Longing for Love
-Finding love is a universal human drive that often manifests itself as a longing. -Sometimes it’s general, where we simply hope for a connection to someone special. -Sometimes it’s specific and almost heartbreaking, when the longing is for a particular individual who either doesn’t acknowledge or return the affection. -Love song lyrics often describe this sense of longing in terms of dreams.
American Love Songs of the 19th Century -During the 19th century, families often gathered around the parlor piano and sang popular songs of the day. -These may seem stiff and sentimental by today’s standards, these parlor songs were sincere expressions. -Music publishing houses made these songs available through sheet music. -Traveling entertainers circulated the latest songs, carrying them from the Eastern cities to the frontier towns. -These early songs use simple melodies and straightforward harmonies. -They typically follow a standard song form of the period based on phrases and cadences.
At this point in American history, live music was the only way to enjoy music. Families performed music in the home on a regular basis.
Phrases and Cadences -A stanza of a song or poem often consists of four or more lines with a set meter and a rhyme scheme. -This pattern is generally repeated with other stanzas. -Each of these lines is usually short enough to be spoken or sung in one breath. -Songs constructed in this fashion have a pause built in after each line. -This gives the singer or speaker a chance to take in air before singing or reciting the next line.
-They function much like a period at the end of a sentence. -In music, these pauses at the end of a line or phrase are generally marked by a cadence. -Cadence – breathing break that provides a natural pause in the melodic line. -Sometimes cadences come at the end of a thought, to convey the feeling of finality. -They function much like a period at the end of a sentence. -this is also called a perfect, or full cadence. V or V₇ chord resolves to I chord = Tension in music has been resolved
Jazz Ballads -Jazz is another genre where the theme of longing for love receives wide attention. -“I Got it Bad and That Ain’t Good”, by Duke Ellington and “Someone to Watch Over Me” by George and Ira Gershwin stands out for its message of longing for love. George and Ira Gershwin “I’ve Got it Bad and That Ain’t Good – Duke Ellington https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjRAa5KFmKU “Someone to Watch Over Me” – George and Ira Gershwin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-WZK1i7-PE
-The lyrics begin with this hope for love in return: -“A Kiss to Build A Dream On”, also a classic in this category, was recorded in 1951 by Louis Armstrong. -The lyrics begin with this hope for love in return: Give me a kiss to build a dream on And my imagination will thrive upon that kiss, Sweetheart, I ask o more than this, A kiss to build a dream on. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-ObJ9_LckE -In the jazz world, many of these musical dreams of love have become instrumental standards. -The lyrics often take a backseat to jazz improvisations and formal structure of the music itself.
Contemporary Interpretations -Songwriters and singers in more recent times have also expressed their longing for love. -Nancy Wilson’s classic “Please Send Me Someone to Love” (1963) offers a fervent prayer. -The song pleads for peace and understanding among all people – a kind of universal love that pushes away hatred and anger. -On a personal level, the singer requests: “But if it’s not asking too much, please send me someone to love”. - Has been covered by both Sade in (1994) and Fiona Apple in (1998) “Please Send Me Someone to Love” – Nancy Wilson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fa9H_Q_FDU “Please Send Me Someone to Love” – Sade https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yubShSla1tI “Please Send Me Someone to Love” - Fiona Apple https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZi77399hhg