Abstract
The outstanding feature of this chapter is the inclusion of musical examples by Irving Berlin, which had been excluded from the 1972 edition of American Popular Song because of copyright restrictions. Before delving into some of the songs from his prodigious output, Berlin’s unusual method of composition is discussed. Having very limited faculty on the piano, Berlin generally hired a professional piano player to assist him. Presented with Berlin’s melody, the assistant would explore several possible harmonizations to each part of the song under Berlin’s close supervision. Berlin wrote many different types of songs, and it is impossible to define general traits that define a specific style. Contrasting such numbers as “White Christmas,” “God Bless America,” and “There’s No Business Like Show Business” bears this out. This chapter includes more than sixty-five musical examples that were not in the first edition.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
