact, the songs are so well integrated, they don’t even have titles, the musical just jumps right into them.Ìý
For example, in the song “Por Jud is Daid�, Curly easily alternates between singing and talking:
CURLY.Ìý
He’s all laid out to rest
With his hands across his chest.
His fingernails have never b’en so clean!
(JUD turns slowly to question the good taste of this last reference, but CURLY plunges straight into another item of the imagined wake.)
Nen the preacher’d git up and he’d say…�(1.2).
Older musicals such as Show Boat, and Pal Joey, do not have such as ease of transitioning between talking and singing. There’s a set time to sing and a set time to talk. But in Oklahoma, you never know when characters could easily slip into song. Music is treated differently, there are snatches of songs throughout, and refrains, music is not a side part of the story, it is the story.
Dances too are not just an extra bit on top of the show. For example, the “Dream Ballet� in Oklahoma, uses music and dance to tell Laurey’s deepest fears, and show that she truly does love Curly (1.3).
Another difference is the depth songs give to a character. Songs in Oklahoma, tell us what the characters are thinking and gives us deeper insight into what they want, and are fighting for, while songs from earlier shows would tell us about about a character, it often was only one aspect of the character; songs in Oklahoma, give us well rounded characters. I think the song “Lonely Roomâ€�, sung by Jud, does really shows his character, and helps the viewer understand him, to the point of pitying him.Ìý
JUD.
ÌýÌýÌý And all the things I wish fer
ÌýÌýÌý Turn out like I want them to be,
ÌýÌýÌý And I’m better’n that Smart Aleck cowhand
ÌýÌýÌý Who thinks he is better’n me!
ÌýÌýÌý And the girl that I want
ÌýÌýÌý Ain’t afraid of my arms,
ÌýÌýÌý And her own soft arms keep me warm.
With Oklahoma, the lyrics to the songs are just as important as the music that goes along with them. Oscar Hammerstein, carefully thought through his libretto, while earlier plays I feel did not always think so carefully about their words. With lyrics that are poetry, like: “Oklahoma,/Where the wind comes sweepinâ€� down the plain,/And the wavinâ€� wheat/Can sure smell sweet/When the wind comes right behind the rainâ€� (2.3).ÌýÌý
Thus, Oklahoma broke away from earlier musicals, through the use of music and dance to tell the story and give further insights into the characters. What else can I say, except: “‘You’re doin� fine, Oklahoma!/Oklahoma, O.K.!�,�(2.3).
The Musical Oklahoma, with music by Richard Rogers, and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, is considered the first “true book musicalâ€�. This is because the songs, music and dance of the show are well integrated into the musical and help tell the story and further the plot. In fact, the songs are so well integrated, they don’t even have titles, the musical just jumps right into them.Ìý
For example, in the song “Por Jud is Daid�, Curly easily alternates between singing and talking:
CURLY.Ìý
He’s all laid out to rest
With his hands across his chest.
His fingernails have never b’en so clean!
(JUD turns slowly to question the good taste of this last reference, but CURLY plunges straight into another item of the imagined wake.)
Nen the preacher’d git up and he’d say…�(1.2).
Older musicals such as Show Boat, and Pal Joey, do not have such as ease of transitioning between talking and singing. There’s a set time to sing and a set time to talk. But in Oklahoma, you never know when characters could easily slip into song. Music is treated differently, there are snatches of songs throughout, and refrains, music is not a side part of the story, it is the story.
Dances too are not just an extra bit on top of the show. For example, the “Dream Ballet� in Oklahoma, uses music and dance to tell Laurey’s deepest fears, and show that she truly does love Curly (1.3).
Another difference is the depth songs give to a character. Songs in Oklahoma, tell us what the characters are thinking and gives us deeper insight into what they want, and are fighting for, while songs from earlier shows would tell us about about a character, it often was only one aspect of the character; songs in Oklahoma, give us well rounded characters. I think the song “Lonely Roomâ€�, sung by Jud, does really shows his character, and helps the viewer understand him, to the point of pitying him.Ìý
JUD.
ÌýÌýÌý And all the things I wish fer
ÌýÌýÌý Turn out like I want them to be,
ÌýÌýÌý And I’m better’n that Smart Aleck cowhand
ÌýÌýÌý Who thinks he is better’n me!
ÌýÌýÌý And the girl that I want
ÌýÌýÌý Ain’t afraid of my arms,
ÌýÌýÌý And her own soft arms keep me warm.
With Oklahoma, the lyrics to the songs are just as important as the music that goes along with them. Oscar Hammerstein, carefully thought through his libretto, while earlier plays I feel did not always think so carefully about their words. With lyrics that are poetry, like: “Oklahoma,/Where the wind comes sweepinâ€� down the plain,/And the wavinâ€� wheat/Can sure smell sweet/When the wind comes right behind the rainâ€� (2.3).ÌýÌý
Thus, Oklahoma broke away from earlier musicals, through the use of music and dance to tell the story and give further insights into the characters. What else can I say, except: “‘You’re doin� fine, Oklahoma!/Oklahoma, O.K.!�,�(2.3).
January 28, 2020
A great piece of musical history, and fun to watch (although the dream sequence was WEIRD). As per the usual, the songs were better than the script.
Read
April 14, 2009The ancient Greeks were the first people to create plays and theater, but it was the United States that gave the world musical theater. In 1943 Richard Rodgers and composer Oscar Hammerstein II introduced the world to plays that incorporated music and songs to further the plot through Oklahoma! Oklahoma takes place in Oklahoma right before it is made a state. It is the entertaining and often intense story of a girl, Laurie, caught between two men. On one side she finds herself liking the handsome and kind (though a little arogant at times) cowboy Curly, yet on the other she feels herself attracted to the dangerous farm hand Jud Fry. Confusion on who to love seems to be a theme in Oklahoma, as Ado Annie, friend of Laurie's and part time comic relief, finds herself between Will Parker and Ali Hackim. Her decision is more left up to if Will has fifty dollars than who she really wants, as she likes whoever she's with the best. It's an awesome play, especially as the first of it's kind. Not only was it simply introduced by the US, but it was truly and American play, focusing on our own specific history and culture. It talks about the role of Kansas City on southern culture in the song that states "everythings up to date in Kansas City." It also tells the story of the tension between the farmer's and cowboys in that territory before it became a state and how they had to come together to succeed. I think it's an amazing play in every way, to the fun of the unintelligent Will Parker, to the depth of creepiness portrayed by Jud through his song "Lonley Room" and his confession to killing a girl and her family for not dating him. It's amazing and I love it. :)
February 9, 2018
Oklahoma!, screenplay by Sonya Levien, William Ludwig, based on dramatic play by Lynn Riggs
Oklahoma has won two Academy Awards and was nominated for a further two at the Ceremony in 1956
However, this viewer must state upfront that he was not crazy about this musical, in spite of its poster image with:
“It’s Here!
The best-loved Musical of our time�
Now a motion picture big as all outdoors�
Well, maybe, but apart from Rod Steiger, one of the greatest actors of all time, there was little to make it so resplendent.
The plot is simple, maybe too crude, even if that should be compensated by the music and dancing.
Indeed, there are a couple of songs that even this critical spectator enjoyed and the modern ballet was impressive.
The Surrey With The Fringe on Top was one of the favorite chants, notwithstanding the crudeness of the lines:
“Chicks and ducks and geese better scurry
When I take you out in the surrey,
When I take you out in the surrey with the fringe on top!�
The verses of the songs do not contrast however with the manner of speaking of the protagonists.
None of them has attended school.
Well, not for more than two years.
They say:
“You was, they is� on a regular basis.
And Now For Something Completely Different (Monty Python masterpieces- these are films that one should see instead of losing time with Oklahoma):
Some of the characters involved do have Signature Strengths and I refer here to Curly McLain, simple but also showing:
Vitality, Love, Kindness, Persistence- he sells everything he has, Bravery, Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence
Gratitude, Hope, some Humor, Modesty, Perspective and more
When his nemesis and rival for the affection of Ado Annie Carnes is bidding for lunch with her, the hero takes this to an extreme.
Curly has only five dollars to use to gain permission to lunch with the woman he loves, in a charity event.
However, when Jud Fry, the evil personage portrayed by the genius actor Rod Steiger, outbids him, the romantic hero gives all he has.
First, he sells his saddle for ten dollars, and then he gives away his horse for fifteen and finally sells his pistol.
That is commendable.
Perhaps outstanding, glorious.
The other song that I have enjoyed is Oh What A Beautiful Morning:
“Oh, what a beautiful mornin',
Oh, what a beautiful day.
I got a beautiful feelin'
Ev'rything's goin' my way.�
Oklahoma! Has been remarked upon by The New York Times, albeit it is somewhat hard to see why.
It is on the prestigious newspaper’s list of Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made:
Oklahoma has won two Academy Awards and was nominated for a further two at the Ceremony in 1956
However, this viewer must state upfront that he was not crazy about this musical, in spite of its poster image with:
“It’s Here!
The best-loved Musical of our time�
Now a motion picture big as all outdoors�
Well, maybe, but apart from Rod Steiger, one of the greatest actors of all time, there was little to make it so resplendent.
The plot is simple, maybe too crude, even if that should be compensated by the music and dancing.
Indeed, there are a couple of songs that even this critical spectator enjoyed and the modern ballet was impressive.
The Surrey With The Fringe on Top was one of the favorite chants, notwithstanding the crudeness of the lines:
“Chicks and ducks and geese better scurry
When I take you out in the surrey,
When I take you out in the surrey with the fringe on top!�
The verses of the songs do not contrast however with the manner of speaking of the protagonists.
None of them has attended school.
Well, not for more than two years.
They say:
“You was, they is� on a regular basis.
And Now For Something Completely Different (Monty Python masterpieces- these are films that one should see instead of losing time with Oklahoma):
Some of the characters involved do have Signature Strengths and I refer here to Curly McLain, simple but also showing:
Vitality, Love, Kindness, Persistence- he sells everything he has, Bravery, Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence
Gratitude, Hope, some Humor, Modesty, Perspective and more
When his nemesis and rival for the affection of Ado Annie Carnes is bidding for lunch with her, the hero takes this to an extreme.
Curly has only five dollars to use to gain permission to lunch with the woman he loves, in a charity event.
However, when Jud Fry, the evil personage portrayed by the genius actor Rod Steiger, outbids him, the romantic hero gives all he has.
First, he sells his saddle for ten dollars, and then he gives away his horse for fifteen and finally sells his pistol.
That is commendable.
Perhaps outstanding, glorious.
The other song that I have enjoyed is Oh What A Beautiful Morning:
“Oh, what a beautiful mornin',
Oh, what a beautiful day.
I got a beautiful feelin'
Ev'rything's goin' my way.�
Oklahoma! Has been remarked upon by The New York Times, albeit it is somewhat hard to see why.
It is on the prestigious newspaper’s list of Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made:
Read
January 24, 2023A classic. I didn't have a ton of thoughts reading this, but I liked the way that it was written the exact way the characters talked, in the Southern dialect that they talked in. Oklahoma! created so many standards in the musical theatre world, and I did enjoy the process of reading it, I think the story is very sweet and I'd love to see it in person.
February 6, 2024
A good musical. I read alongside the 1954 production and overall it was a sweet read and watch. It was surprisingly progressive in terms of gender roles and quite funny at times. It’s not my favorite music or storyline but I understand why it’s a classic in American musical theatre history. The song “Oklahoma� EATS. Also the peddler Ali Hakim>>
January 29, 2020
4.5 stars. It surprised me when I directed this piece, just how much I liked the script. Much more complex than I had anticipated or remembered growing up.
March 29, 2021
An all time classic
December 28, 2010
Performed with WHS in 2008
July 8, 2014
I offer the classic review of a musical's script: it has such catchy tunes.
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