CULMINATING EXPERIENCE UNDERSTANDING TIN PAN ALLEY A Glimpse Into the Golden Age of Songwriting with the Big Five American Songwriters Composing Hundreds of New Songs Every Year. Jesse Boere Master of Music Candidate Contemporary Performance Thursday, February 26, 15 TIN PAN ALLEY Thursday, February 26, 15 THE BIG FIVE Jerome Kern (1885-1945) Irving Berlin (1888-1989) Cole Porter (1891-1964) George Gershwin (1898-1937) Richard Rodgers (1902-1979) > 4500 songs Thursday, February 26, 15 Jerome Kern Thursday, February 26, 15 Jerome Kern All The Things You Are Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man Dearly Beloved A Fine Romance I’m Old Fashioned I’ve Told Ev’ry Little Star Thursday, February 26, 15 Look for the Silver Lining Pick Yourself Up The Song Is You Sunny The Way You Look Tonight Yesterdays Irving Berlin Thursday, February 26, 15 Irving Berlin Blue Skies Change Partners Cheek to Cheek God Bless America How Deep is the Ocean? I Love a Piano Thursday, February 26, 15 Let’s Face the Music and Dance Puttin’ on the Ritz Say it With Music The Song Is Ended What’ll I Do White Christmas Cole Porter Thursday, February 26, 15 Cole Porter All of You Anything Goes Easy to Love From This Moment On I Get a Kick out of You I Love Paris I’ve Got You Under My Skin Thursday, February 26, 15 Just One of Those Things Let’s Do It, Let’s Fall in Love Love for Sale My Heart Belongs to Daddy Night and Day What Is This Thing Called Love You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To George Gershwin Thursday, February 26, 15 George Gershwin A Foggy Day But Not for Me Embraceable You Fascinating Rhythm I’ve Got a Crush on You Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off Love Is Here to Stay Thursday, February 26, 15 Nice Work If You Can Get It Oh, Lady Be Good ‘S Wonderful Someone to Watch over Me Strike Up the Band The Man I love They Can’t Take That Away from Me Richard Rodgers Thursday, February 26, 15 Richard Rodgers Blue Moon Edelweiss Favourite Things Have You Met Miss Jones? Isn’t It Romantic It Might as Well Be Spring It Never Entered My Mind Thursday, February 26, 15 The Lady Is a Tramp My Funny valentine My Romance Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’ Spring Is Here With a Song in My Heart You’ll Never Walk Alone Nine rules of songwriting (According to Irving Berlin): 1. The melody should be within the range of most singers 2. The title should be attention-getting and, in addition, repeated within the body of the song 3. The song should be “sexless”: able to be sung by men and women 4. The song requires “heart interest” 5. And at the same time, it should be “original in idea, words, and music 6. “Stick to nature,” advised Berlin in his pragmatic way. “Not nature in a visionary abstract way, but nature as demonstrated in homely, concrete, everyday manifestations. 7. Sprinkle the lyrics with “open vowels” so that it will be euphonious. 8. Make the song as simple as possible 9. “The song writer must look upon his work as a business, that is, to make a success of it, he must work and work, and then WORK Source: The American Magazine Thursday, February 26, 15 “Tin Pan Alley Style” Thursday, February 26, 15 Thirty-two-bar form • • • • • • • Thursday, February 26, 15 Often referred to as the AABA form Most commonly used until verse-chorus started dominating Each chorus made up of four 8-bar sections First A introduces principle melody; repeated in second A The “middle-8”: different key than the home key or modulates within. Melody is significantly different; lyrics too. Last A usually repetition of first A’s (back in home key) A MELODY IS A BEAUTIFUL THING Thursday, February 26, 15 A MELODY IS A BEAUTIFUL THING A melody is a beautiful thing! Thursday, February 26, 15 A MELODY IS A BEAUTIFUL THING Thursday, February 26, 15 A ... ... ... ... A ... ... ... ... B ... ... ... ... A ... ... ... A melody is a beautiful thing! A MELODY IS A BEAUTIFUL THING Thursday, February 26, 15 A ... ... ... Oh, how I want to sing! A ... ... ... ... B ... ... ... ... A ... ... ... A melody is a beautiful thing! A MELODY IS A BEAUTIFUL THING Thursday, February 26, 15 A ... ... ... Oh, how I want to sing! A ... ... ... A melody is a beautiful thing! B ... ... ... ... A ... ... ... A melody is a beautiful thing! A MELODY IS A BEAUTIFUL THING Thursday, February 26, 15 A ... ... ... Oh, how I want to sing! A A A C A ... ... ... A melody is a beautiful thing! B B B C B ... ... ... ... A ... ... ... A melody is a beautiful thing! A MELODY IS A BEAUTIFUL THING Thursday, February 26, 15 A ... ... ... Oh, how I want to sing! A A A C A ... ... ... A melody is a beautiful thing! B B B C B ... ... ... ... A ... ... ... A melody is a beautiful thing! DESCRIPTIVE A MELODY IS A BEAUTIFUL THING Thursday, February 26, 15 A ... ... ... Oh, how I want to sing! A A A C DESCRIPTIVE A ... ... ... A melody is a beautiful thing! B B B C REVEAL B ... ... ... ... A ... ... ... A melody is a beautiful thing! A MELODY IS A BEAUTIFUL THING Thursday, February 26, 15 A She moves around with grace and flair With golden head band in her hair And flies so swiftly through the air Oh, how I want to sing! A A A C DESCRIPTIVE A ... ... ... A melody is a beautiful thing! B B B C REVEAL B ... ... ... ... A ... ... ... A melody is a beautiful thing! A MELODY IS A BEAUTIFUL THING Thursday, February 26, 15 A She moves around with grace and flair With golden head band in her hair And flies so swiftly through the air Oh, how I want to sing! A A A C DESCRIPTIVE A I will not forget her once In my mind it’ll stick months Through my lungs and throat it runs A melody is a beautiful thing! B B B C REVEAL B ... ... ... ... A ... ... ... A melody is a beautiful thing! A MELODY IS A BEAUTIFUL THING Thursday, February 26, 15 A She moves around with grace and flair With golden head band in her hair And flies so swiftly through the air Oh, how I want to sing! A A A C DESCRIPTIVE A I will not forget her once In my mind it’ll stick months Through my lungs and throat it runs A melody is a beautiful thing! B B B C REVEAL B She kisses me most passionately We live our lives in harmony ... ... A ... ... ... A melody is a beautiful thing! A MELODY IS A BEAUTIFUL THING Thursday, February 26, 15 A She moves around with grace and flair With golden head band in her hair And flies so swiftly through the air Oh, how I want to sing! A A A C A I will not forget her once In my mind it’ll stick months Through my lungs and throat it runs A melody is a beautiful thing! B She kisses me most passionately We live our lives in harmony ... ... B B B C --A A A ... ... ... A melody is a beautiful thing! DESCRIPTIVE REVEAL A MELODY IS A BEAUTIFUL THING Thursday, February 26, 15 A She moves around with grace and flair With golden head band in her hair And flies so swiftly through the air Oh, how I want to sing! A A A C A I will not forget her once In my mind it’ll stick months Through my lungs and throat it runs A melody is a beautiful thing! B She kisses me most passionately We live our lives in harmony ... ... B B B C --A A B C A ... ... ... A melody is a beautiful thing! DESCRIPTIVE REVEAL A MELODY IS A BEAUTIFUL THING Thursday, February 26, 15 A She moves around with grace and flair With golden head band in her hair And flies so swiftly through the air Oh, how I want to sing! A A A C A I will not forget her once In my mind it’ll stick months Through my lungs and throat it runs A melody is a beautiful thing! B She kisses me most passionately We live our lives in harmony Still sometimes we get lost, but then We find our way back home B B B C --A A B C A ... ... ... A melody is a beautiful thing! DESCRIPTIVE REVEAL A MELODY IS A BEAUTIFUL THING Thursday, February 26, 15 A She moves around with grace and flair With golden head band in her hair And flies so swiftly through the air Oh, how I want to sing! A A A C A I will not forget her once In my mind it’ll stick months Through my lungs and throat it runs A melody is a beautiful thing! B She kisses me most passionately We live our lives in harmony Still sometimes we get lost, but then We find our way back home B B B C --A A B C A ... ... ... A melody is a beautiful thing! DESCRIPTIVE REVEAL UNBALANCED A MELODY IS A BEAUTIFUL THING Thursday, February 26, 15 A She moves around with grace and flair With golden head band in her hair And flies so swiftly through the air Oh, how I want to sing! A A A C A I will not forget her once In my mind it’ll stick months Through my lungs and throat it runs A melody is a beautiful thing! B She kisses me most passionately We live our lives in harmony Still sometimes we get lost, but then We find our way back home B B B C --A A B C A ... ... ... A melody is a beautiful thing! DESCRIPTIVE REVEAL UNBALANCED A MELODY IS A BEAUTIFUL THING Thursday, February 26, 15 A She moves around with grace and flair With golden head band in her hair And flies so swiftly through the air Oh, how I want to sing! A A A C A I will not forget her once In my mind it’ll stick months Through my lungs and throat it runs A melody is a beautiful thing! B She kisses me most passionately We live our lives in harmony Still sometimes we get lost, but then We find our way back home B B B C --A A B C A ... ... Oh, how I want to sing! A melody is a beautiful thing! DESCRIPTIVE REVEAL UNBALANCED A MELODY IS A BEAUTIFUL THING Thursday, February 26, 15 A She moves around with grace and flair With golden head band in her hair And flies so swiftly through the air Oh, how I want to sing! A A A C A I will not forget her once In my mind it’ll stick months Through my lungs and throat it runs A melody is a beautiful thing! B She kisses me most passionately We live our lives in harmony Still sometimes we get lost, but then We find our way back home A ... ... Oh, how I want to sing! A melody is a beautiful thing! B B B C --A A B C -B B DESCRIPTIVE REVEAL UNBALANCED A MELODY IS A BEAUTIFUL THING Thursday, February 26, 15 A She moves around with grace and flair With golden head band in her hair And flies so swiftly through the air Oh, how I want to sing! A A A C A I will not forget her once In my mind it’ll stick months Through my lungs and throat it runs A melody is a beautiful thing! B She kisses me most passionately We live our lives in harmony Still sometimes we get lost, but then We find our way back home A ... ... Oh, how I want to sing! A melody is a beautiful thing! B B B C --A A B C -A A B B DESCRIPTIVE REVEAL UNBALANCED A MELODY IS A BEAUTIFUL THING Thursday, February 26, 15 A She moves around with grace and flair With golden head band in her hair And flies so swiftly through the air Oh, how I want to sing! A A A C A I will not forget her once In my mind it’ll stick months Through my lungs and throat it runs A melody is a beautiful thing! B She kisses me most passionately We live our lives in harmony Still sometimes we get lost, but then We find our way back home A No, nothing can compare to her She is the queen of song for sure! Oh, how I want to sing! A melody is a beautiful thing! B B B C --A A B C -A A B B DESCRIPTIVE REVEAL UNBALANCED A MELODY IS A BEAUTIFUL THING Thursday, February 26, 15 A She moves around with grace and flair With golden head band in her hair And flies so swiftly through the air Oh, how I want to sing! A A A C A I will not forget her once In my mind it’ll stick months Through my lungs and throat it runs A melody is a beautiful thing! B She kisses me most passionately We live our lives in harmony Still sometimes we get lost, but then We find our way back home A No, nothing can compare to her She is the queen of song for sure! Oh, how I want to sing! A melody is a beautiful thing! B B B C --A A B C -A A B B DESCRIPTIVE REVEAL UNBALANCED MESSAGE A MELODY IS A BEAUTIFUL THING Thursday, February 26, 15 A She moves around with grace and flair With golden head band in her hair And flies so swiftly through the air Oh, how I want to sing! A A A C A I will not forget her once In my mind it’ll stick months Through my lungs and throat it runs A melody is a beautiful thing! B She kisses me most passionately We live our lives in harmony Still sometimes we get lost, but then We find our way back home A No, nothing can compare to her She is the queen of song for sure! Oh, how I want to sing! A melody is a beautiful thing! B B B C --A A B C -A A B B DESCRIPTIVE REVEAL UNBALANCED MESSAGE Thursday, February 26, 15 Thursday, February 26, 15 Thursday, February 26, 15 Thursday, February 26, 15 BLAME IT ON MY CURIOSITY By Jesse Boere A A B A Thursday, February 26, 15 Tell me, how do green beans grow I just really want to know I’ll read about it endlessly Blame it on my curiosity A A B B -Where do you live, what kind of flowers you like? A Do you drive or do you ride your bike? A What’s the kinda thing in life you’re looking for? B Your glass of red is empty, would you fancy some more? B -I’ll remember everything A Our nine-week anniversary, that kinda thing A Your mother’s maiden name, she’ll ask me how I knew B I’ll say I’m mighty curious, I just asked you B -Tell me baby, what’s your favorite food A Not for nothing, what gets you in the mood? A Now if you think that I am being too rude, pardon me B Blame it on my curiosity B I CAN LOOK YOU IN THE EYES By Jesse Boere A I can look you in the eyes When I listen to you speak I can look you in the eyes When I feel mighty weak I can look you in the eyes In moment, of silence I can look you in the eyes Like tigers, like lions B Oh, how I’m lost in space, slow-motion In the blue-green skies a rising sun I see I can look you in the eyes Why can I look you in the eyes? Because you are the one for me Form: Cole Porter - I Love Paris Thursday, February 26, 15 A B A B A C A C -B C A A C I HAVE TO LIVE LIFE ON MY OWN By Jesse Boere A I've been alone I feel it now I'm at this place where the doors are locked somehow A You were the key You'd save the day You could unlock the very doors that paved the way B For a world with just a hint of make-believe Just enough to feel alive and without grief A Form: One For My Baby - Harold Arlen & Johnny Mercer Thursday, February 26, 15 A It's time to go It's time to leave Time to move on and stop being so naive A We had our days We spend it well Though, now that it's gone it feels like someone cast a spell B Over me and over everything I see It's like love itself is madly judging me C I thought that I was doing quite alright Now I know I have never had to fight I knew you would always be My protection for eternity A But we had our time I have to go I have to live life on my own A B A MY GIRLFRIEND DOESN’T DRINK BEER By Jesse Boere Thursday, February 26, 15 A She is perfect in every way That’s what I thought three hours ago That’s when I sighed and suddenly knew It is not just a particular brew A Should I be happy or should I be sad Some might think that I am being a little mad Still it’s true, the fact’s really clear My girlfriend doesn’t drink beer B I know it’s not rare to be Appreciative of other spirits you see But I will never split or share with you That liquid gold that breathes comradery A I just had thirteen in a row It’s not the end of the world, I know Still I shed a little tear, when I found out right here My girlfriend doesn’t drink beer A B C C -A A B B -A A B A -A A B B SPRING AIN’T WHAT IT USED TO BE By Jesse Boere A A Spring ain’t what it used to be Birds haven’t been themselves A B Snow keeps falling down on my face The April days want something else B I can’t wait for the sun to appear in my eyes No one but me can see that you are spring in disguise C B -B B A You are not who you used to be Spring, won’t you try A B Form (20-bar): After You’ve Gone - Henry Creamer & Turner Layton Thursday, February 26, 15 TAKE IT (OR LEAVE IT) By Jesse Boere Thursday, February 26, 15 A Take it or leave it What are you waiting for Take it or leave it I won’t be waiting anymore B When the heat slips away Reality will be here to stay And darling, that will be the day You lost your chance with me A Take it or leave it Stop dodging arrows if you care Take it or leave it Don’t regret it, don’t you dare B I don’t dream about you Cause I don’t sleep, no, not without you Take it or leave it, you better believe it I’ll make sure that all your dreams come true A B A B -A A A B -A B A B -A A B A YOU’RE NOT A MILLIONAIRE?! By Jesse Boere Thursday, February 26, 15 A No, you didn’t win the lottery! It’s just a scam, it’s trickery There is no prize, no golden tree You’re not a millionaire! A A A D A If you’ll insist you’ll soon find out Who are your friends and who to doubt As long as you won’t say out loud You’re not as rich as Fred Astaire B B B D B How are you doing, how have you been? Remember when we were nineteen It’s not much; at least for you, I mean You’re loaded now, it’s only fair C C C D A No, I didn’t win the lottery! It’s just a scam, it’s trickery There is no prize, no golden tree I’m not a millionaire! A A A D What have I learned? What’s next? Thursday, February 26, 15