Category: Henry

Andrea Bocelli | Con Te Partirò

James Corden kicked off #HomeFest on The Late Late Show last night, with Andrea Bocelli as one of the featured performers singing “Con Te Partirò.” Originally released in 1995 on Bocelli’s second studio album, the track has gone on to become one of the best-selling singles of all time and is considered his signature song. Key change at 4:40.

My Favorite Things (from “The Sound of Music”)

“My Favorite Things” is from the beloved (and last) Rodgers & Hammerstein musical The Sound of Music, which premiered on Broadway in 1959. Starring Mary Martin, the musical theatre production was followed by the classic film adaptation in 1965, starring Julie Andrews. The song passes seamlessly between E minor, and the parallel and relative major, E and G respectively, throughout the song. I hope this classic tune brings a smile to your face, a warmth to your heart, and a reminder of your favorite things.

Il Divo | All By Myself

Originally written, recorded, and released by Eric Carmen in 1975, “All By Myself” has been covered by many artists, perhaps most notably Céline Dion. The verse of the tune is based on the second movement of Sergi Rachmaninov‘s Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor. While Carmen’s original did not include a key change, most contemporary covers, including the 2007 version featured here by the pop male vocal group Il Divo, do (you can find it at 3:12.)

Stevie Wonder | Golden Lady

Stevie Wonder‘s “Golden Lady” was featured on his 1973 album Innervisions. Influenced by the Cuban montuno style, the track is quintessential Wonder, with a syncopated melody and unexpected half-step harmonic resolutions. The verses are in Eb major, contrasted with the chorus in G minor. At 3:30, the chorus is repeated and raised a half step each time.

Brenda Lee | Danke Schön

“Danke Schön” is originally a pop song of German origin, written in 1959 by Bert Kaempfert and Kurt Schwabach. The track gained international fame when it was recorded by Wayne Newton in 1963. The version featured here, performed by Brenda Lee, was included on her 1964 album By Request. Key changes at 0:34, 1:01, 1:28, and 1:55.

Gabriel Fauré | Élégie, Op. 24

Gabriel Fauré’s “Élégie”, Op. 24 for cello and piano has held a special place in my heart ever since I was first introduced to it and played it with a close friend in high school. Originally envisioned as the slow movement in an uncompleted cello sonata, Fauré published the piece as stand-alone work in 1883, and later orchestrated it as well.

Fauré scholar Jean-Michel Nectoux wrote that the Élégie was one of the last works in which the French composer allowed himself “such a direct expression of pathos,” noting further that he regards the piece as “one of the last manifestations of French musical Romanticism. From now on Fauré’s music was to be more introverted and discreet.”

A large scale ABA form begins and ends in C minor; Ab major is hinted at in the bass beginning at 2:24 before fully arriving when the piano takes the melody at 2:35. Performed here by Jacqueline du Pré and Gerald Moore, pianist.

Beautiful City (from “Godspell”)

“Beautiful City” is from Stephen Schwartz‘s musical Godspell, which opened in 1971 Off-Broadway, moving to Broadway in 1976. This song was originally written for the 1973 movie, and has since been inserted in the show in various locations, in both uptempo and ballad styles. The track seamlessly and beautifully alternates between Gb Major in the verses and Eb Major in the chorus, before an unexpected shift to D Major right at the end. Performed here by Hunter Parrish from the 2011 Broadway revival cast; key changes are at 0:47, 1:17, 1:52, 2:22, 2:45, and 3:11.