Write an essay on “The Great American Songbook”

Write an essay on “The Great American Songbook” MELODY (the tune you hum to); HARMONY (the joining together of voices and instruments for effect, texture, and emphasis); and RHYTHM (the length of notes – whole notes, half-notes, quarter-notes). RHYTHM is different than the BEAT (which, in western music, is mostly percussion, the drums). A whole note, for example, is held longer than a quarter-note, and determines the pace of a song. You will not need to be an expert on this, of course, or on the LYRICS of the following songs I’ve selected. But I am asking you to examine them as best you can in PART ONE of the essay: Melody, Harmony, Rhythm, and Lyrics. Each of these songs have a unique use of music and lyrics. You will want to research some of this and see what the composer/lyricist is trying to accomplish in these works. As best you can, what is your analysis of the work you chose – preferably the song you liked best – in terms of the elements and lyrics? You can cite any research you, which will be helpful. PART TWO is to find A PERFORMANCE of the song you found or liked best (and it can be the one I’ve selected for you). These songs have been sung by both past and contemporary singers – and still are being sung because they are beautifully crafted, timeless, and melodic. What is the singer doing with the song that brings it alive or makes it stand out more for you? You will want to look at different versions of the song online, mainly youtube, which has many performances of these works. Again, hopefully, this will be an enjoyable way to end our semester and also a way to introduce you to music that you probably wouldn’t seek out or be familiar with, but which is some of the greatest music America has ever produced. Here are the songs (listen/watch them at your own pace – and enjoy!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INuIawDFJYI (Billie Holiday, “Summertime,” by George and Ira Gershwin) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Of5qYrK–D8 (Michael Buble, “I’ve Got the World on a String,’ by Ted Koehler and Harold Arlen) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeisCvjwBMo (Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, “Cheek to Cheek,” by Irving Berlin) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iL4Lf2dOxIQ (Jane Monheit, “Taking a Chance on Love,” by Vernon Duke and John LaTouche and Ted Fetter) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vaHfaBR70w (Brian Stokes Mitchell, “Some Enchanted Evening,” by Rodgers and Hammerstein)