Four Score / Abie Baby (from "Hair"): Piano/Vocal/Chords

This collection captures one of the most audacious scores in Broadway history, and the piano-vocal-chords format makes every song immediately singable and interpretable. Directors can draw from 30+ numbers, each with distinct character and energy, making it ideal for curated concert programming, revue selections, or full production work. The harmonic language feels fresh even now, offering pianists and singers substantive musical content that rewards careful interpretation.

The collection radiates the exuberance and idealism of its moment, from the contemplative introspection of "Frank Mills" to the defiant energy of "I Got Life." You'll move between intimate character moments and sprawling ensemble celebrations, each rooted in MacDermot's instinct for melodic generosity and harmonic color that feels both of its time and timeless.

Singers and pianists working on Hair repertoire for recitals, concert productions, or auditions will find the complete range of song styles here. Music directors programming a Hair tribute, revue, or full production benefit from having all major numbers in one accessible volume. High school and college programs looking to mount contemporary musical theater benefit from the clarity and singability of these transcriptions.

• Treat the rock and soul grooves as foundational to the sound, not ornamental; locking into the rhythmic pocket makes both the vocal lines and accompaniment figures land with intended impact.
• Balance the song's theatrical intention with its pop sensibility; many of these numbers work best when singers commit fully to emotional truth rather than winking at their own accessibility.
• Use the chord symbols actively to inform voicing and reharmonization options; the original accompaniment supports but doesn't constrain what pianists can bring to the harmonic palette.
• Honor the counterpoint in ensemble numbers where it appears; layered vocal lines create texture that can be lost if treated as background material rather than integral composition.

Extract numbers for a "Broadway Reimagined" concert that pairs Hair with contemporary musical theater, or build an entire concert around the show's themes of identity, belonging, and social awakening. For full productions, this volume provides the complete reference for all major and supporting numbers. Solo singers and accompanists can draw individual songs for recital programming, particularly the introspective ballads alongside the showpiece vocals.

• reading and interpreting rock and soul rhythmic figures in a classical notation context
• voice leading across contemporary harmonic progressions (seventh chords, modal mixture, suspended chords)
• balancing legit and belt vocal techniques within the same song
• accompanying singers through syncopated and off-beat melodic lines
• interpreting slash chords and implied harmonic substitutions from chord symbols
• maintaining character and emotional intention while sight-reading unfamiliar contemporary material