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The King and I
Complete vocal score to the classic with all 14 songs, including: Getting to Know You * Hello, Young Lovers * I Whistle a Happy Tune * Shall We Dance? * Something Wonderful * We Kiss in a Shadow * and more.
198 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1951
About the author
Richard Rodgers
733 books14 followersRichard Charles Rodgers (June 28, 1902 – December 30, 1979) was an American composer who worked primarily in musical theater.
With 43 Broadway musicals and over 900 songs to his credit, Rodgers was one of the best-known American composers of the 20th century, and his compositions had a significant influence on popular music.
Richard Rodgers was in the inaugural group of Kennedy Center Honorees in 1978 for lifetime achievement in the arts.
In 1990, the 46th Street Theatre was renamed the Richard Rodgers Theatre in his memory.
With 43 Broadway musicals and over 900 songs to his credit, Rodgers was one of the best-known American composers of the 20th century, and his compositions had a significant influence on popular music.
Richard Rodgers was in the inaugural group of Kennedy Center Honorees in 1978 for lifetime achievement in the arts.
In 1990, the 46th Street Theatre was renamed the Richard Rodgers Theatre in his memory.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 5, 2021
Read for FYS 119 The Great American Musical
I don't know if this is actually what I read, but its the only thing I can find. I read the actual libretto, not the compositions. It is very fine. Aside from all of the racist stuff, it is a perfectly okay musical. It has a couple well known songs, and an interesting mechanic for the Siamese language. However, it is hard to not look at the racial inequalities presented. It is very much trying to say that the West is a proper and Godly culture, while the East is not. Almost all of the Siamese characters are presented poorly, and were played, both on Broadway and in the film, by white actors. I can appreciate it as a piece of musical history, but it is certainly not my favorite.
I don't know if this is actually what I read, but its the only thing I can find. I read the actual libretto, not the compositions. It is very fine. Aside from all of the racist stuff, it is a perfectly okay musical. It has a couple well known songs, and an interesting mechanic for the Siamese language. However, it is hard to not look at the racial inequalities presented. It is very much trying to say that the West is a proper and Godly culture, while the East is not. Almost all of the Siamese characters are presented poorly, and were played, both on Broadway and in the film, by white actors. I can appreciate it as a piece of musical history, but it is certainly not my favorite.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2023
a. (spoiler) i forgot the king dies at the end
b. i don’t recommend reading book versions of musicals it’s a bit odd
c. i feel that many of the characters were not fully fleshed out which obviously has to do with the racist caricatures that make up the whole show and may have also been because i was reading it not watching it
d. i do love rogers and hammerstein’s music (meaning mostly just the sound of music) so extra bonus points for that
b. i don’t recommend reading book versions of musicals it’s a bit odd
c. i feel that many of the characters were not fully fleshed out which obviously has to do with the racist caricatures that make up the whole show and may have also been because i was reading it not watching it
d. i do love rogers and hammerstein’s music (meaning mostly just the sound of music) so extra bonus points for that
January 19, 2018
One of Richard Rodgers's and Oscar Hammerstein's majestic collaborations!
February 16, 2026
Quick read… will like to watch the musical and film of it too!
October 15, 2026
Finished "The King and I (Score)" with one key takeaway: "Richard Rodgers" isn't just writing books, they're waking people up. The narrative touches the core struggle for human dignity against systemic control. Brilliant piece by "Richard Rodgers".
April 3, 2026
An amazingly popular musical from 1951, which is still winning awards and still being staged today.
Despite its dated (and demeaning) depiction of the royal family of Siam (Thailand), the basic tension arises from the assumptions and misunderstandings between 'civilized' western culture as represented by an Englishwoman who becomes governess to the royal children, and their father, the king, a traditional absolute monarch who not only has to deal with a woman who does not know her place but a world that is undermining his. Humor, a dash of doomed young love, and a lot of good songs.
Despite its dated (and demeaning) depiction of the royal family of Siam (Thailand), the basic tension arises from the assumptions and misunderstandings between 'civilized' western culture as represented by an Englishwoman who becomes governess to the royal children, and their father, the king, a traditional absolute monarch who not only has to deal with a woman who does not know her place but a world that is undermining his. Humor, a dash of doomed young love, and a lot of good songs.
February 1, 2016
I feel bad saying this, but... meh. I played the King in eighth grade, but time hasn't made me more of a fan of Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic. Part of the trouble is the way they've written the King. Out of all the Siamese characters, only he appears sometimes buffoonish and naïve in the way of the world. Combine this with his occasional savagery and he almost seems a caricature. It's hard to convincingly play a character when the character's humanity is incompletely realized. Given how sympathetic and realistic the rest of the Siamese characters are, I don't see this as a case of racism, but merely as R&H trying to do too many things at the same time with a character who can't be everything to everyone.
April 24, 2014
The King and I is the story of widowed school teacher, Anna, and her son moving to Siam to teach the King's children and wives. Cultures collide in this beautifully written musical. The music alone is memorable. I loved it because of the differences between these cultures were brought forth, and I'm lenient towards drama.
October 22, 2011
An English widow and her children go to what is now Thailand to serve as a tutor for the children of the king.
April 30, 2014
Crazy story now but back in the day, I loved the musical and so I read the play which lacks a lot without the music and the hunky actors.
July 8, 2014
A fun show to perform or watch, although it's the Deborah Kerr/Yul Brenner film that sticks in my mind.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews