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What is the most covered song in the world?
What year did Miles Davis record Summertime?
When was Porgy and Bess recorded?
What genre was Summertime?
Why is jazz important?
Who wrote the original version of Summertime?
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Who sang the best version of Summertime?
But probably the most well-known and extraordinary of the pop versions of 'Summertime' is by Janis Joplin and her band, Big Brother and Holding Company.
Who wrote Summertime from Porgy and Bess?
George GershwinSummertime / ComposerGeorge Gershwin was an American composer and pianist whose compositions spanned popular, jazz and classical genres. Wikipedia
Who wrote Summertime by Janis Joplin?
Ira GershwinDuBose HeywardSummertime/Lyricists
Who made Summertime famous?
Billie Holiday was not the first jazz artist to record “Summertime” (Bob Crosby recorded a transcription version five months earlier) but hers was the first recorded for 78s and it probably did more than any other version to establish the song as a potential jazz standard.
Why was Porgy and Bess controversial?
Gershwin insisted that the opera be performed only by a black cast—rather than white actors in blackface—which initially made it difficult to find a home for Porgy and Bess on Broadway, according to Encyclopedia Britannica.
What is one of the most famous songs from Porgy and Bess?
Billie Holiday's recording of “Summertime” was the first song from Porgy and Bess to break into the U.S. pop charts, reaching #12.
Does Janis Joplin write her own songs?
Janis Joplin wrote her own songs for her solo career and for Big Brother & The Holding Company. Although she didn't write 'Summertime' nor 'Piece Of My Heart', she created some iconic tracks of her own.
Did Janis Joplin write Summertime?
"Summertime" is the third song off of Cheap Thrills (Album). It was originally composed in 1934 by George Gershwin for the opera "Porgy and Bess", the lyrics are written by Dubose Heyward. Janis's cover features different lyrics.
Who wrote the original Summertime Blues?
Eddie Cochran"Summertime Blues" is a song co-written and recorded by American rock artist Eddie Cochran. It was written by Cochran and his manager Jerry Capehart. Originally a single B-side, it was released in August 1958 and peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 on September 29, 1958, and number 18 on the UK Singles Chart.
What is the meaning behind Summertime?
Definition of summertime (Entry 1 of 2) : the summer season or a period like summer.
What style of jazz is Summertime?
Summertime (George Gershwin song)"Summertime"SongReleased1935GenreJazzComposer(s)George Gershwin2 more rows
Did Willie Nelson write Summertime?
Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin is the 64th solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Willie Nelson. After being awarded the Gershwin Prize by the Library of Congress, Nelson recorded a set of pop standards written by George and Ira Gershwin....Track listing.No.TitleLength11."Summertime"3:5210 more rows
Did Janis Joplin write Summertime?
"Summertime" is the third song off of Cheap Thrills (Album). It was originally composed in 1934 by George Gershwin for the opera "Porgy and Bess", the lyrics are written by Dubose Heyward. Janis's cover features different lyrics.
Did Willie Nelson write Summertime?
Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin is the 64th solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Willie Nelson. After being awarded the Gershwin Prize by the Library of Congress, Nelson recorded a set of pop standards written by George and Ira Gershwin....Track listing.No.TitleLength11."Summertime"3:5210 more rows
Who first wrote Summertime Blues?
Eddie Cochran Jerry CapehartSummertime Blues"Summertime Blues"Songwriter(s)Eddie Cochran Jerry CapehartProducer(s)Eddie CochranEddie Cochran singles chronology"Pretty Girl" (1958) "Summertime Blues" (1958) "C'mon Everybody" (1958)9 more rows
Is Porgy and Bess Summertime improvised?
Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald's 1958 album Porgy and Bess reinterprets the solo aria as a duet, with Armstrong both playing his trumpet and singing in a dialogue with Fitzgerald. In his 1959 recording, Miles Davis arranges “Summertime” for trumpet, and he improvises on the melody over a walking bass line.
Summertime: 8 Greatest Versions of George Gershwin’s Summertime
George Gershwin’s Summertime. Summertime, composed by the American pianist and composer, George Gershwin, is perhaps the most recognised and celebrated song he ever composed.Gershwin wrote the song as part of his groundbreaking Opera titled Porgy and Bess. Even though the opera contains many other famous songs it has been Summertime that has attracted a huge amount of attention by artists ...
Summertime (George Gershwin song) - Wikipedia
"Summertime" is an aria composed in 1934 by George Gershwin for the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess. The lyrics are by DuBose Heyward, the author of the novel Porgy on which the opera was based, and Ira Gershwin.. The song soon became a popular and much-recorded jazz standard, described as "without doubt ... one of the finest songs the composer ever wrote ...
George Gershwin - Summertime (Porgy and Bess) Lyrics | Lyrics.com
Summertime (Porgy and Bess) Lyrics by George Gershwin from the Best of Gershwin album - including song video, artist biography, translations and more: Summertime, And the livin' is easy Fish are jumpin' And the cotton is high Your daddy's rich And your mamma's go…
“Summertime” by George Gershwin | MASTERPIECES OF WESTERN MUSIC
Listening to Gershwin’s original composition of “Summertime” (i.e. not one of the countless covers done in the style of the popular jazz standard), I was struck by how masterfully Gershwin was able to blend together various musical genres.
How many recordings of Summertime are there?
Statistics for the number of recordings of "Summertime" vary by source; while older data is restricted to commercial releases, newer sources may include versions self-published online. The Jazz Discography in 2005 listed 1,161 official releases, ranking the song fourth among jazz standards. Joe Nocera in 2012 said there were "over 25,000" recordings. Guinness World Records lists the website's 2017 figure of 67,591 as the world record total.
What scale did George Gershwin use?
Gershwin was remarkably successful in his intent to have this sound like a folk song. This is reinforced by his extensive use of the pentatonic scale (C–D–E–G–A) in the context of the A minor tonality and a slow-moving harmonic progression that suggests a " blues ". Because of these factors, this tune has been a favorite of jazz performers for decades and can be done in a variety of tempos and styles.
What song did Sublime sing in 1997?
In 1997, American ska punk band Sublime released the single " Doin' Time ", which sampled the Herbie Mann recording of "Summertime". "Doin' Time" peaked at number 87 on the Hot 100 in 1998.
What was the inspiration for the song "All My Trials"?
Heyward's inspiration for the lyrics was the southern folk spiritual-lullaby " All My Trials ", of which he had Clara sing a snippet in his play Porgy. The lyrics have been highly praised by Stephen Sondheim. Writing of the opening line, he says
Who wrote the song Summertime?
" Summertime " is an aria composed in 1934 by George Gershwin for the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess. The lyrics are by DuBose Heyward, the author of the novel Porgy on which the opera was based, although the song is also co-credited to Ira Gershwin by ASCAP.
Did Gershwin use spirituals in his opera?
While in his own description, Gershwin did not use any previously composed spirituals in his opera, Summertime is often considered an adaptation of the African American spiritual " Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child ", which ended the play version of Porgy.
Who wrote the song "My Man's gone now"?
Gershwin's highly evocative writing brilliantly mixes elements of jazz and the song styles of blacks in the southeast United States from the early twentieth century". Composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim has characterized Heyward's lyrics for "Summertime" and " My Man's Gone Now " as "the best lyrics in the musical theater".
What song did Sam Cooke record?
With hits like “Bring it on Home”, “Chain Gang”, and “Twisting The Night Away”, it is not surprising that Sam Cooke also decided in the late 1950s to record his own version of the Gershwin classic. This recording has all the aspects of most Cooke tracks from the time with a Latin, offbeat string bass, flat wound string guitar chords and ethereal backing vocals.
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What is sublime the band?
Sublime the band was what came to be a fusion between Ska and Punk and ushered in the third wave of Ska music. In this track, the band take all manner of diversions from Gershwin’s original.
What outfit did Joplin sing with?
The combination of Joplin’s desperate, heartfelt vocals accompanied by an earnest blues outfit (Big Brother and Holding Company) does do justice to the original sentiments of the song.
What swing feel does the zombies play?
Perhaps not a song you would readily associate with this 60’s group who shot to fame with their electrifying song, “She’s Not There”. The gentle lullaby feel is enhanced in this rendition as the Zombies interestingly decided to play it with a 6/8, 3/4 swing feel that crosses the genre borders of folk and jazz.
Where is Justin Wildridge?
Justin Wildridge is a media composer and multi-instrumentalist based in South-West of England where he works from his own studio. He holds a Doctorate in musical composition from the University of Nottingham and has over the last twenty years composed extensively within the contemporary art music world.
Who sang the song "Bring it on Home"?
With hits like “Bring it on Home”, “Chain Gang”, and “Twisting The Night Away”, it is not surprising that Sam Cooke also decided in the late 1950s to record his own version of the Gershwin classic.
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When was Porgy and Bess performed?
In 1976, Houston Grand Opera delivered a groundbreaking production of Porgy and Bess. The score was restored to its original length and this helped revive interest in the piece for a new generation. In 1986, an outstanding Porgy and Bess was staged at Glyndebourne by Trevor Nunn, with Simon Rattle conducting.
What instruments were used in the original Gershwin song?
And the unusual orchestration includes French horns, flutes and bass clarinet: it’s a remarkable adaption of Gershwin’s original tune. Biographer Ian Carr notes in his book on Davis, that although the trumpeter had found it one of his hardest records to make, he was delighted with the result.
Who wrote Porgy and Bess?
1. Abbie Mitchell (1935) George Gershwin’s idea to write Porgy and Bess can be traced to 1926 when he first read the novel Porgy by DuBose Heyward, which was set on the fictitious Catfish Row in the Deep South. After signing a deal with the author, Gershwin began composing in 1934 and Heyward wrote the words to ‘Summertime’.
Who sang Summertime with Ella Fitzgerald?
Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong (1957) ‘Summertime’ quickly caught on as a jazz standard thanks to its bluesy chords and was recorded by many of the great jazz vocalists, including Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughan. A version of Porgy and Bess from 1957 saw two legends collaborate on ‘Summertime’.
Who wrote Summertime?
After signing a deal with the author, Gershwin began composing in 1934 and Heyward wrote the words to ‘Summertime’. The song appears more than once in the opera. Its first appearance is as a lullaby, sung by Clara, at the beginning of Act I and later it is sung by Bess.
Who sang Summertime with Gershwin?
The first recording of the song from 1935 features Gershwin himself on the piano and Abbie Mitchell, who played Clara, singing. It is astonishingly beautiful and has been remarkably well preserved. You can buy a recording of Abbie Mitchell singing Gershwin’s ‘Summertime’ on Amazon. YouTube. divaslair.
What is the history of Porgy and Bess?
The history of Porgy and Bess is a complicated one. On the one hand, the opera is a celebration of African American culture. On the other hand, the primary agents who created it were white , and the Gershwin estate is what profits from “Summertime,” not the community that created “Motherless Child.”.
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What is the difference between Summertime and Motherless Child?
The melody of the first printed version of “Motherless Child” only bears superficial similarities to “Summertime.”. The most significant difference is the key . “Summertime” sounds dark and doleful, in part, because it’s in a minor key. This printed version of “Motherless Child” is in a major mode (with a few blue notes thrown in at the end).
How many records of Summertime have been made?
The Summertime Connection, an online database that compiles information about various versions of the tune, states that as of 2011, there have been at lest 33,345 recordings of “Summertime,” 25,998 of which the website has in its own collection.
What song did Nina Simone sing?
Nina Simone was known for several songs from Porgy and Bess. She recorded a haunting “I Loves You Porgy” just days after Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in a concert she dedicated to him. Her version of “Summertime” recorded live in 1959 at The Town Hall in New York is no less chilling.
Is Porgy a white victimizer?
What’s more, the representation of African Americans in Porgy has been praised and criticized by people of all colors as being nothing more than a collection of stereotypes. “The history of Porgy and Bess is not simply one of white victimizers and black victims.
Who wrote Summertime by Porgy and Bess?
Porgy and Bess is based upon the novel Porgy by DuBose Heyward. Published in 1925, the novel was first adapted for the stage in 1927 by the author’s wife, Dorothy Heyward.
What was the significance of Porgy and Bess?
Porgy and Bess came at a time when America was beginning to assert its own serious art forms, and in his composition, the New York Jewish Gershwin looked to southern black culture for the opportunity to develop a unique new musical hybrid.
When did Porgy and Bess become popular?
Live. •. That said, the first production was not a huge success, and it wasn’t until after Gershwin’s death in 1937 at age 38 that Porgy and Bess grew in importance, succeeding on Broadway as well as becoming accepted as serious opera and becoming the source of several of the most famous tunes in popular music.
How many times did Gershwin use the lullaby in the opera?
Gershwin wanted to create something in the style of a spiritual, and to most commentators he succeeded way beyond his initial brief. He uses it four times in the opera, including as a lullaby at the very opening. Here’s the very first recording by Abbie Mitchell including Gershwin himself on piano.
What did Gershwin want to do with his opera?
The work was radical in various ways: Gershwin wanted to create an opera in the European tradition, but to borrow from African-American blues, jazz and spirituals, as well as from the life and language of black people in South Carolina.
What is the story of a song?
Story of a Song – Summertime. Found in: Story of a Song. A lot of music unites people. Occasionally it divides people. With its contentious depiction of racial stereotypes, the opera Porgy and Bess seems to have experienced the ebb and flow of acceptance over the years, but even its cultural detractors will recognise it as one ...
What is the most popular song of all time?
Of all those tunes, the most popular and enduring is Summertime . It is one of the most covered songs of all time, with more than 25,000 known recordings by artists of every kind. While it has a distinctive style in its original form, something about it makes it endlessly adaptable.
What is string fill?
The string fills (usually included in song sheets) wrap around the melody, adding a flowing feel with bluesy passing half-steps. You could teach yourself an accompaniment pretty easily using the above mentioned song sheet. If you know how to work out inversions, you’ll maximise the effect by keeping the voicings close.
Why do you use bold and italics in a song?
Use Bold and Italics only to distinguish between different singers in the same verse.
Who sings the aria "Summertime"?
Summertime. George Gershwin. “Summertime” is the famous aria which opens George Gershwin’s opera, Porgy and Bess. It’s initially sung by Clara as a lullaby to her baby, though it’s later reprised by Bess.…. Read More. Release Date.
Who sings Summertime in Porgy and Bess?
“Summertime” is the famous aria which opens George Gershwin’s opera, Porgy and Bess. It’s initially sung by Clara as a lullaby to her baby, though it’s later reprised by Bess. Though it was intended as an operatic number, it was quickly embraced by jazz singers.
What was the biggest hit of the year for Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince?
For 25 years, there have been longstanding questions (and some rumors) surrounding DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince’s biggest hit, “Summertime.”. The 1991 Top 5 Jive/Zomba Records single from Homebase showcased a different flow from the West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania MC now known as Will Smith. Many speculated that the Grammy Award-winner had ...
Who remixed Summertime?
In June, DJ Jazzy Jeff & Eric Lau remixed “Summertime,” celebrating the hit’s 25th anniversary. Subsequently, he and MICK released their seventh annual Summertime mixtape .
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What is the most covered song in the world?
The history of George Gershwin’s Summertime. With at least 25,000 versions, Porgy and Bess ’s opening aria, ‘Summertime’, is the most covered song in the world. Written in 1934, ‘Summertime’ was one of the first compositions George Gershwin worked on for his brand-new opera Porgy and Bess. The jazz-inspired song is a lullaby for Clara to sing ...
What year did Miles Davis record Summertime?
Being one of the most influential figures in the history of jazz, Miles Davis ’s instrumental version of ‘Summertime’ on his 1958 album, Porgy and Bess, is one of the best known. Recorded over just four days in the summer of 1958, Porgy and Bess is still considered as an historic jazz masterpiece.
When was Porgy and Bess recorded?
Recorded over just four days in the summer of 1958, Porgy and Bess is still considered as an historic jazz masterpiece. Miles Davis started his career as a member of Charlie Parker’s bebop quintet. Parker’s instrumental version of the song is also well known.
What genre was Summertime?
With the genre’s origins in blues and jazz, it’s no surprise that ‘Summertime’ was covered by many Rock’n’Roll artists in the 60s. With her bluesy vocal style, ‘Summertime’ was a natural choice for Janis Joplin and her band, Big Brother and the Holding Company.
Why is jazz important?
Because of this, jazz artists have always been able to use improvisation to express themselves. The simple melody of ‘Summertime’ left much room for improvisation, and jazz instrumentalists each took turn to make the song their own.
Who wrote the original version of Summertime?
Many people think of Porgy and Bess as a musical, when in fact it was written by Gershwin (who came from a musical theatre background) to be his very first opera. Although jazz-inspired, the original version of ‘Summertime’ was to be performed by a classically trained opera singer.
Overview
"Summertime" is an aria composed in 1934 by George Gershwin for the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess. The lyrics are by DuBose Heyward, the author of the novel Porgy on which the opera was based, and Ira Gershwin.
The song soon became a popular and much-recorded jazz standard, described as "without doubt ... one of the finest songs the composer ever wrote ... Gershwin's highly evocative writing brillian…
Porgy and Bess
Gershwin began composing the song in December 1933, attempting to create his own spiritual in the style of the African American folk music of the period. Gershwin had completed setting DuBose Heyward's poem to music by February 1934, and spent the next 20 months completing and orchestrating the score of the opera.
The song is sung several times throughout Porgy and Bess. Its lyrics are the first words heard in …
Analysis
Heyward's inspiration for the lyrics was the southern folk spiritual-lullaby "All My Trials", of which he had Clara sing a snippet in his play Porgy. The lyrics have been highly praised by Stephen Sondheim. Writing of the opening line, he says
That "and" is worth a great deal of attention. I would write "Summertime when" but that "and" sets up a tone, a whole poetic tone, not to mention a whole kind of diction that is going to be used in t…
Other versions
Statistics for the number of recordings of "Summertime" vary by source; while older data is restricted to commercial releases, newer sources may include versions self-published online. The Jazz Discography in 2005 listed 1,161 official releases, ranking the song fourth among jazz standards. Joe Nocera in 2012 said there were "over 25,000" recordings. Guinness World Records lists the website's 2017 figure of 67,591 as the world record total.
See also
• List of 1930s jazz standards
External links
• "A Languid Look Back To Gershwin's 'Summertime'", NPR Music, October 23, 2008