AN AMERICAN CHRISTMAS

By Robert M. Isgro
Piano/Vocal score for a new musical loosely based on O.Henry's classic short story, The Gift of the Magi, with words and music by Dr. Robert M. Isgro.

xii + 149 Pages

Comb Binding

Piano/Vocal Score alone: $25.00

AN AMERICAN CHRISTMAS is loosely based on O.Henry's touching short story, The gift of the Magi, published in 1906. O.Henry's classic tale has delighted readers with its warm sentiment and surprise ending for over a century. AN AMERICAN CHRISTMAS expands upon O.henry's basic story with the addition of fourteen originals songs and several new characters and incidents. Much of the new material and many of the songs express the thoughts, hopes, frustrations, and emotions of the protaganists, Jim and Della. Additionally, some of the songs offer wry observations about other aspects of Christmas in America; hence, the title: AN AMERICAN CHRISTMAS.

Dr. Robert M. Isgro is a native of upstate New York. He earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Columbia University in New York City and his Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. While an undergraduate student at Columbia University he contributed original music to its annual Varsity Show. Through subsequent years his principal activities have centered on being Director of Choral Activities, conducting, teaching and being Chair of the Music Department at SUNY Geneseo. He held the post of Chair of the Music Department for more than half of his 35 years tenure there. Under his direction there, his select choir, The Geneseo Chamber Singers achieved an envious international reputation, with well-received performances at prestigious national and regional music and professional conventions-including several for the American Choral Directors Association, the Music Educators National conference, the College Music Society, and the National Association of Teachers of Singing. In addition, the Geneseo Chamber Singers made eight concert tours to Europe, with performances in the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Poland, Italy, France, and Spain, and produced nine volumes of recorded choral music.

The purchase of the Piano-Vocal Score of AN AMERICAN CHRISTMAS carries with it permission to perform any of the selections in the publication in a concert, recital, or cabaret setting. However, to perform a staged production, performance rights must be obtained directly from the composer. In addition, the full score - orchestrated for piano, synthesizer, drums, and bass - full script, vocal and instrumental parts are available from the same source, as is an excellent demonstration CD containing virutally all of the music of the show. For further information regarding these and performance production rights,
contact:
Robert M. Isgro
13 Melody Lane
Geneseo. New York 14554
Phone: (585) 243-3316