Short Description: The sheet music is a notte-for-note transcription
of a piano cover of "Gene Harris' Summertime" (Jack Richard Wardle), incl. chord
symbols.
Licensed Territory: worldwide
Instrumentation: Piano solo incl. chord symbols
Interpreter: Jack Richard Wardle
Music by: George Gershwin
Level: 4 (of 5)
Pages: 6
Order No. 101-380-8016d
Guarantee: yes
Video: Unfortunately the original video is no longer available on YouTube. Please click on the video icon above: This video is an instrumental version which is quite similar to the original recording.
Songfacts:
Attention: This is a cover version! Unfortunately the YouTube video is no longer working. But you may listen to an instrumental version which is quite similar: Please click on the video icon above.
From the time of its composition in 1935 until today, Summertime has been the most frequently covered jazz and pop standard. Why? It lives through the contrast between the carefree text (a lullaby describing the light, easy world of summer) and the more melancholic, dreamy melody – mostly in B minor. This song originally stems from the musical Porgy and Bess, in which it is sung four times, each time shortly before the death of a character. It is interesting to note the simplicity of the melody, which is pentatonic for long stretches – very suitable for a lullaby. In many ways the song expresses a longing for a better, safer world. Up to 2012, there have been 32 385 cover versions of this song documented. The first to be greeted with success in the hit parade was from Billie Holliday in 1936. Nearly all of the jazz greats have covered Summertime: Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Sidney Bechet, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Oscar Peterson, etc. Also the Beatles, Same Cooke, Billy Stewart (scat version!), Booker T., Janis Joplin, Tori Amos and Gene Harris have put their spin on it. Conclusion: Summertime is the most covered song of all times.
A short word about the composer: George Gershwin (1898 – 1937) lived between the worlds of the popular song, the symphony orchestra and jazz combos / big bands. He worked as a pianist for a publisher, where his job was to make songs from band leaders and theater agents more palatable. Through this connection he first began to compose for Broadway. At first a partner orchestrated his works for him, but later on he did his own orchestrations and wrote directly for orchestra. Especially in Porgy and Bess, he dealt intensively with the African-American musical world. He even had specified in his contract that this work should be exclusively performed by black singers.
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