Arthur Schwartz-Love is a Dancing Thing

Arthur Schwartz-Love is a Dancing Thing: ( actually a title of a Schwartz song but also descriptive of his musical tribute to the themes of love and romance.)  Alec Wilder, that inveterate chronicler of The Great American Songbook traditions and repertoire has stated that "Arthur Schwartz wrote some splendid songs. They have the character and sinew of the best of theatre music" and that " He wrote with total self-assurance and high professional skill." High praise indeed from a very demanding musical critic whose " American Popular Song -The Great Innovators 1900-1950 is the most comprehensive and authoritative study of the classic American song tradition. People know and admire songs like " Dancing in the Dark" " Alone Together" " A Shine on Your Shoes" " That's Entertainment" " I see your Face Before Me" " Something To Remember Me By"
and " I guess I'll Have to Change My Plan" . Meanwhile, some  equally marvellous songs are less known which is also true of both the name and reputation of Arthur Schwartz. His principal lyric writer was Howard Dietz, about whom it was said he wrote lyrics on MGM stationery. Dietz was a publicity Director at MGM while remaining active as a witty and talented lyricist.
Arthur Schwartz was capable of writng tender and evocative love songs such as " I See Your Face Before Me " whose Howard Dietz lyrics suggest that"  It doesn't matter, where you are, I can see how fair you are,  I close my eyes and there you are, always." In a live television performance, Frank Sinatra sings with exactly  the tenderness and reverence demanded by both the words and music of the song title.

PERFORMANCE LINK:    http://youtu.be/3nh6tQH6KyA

In a similar vein, the song " Alone Together" Alec Wilder described as " A very lovely and very dramatic song, one which with less expert handling could have fallen into artiness and pretentiousness. It never does!"
This live version by Carly Simon also benefits from a pulsating, rthymic arrangement that provides extra tension and excitement to the performance. The ability of creative arrangers and orchestrators can often breath new life into songs written more than 60 years ago. The original song arrangements and performances often pale in comparison with what a Nelson Riddle, Johnny Mandel and Claus Ogerman arrangement can create. Nonetheless, the essence of what makes a memorable song still remains regardless how modernized the song  treatment may be. "They're either good notes or their not!"

PERFORMANCE LINK: http://youtu.be/D_xEiEA8pBI

As proof of the arrangers ability to quite radically alter the approach to a song, please listen to pianist Roger Kellaway and singer Trudy Desmond romp through " By Myself" , something Fred Astaire sings early in the 1953 MGM Musical " The Bandwagon" (based on an earlier. succesful Schwartz and Dietz revue of the same name.) This is a jazz inspired rendition but it is infectious and engrossing throughout. The contribution of jazz performances to the enrichment of the Great American Songbook canon cannot be overstated. Jazz performers rely very heavily on the so-called " standards" to demonstrate their own creativity, especially if they find interesting chord changes in the harmonic structure of a song.

PERFORMANCE  LINK: http://youtu.be/h_TTtLPosps

Speaking of clever arrangements, Sinatra's version of "I Guess I'll Have to Change My Plan" another Schwartz & Dietz song is from a Nelson Riddle arranged Sinatra album called " A Swinging Affair.'
The lyrics suggest that the lover who lost in love will perhaps once again find another girl worthy of his affection.

PERFORMANCE LINK" http://youtu.be/0Ff1vp4rp58

NOTE: Future posts will showcase some of the lesser known but equally wonderful Arthur Schwartz creative collaborations.