Description
Book SynopsisWith their unforgettable melodies, timeless messages, and stylistic indebtedness to both jazz and Broadway, American popular standards have proven to be among the most widely performed and enjoyed songs of the past century. Shaped in many ways by the technological and cultural developments of the early twentieth century, they have also managed to transcend these origins and become an enduring part of the American musical landscape.Ann van der Merwe explores how and why American songbook standards developed in the early twentieth century and how these standards have shaped Americanand even globalmusical culture ever since. The American Songbook explores key aspects of individual songs, including the musical and lyrical reasons for their broad appeal and applicability over the years.The American songbook continues to permeate the fabric of our daily lives. It is a repertoire that spans generations, from Fred Astaire to Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga. As a result, music lovers both young and
Trade ReviewVan der Merwe has skillfully used both her academic and her professional musical skills in this compact overview of the American songbook, particularly popular songs from the 1920s to the 1950s. Following a time line, the author focuses on a selected few songs—e.g., ‘Blue Skies,’ ‘I Got Rhythm,’ ‘Night and Day,’ and ‘All the Things You Are.’ She devotes chapters to composers (among them Irving Berlin, Harold Arlen, and E. Y. Harburg), stage shows and musical comedies (such as Lady, Be Good!), musical films (including Singin' in the Rain), and the connections between jazz and popular songs. In a chapter titled ‘Interpreters of the American Songbook,’ the author looks at Ethel Merman, Fred Astaire, Helen Forrest, Billie Holiday, Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and Diana Krall. The two concluding chapters discuss the role of the American songbook from the 1950s onward, providing useful discussions of singers Audra McDonald and Brian Stokes Mitchell. Van der Merwe is particularly interested in the changing role of technology. Including a helpful discography as well as a bibliography, this is a valuable introduction to the subject. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates; professionals; general readers. * CHOICE *
Table of ContentsChapter 1: Essentials of the American Songbook Chapter 2: Authors of the American Songbook Chapter 3: The American Songbook on Stage Chapter 4: The American Songbook on Screen Chapter 5: Jazz and the American Songbook Chapter 6: Interpreters of the American Songbook Chapter 7: The American Songbook in the 1950s and 1960s Chapter 8: The American Songbook Today Epilogue: Amateurs and the American Songbook Further Listening Further Reading
