Summer time (Geroge Gershwin)

• Composed 1935

• Aria/number from an Opera

- Performed early in the opera, as a long opening number. Tender Lullaby to a baby

• Fusions of folk, jazz and classical opera

- "American Folk Opera"

• Duple time - 2/2

• Rocking lullaby rhythm conveyed by steady minims in accompaniment

• Typical devices include:

- Swung Rhythms

- Syncopation ("Fish" bar 11)

- Triplets

• Violin countermelody (not heard on CD) in verse two is mainly in quavers

• Vocal part spans an octave

• American dialect within lyrics

• Four-bar phrases

• Pentatonic vocal line, except for C# in bar 14 and 32

• Ornamentation includes portamento (slides between notes). Notated bar 21, and sung bar 10

• Chords outline a 16-bar blues pattern in B minor
  

• Characteristic features include:

- Added 6th chords (minor triad plus major 6th)

- False relations arising from "blue" chromatic notes - clashing E and E# i bars 14 and 32

- Circle of fifths (B E A D G C F#)

- Perfect cadence at end

• Key of B minor

• Dominant preparation - F# bars 3-7

• Two-verse Strophic, 16-bar song structure

• ABAC Pattern

• Balanced four-bar phrases

• Soprano soloist

• Vocalise (wordless singing)

• Solo Viloin

• Symphony Orchestra

• MELODY DOMINATED HOMOPHONY, enriched by additional layers in second verse