|
What an unusual
“sentiment” for a song. Nobody’s head-over-heels
in love or had their baby do ‘em wrong.
This is a landscape portrait in words and
music. Its imagery is strikingly potent,
and it’s a ballad I never tire of. One night
when I was jamming with a bunch of musicians,
this was the only ballad we opted to play
over the entire evening. I read where, at
a debut for the song, the composer was worried
that ending the phrases on an augmented
5th (the “-more” of “falling leaves, a sycamore,”
the “-side” in “down a mountainside,” etc.)
would make the song too difficult to sing
and possibly lose its appeal. I think it
was Margaret Whiting, the one who introduced
the song, who is said to have encouraged
him to leave it alone. To me, that melodic
choice is probably one of the strongest
features of the song. That’s what creates
the tension, ergo the chance for that lovely
resolution. And, of course, horn players
love it because of the gorgeous changes
and the possibilities for exploration. (Sonny
Rollins is said to have done a 45-minute
version of it when he was playing in Vermont.)
Robert Moore, vocalist,
trumpeter, harmonica player, songwriter
www.romomusic.net
Are
you a published Vocalist or Instrumentalist?
Add a comment and we'll credit you with
a link to your site.
(more...)
|
