Hello to all readers...welcome to another write-up edition. Be kind to one another, here’s to those who inspire me and you... and sometimes we may not even know it. I am certain you have heard people asking this question time and time again ~ What does music mean to you"? I would not want to even imagine a world without it. I love all types of music and to be aware of never taking such a gift for granite. Today's topic involves one of the most celebrated songs of jazz.
"Lullaby of Birdland" is a jazz standard and popular song composed by George Shearing with lyrics by George David Weiss. It was written in 1952 for Morris Levy, the owner of the New York jazz club called Birdland. Levy had reached out to Shearing and informed him that he had launched a Birdland-sponsored disk jockey show, and he wanted Shearing to record a topic, which was "to be played every hour on the hour." Levy originally wanted his own music to be recorded, but Shearing insisted he couldn't relate much and preferred to compose his own music.
Both compromised by sharing the rights of the song; the composer's rights went to Shearing, while the publishing rights went to Levy. For the artist, the music is in thirty-two bar form and its original key was F minor. The song spends an equal amount of time in both minor and major modes. It is a popular one among singers, so if you work with them often this is a good one to know. Be prepared to play this tune in any key.
This song has been recorded by several artists', and one of those is Canada's first lady of jazz, singer Eleanor Collins . The Canada Post honored her with a commemorative stamp in 2022. Here is a recording from 1965, and if you have never heard of this song or Eleanor... sit back and enjoy for a couple minutes. Thank you for hanging out with me and see you next time!