Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise: Composition and Head Analysis

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In this video we look at the background, composition, feel, key, lyrics and structure of this essential Jazz Standard.

Learning to improvise over jazz standards can be an easy process if we ensure that we understand the basics of the challenge. This includes an understanding of key scales, harmony, structure, rhythm and many other elements which make up the American songbook which we love.

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Section Markers:
0:00 Intro
01:23 Composition
01:52 Lyrics
02:52 Recommended Listening
04:30 Time Signature and Structure
05:37 Key Signature and Scale
07:07 Melody and Swing
08:20 Rhythmic Motif and Interpretation
10:30 Directional Phrasing for Tension
11:58 Chord Tones and Neighbouring Tones
12:37 Non Diatonic Chords and Phrygian Dominant
14:35 How To Count Tuplets
17:04 Conclusion

💡 TOPICS IN THIS VIDEO 💡
• softly as in a morning sunrise
• standards
• jazz
• analysis
• lead sheet
• score
• key
• structure
• lyrics

🔎 HASHTAGS 🔎
#softlyasinamorningsunrise
#standards
#jazz
#analysis
#leadsheet
#score
#key
#structure
#lyrics

🔎 VIDEO OUTLINE 🔎

# Part 1. History, Composition and Melody analysis.

"Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise" was written by Sigmund Romberg and jazz overlord Oscar Hammerstein II for their 1928 operetta The New Moon. And the song is based on the theme of bitterness and yearning for a lost love.

Softly as in a morning sunrise

The light of love comes stealing

Into a newborn day

Flaming with all the glow of sunrise

A burning kiss is sealing

A vow that all betray

For the passions that thrill love

And take you high to heaven

Are the passions that kill love

And let it fall to hell

So ends the story

Softly as in a morning sunrise

The light that gave you glory

Will take it all away

The original song was composed as a tango but many versions of the song have changed the tempo and feel completely. Everything from a Bossa to, probably most commonly a swung feel.

Recommended listening to get it in your ear!

Frank Sinatra Jr. Big Band swing and lyrics

John Coltrane live at the Village Vanguard

Jim Hall and Ron Carter Alone Together

Sonny Rollins a night at The Village Vanguard

Michael Brecker Jazz Baltica 2003

4/4 time,

AABA Structure as illustrated by the lyrics.

key of C minor and Eb major. Minor keys are constructed on the 6th degree of their relative major or parent major scale.

Flat keys use the penultimate or second to last flat to identify their root.

Based on a recurring rhythmic motif occurring up to 11 times per chorus depending on how you interpret bar 7! This proves that we don't need to be too rhythmically original with our compositions. Come up with something great and use it until the wheels fall off.

Melody generally descending feel through the A section and an ascending feel through the B section.

Simple melody outlining harmony and diatonic neighbour tones.

Only two non diatonic chords= C7b9/Eº7 F harmonic minor and D7b9/F#º7 Melody illustrates the diminished chord on C7b9 and the D7 chord on the F#dim.

How to count triplet crotchets.

Next time we will be discussing the harmony in more detail and how to approach comping on these changes. And in the following video we'll be working out some solo ideas and discussing how to improvise over these changes so be sure to give this video a like, subscribe, ding the notification bell, and share with any of your friends who will benefit from these discussions.

And as always, I hope you're all doing very well getting plenty of practice in and I very much look forward to seeing you in the next one!

Видео Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise: Composition and Head Analysis канала Charles Harrison Music Tuition