I Can Dream, Can't I - Sammy Fain

[Keith88]

Hi Jer,

Thanks for the complements. I appreciate them. I try to include biographical information about the composers of the songs because I think it is important to honor those who provide us with beautiful material to play and to provide a context for placing the material in the repertoire. I also think it is useful to understand the structure of the music in order to generate an effective performance of it. Too many performers are taught how to play or particularly how to sing without learning any music theory.

I noted that Sammy Fain had been nominated ten times for the Academy Award for Best Song in a film. Here is the list of the songs:

That Old Feeling - 1937
Secret Love - 1953 (Winner)
Love Is a Many Splendid Thing - 1955 (Winner)
April Love - 1957
A Very Precious Love - 1958
A Certain Smile - 1958
Tender Is the Night - 1962
Strange Are the Ways of Love - 1972
A World That Never Was - 1976
Someone Is Waiting For You - 1977

I've posted charts for "A Very Precious Love" and "A Certain Smile" to the forums and I regularly perform many of these songs. It is a pleasure to play these songs by a great composer.

[engelbach]

Thanks, Keith.

I don't know any of those tunes from 1962 on, but the earlier ones I play from time to time, especially Love Is a many-Spendored Thing.

Cheers,
Jer