Story of a Song - Simply Music

Showing all 8 results in Story of a Song

How 2 songs became 1: Londonderry Air & Danny Boy

As most of us could agree Danny Boy is a legendary musical piece, possibly one of the most famous songs in the world. It is synonomous with all things Ireland and has made its way to being an unofficial Irish national song. But did you…

Written by Gordon Harvey on Mar 17, 2021
danny boy, england, folk music, History, ireland, londonderry air, lyric, music, music education, piano, popular songs, simply music, song history, the playground

Seasons Greetings & Merry Gravy Day

From all of us here at Simply Music we wish the very best and a safe and happy holiday season … and a Happy Gravy Day Australia! Gravy Day you ask? The 21st of December has become synonymous with Gravy in Australia. Paul Kelly’s ‘How…

Written by Gretta Dunn on Dec 20, 2020
music, music education, piano, simply music, the playground

Mr Bojangles – Story (and Study) of a Song

Jerry Jeff Walker, who passed away recently at the age of 78, is remembered as one of the artists who brought country music out of the backwoods and into the mainstream. He was very prolific but he will always be remembered for one song: Mr…

Written by Gordon Harvey on Nov 5, 2020
Jerry Jeff Walker, Mr Bojangles, music, music education, piano, simply music, the playground

Story of a Song – The Lion Sleeps Tonight

Music, like most art, is not as original as it may seem. With the new CGI animated Lion King coming to cinemas this summer, what better time to look at the creation and history of a timeless song, The Lion Sleeps Tonight? Join us as…

Written by Gordon Harvey on Jun 5, 2019
disney, gordon harvey, music, music education, piano, simply music, The Lion King, The lion sleeps tonight, the playground

Story of a Song: Happy Birthday & How to Play It!

This month we celebrate a birthday of an unusual kind. You might call it the birthday of the right to properly celebrate birthdays. And surprisingly, it’s just a first birthday, because on June 30, 2016, after a very long and tortuous process, the most familiar…

Written by Gordon Harvey on Jun 20, 2017
chords, gordon harvey, Happy Birthday, learn piano, music, music education, piano, play piano, Public Domain, simply music, simply music piano, songs, the playground

Story of a Song – Summertime

A lot of music unites people. Occasionally it divides people. With its contentious depiction of racial stereotypes, the opera Porgy and Bess seems to have experienced the ebb and flow of acceptance over the years, but even its cultural detractors will recognise it as one…

Written by Gordon Harvey on Sep 10, 2014
Classics, gordon harvey, music, music education, piano, simply music, Summertime, the playground

Story of a Song – Po’ Lazarus

In our rush to idolise our favourite singers or composers, we miss some other great contributors to musical culture. One such unsung hero is the American ethnomusicologist Alan Lomax. Armed with a portable tape recorder, Lomax spent several decades from the 1930’s travelling the United…

Written by SM Admin on Oct 27, 2013

Story of a Song – The Rite of Spring

This new occasional series is already contradicting itself in the first edition by discussing not a song but a full-length orchestral piece. Still, the 100th anniversary of one of the milestone events in music is worth commemorating. There are few if any genuinely unprecedented new…

Written by SM Admin on Jun 27, 2013

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