The Story Behind Misty: How Erroll Garner Composed a Jazz Classic
Erroll Garner Misty Pdf Download
If you are a fan of jazz music, you have probably heard of the song "Misty" by Erroll Garner. It is one of the most famous and beloved jazz standards of all time, and it has been covered by many artists in different genres and styles. But do you know the story behind this song, and how you can download it as a pdf file for your piano practice? In this article, we will explore the origin, history, lyrics, meaning, popularity, influence, versions, and interpretations of "Misty", as well as the benefits and challenges of learning it on piano. By the end of this article, you will have a deeper appreciation of this beautiful song, and you will be able to download it as a pdf file for free.
Erroll Garner Misty Pdf Download
The origin and history of Misty
"Misty" was written in 1954 by Erroll Garner, a pianist and composer who was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1923. He was a self-taught musician who had a unique style of playing that combined swing, bebop, classical, and blues elements. He was also known for his improvisational skills and his ability to play by ear without reading music.
Garner was inspired to write "Misty" on a flight from San Francisco to Chicago that passed through a thunderstorm. As the plane descended into O'Hare airport, Garner looked through the window and saw a rainbow glowing through a haze. He was moved to start composing "Misty" on the spot, striking imaginary piano keys on his knees as he hummed the notes he imagined. His neighboring passenger was so concerned about his behavior that he summoned a flight attendant to assist him.
Garner composed "Misty" as an instrumental in the traditional 32-bar format, with an AABA structure. He recorded it for the first time in 1954 for his album Contrasts, accompanied by Wyatt Ruther on bass and Fats Heard on drums. He later re-recorded it with an orchestral arrangement by Mitch Miller for his album Other Voices in 1957.
The lyrics and meaning of Misty
The lyrics for "Misty" were added later by Johnny Burke, a songwriter who had worked with Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and other famous singers. Burke was initially reluctant to write for the song, but he was persuaded to do so by his pianist Herb Mesick, who knew Garner and liked the tune. Burke wrote the lyrics in two to three hours in his bedroom.
The lyrics are about a person who is in love with someone who makes them feel misty and sentimental. The person is so enchanted by their lover that they lose their sense of direction and reality. They compare their lover to a cloud that hangs around them and makes them feel cozy and warm. They also admit that they are too much in love to see clearly or let go.
Some of the most memorable lines from the lyrics are:
"Look at me, I'm as helpless as a kitten up a tree"
"Walk my way, and a thousand violins begin to play"
"You can say that you're leading me on / But it's just what I want you to do"
"On my own, would I wander through this wonderland alone / Never knowing my right foot from my left, my hat from my glove"
"I get misty, just holding your hand"
The popularity and influence of Misty
"Misty" became a hit after it was recorded by Johnny Mathis in 1959 for his album Heavenly. Mathis was a popular singer who had a smooth and romantic voice. His version of "Misty" reached number 12 on the U.S. pop singles chart and number 10 on the U.K. singles chart. It also won a Grammy Award for Best Arrangement.
"Misty" has since become the signature song of Mathis, and one of the most recorded songs of all time. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, it has been recorded by over 1,500 artists in various languages and styles. Some of the most notable artists who have recorded "Misty" include Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Stevens, Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Erroll Garner himself, and many more.
"Misty" has also been featured in many movies, TV shows, and books. For example, it was used as the theme song for the 1971 Clint Eastwood thriller Play Misty for Me, in which a radio DJ is stalked by a fan who requests the song repeatedly. It was also used in The Simpsons, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Wire, Breaking Bad, and other shows. It was also mentioned in Stephen King's novel The Shining, in which the main character Jack Torrance plays it on a piano in the haunted hotel.
"Misty" has influenced many other songs and musicians as well. For example, it was sampled by rapper Jay-Z for his song "Feelin' It" in 1996. It was also referenced by singer John Legend for his song "Save Room" in 2006. It was also parodied by comedian Eddie Murphy for his song "Boogie in Your Butt" in 1982.
The different versions and interpretations of Misty
As one of the most recorded songs of all time, "Misty" has been performed in many different ways by different artists. Some of the most common variations are:
The tempo: Some artists play "Misty" at a slow and romantic pace, while others play it at a faster and more upbeat tempo.
The key: Some artists play "Misty" in the original key of Eb major, while others transpose it to other keys such as C major or F major.
The instrumentation: Some artists play "Misty" with a full orchestra or a big band, while others play it with a small jazz combo or a solo piano.
The style: Some artists play "Misty" in a traditional jazz style, while others play it in a pop, rock, country, soul, or even rap style.
The lyrics: Some artists sing the original lyrics by Johnny Burke, while others change some words or add their own verses.
Some examples of different versions and interpretations of "Misty" are:
Ella Fitzgerald: She sang "Misty" in a scat style, improvising with her voice and adding syllables and sounds to the melody.
Ray Stevens: He sang "Misty" in a country style, adding a banjo and a yodel to the song.
Aretha Franklin: She sang "Misty" in a soul style, adding gospel influences and vocal runs to the song.
Erroll Garner: He played "Misty" on piano in his own distinctive style, adding embellishments and variations to the melody and harmony.
Jay-Z: He sampled "Misty" for his rap song "Feelin' It", using the piano intro and chorus as a backdrop for his rhymes.
The benefits and challenges of learning Misty on piano
If you are a piano player who wants to learn "Misty", you will find that it has many benefits and challenges. Some of the benefits are:
It is a beautiful and expressive song that can showcase your musicality and emotion.
It is a versatile song that can be played in different keys, tempos, styles, and arrangements.
It is a popular song that can impress your audience and connect with them.
It is a classic song that can enrich your repertoire and knowledge of jazz history and theory.
Some of the challenges are:
The benefits and challenges of learning Misty on piano
If you are a piano player who wants to learn "Misty", you will find that it has many benefits and challenges. Some of the benefits are:
It is a beautiful and expressive song that can showcase your musicality and emotion.
It is a versatile song that can be played in different keys, tempos, styles, and arrangements.
It is a popular song that can impress your audience and connect with them.
It is a classic song that can enrich your repertoire and knowledge of jazz history and theory.
Some of the challenges are:
It is a complex song that requires advanced skills in melody, harmony, rhythm, and improvisation.
It is a song that has many variations and interpretations, which can be confusing or overwhelming to learn.
It is a song that has high expectations and standards, which can be intimidating or discouraging to play.
However, these challenges can be overcome with proper guidance and practice. There are many resources online that can help you learn "Misty" on piano, such as tutorials, sheet music, videos, and courses. For example, you can watch this video by Hugh Sung or this video by PianoGroove to learn how to play "Misty" step by step. You can also download the sheet music for "Misty" as a pdf file for free from this website .
Conclusion: Why Misty is a jazz standard and how to download it as a pdf
In conclusion, "Misty" is a jazz standard that was written by Erroll Garner in 1954 and later added lyrics by Johnny Burke. It is a song that tells the story of a person who is in love with someone who makes them feel misty and sentimental. It is a song that has been recorded by over 1,500 artists in different languages and styles. It is a song that has influenced many other songs and musicians. It is a song that has many benefits and challenges for piano players.
If you want to download "Misty" as a pdf file for your piano practice, you can do so by following these simple steps:
Go to this website: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/misty-digital-sheet-music/19426467
Click on the "Add to Cart" button.
Click on the "Checkout" button.
Enter your email address and password, or create an account if you don't have one.
Select your payment method and enter your billing information.
Click on the "Place Order" button.
You will receive an email with a link to download your pdf file.
Open the link and save the file to your device.
Enjoy playing "Misty" on piano!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the most common questions that people have about "Misty" and their answers:
Who wrote Misty?Misty was written by Erroll Garner, a pianist and composer who was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1923. He composed it as an instrumental in 1954, and later added lyrics by Johnny Burke.
What key is Misty in?Misty is usually played in the key of Eb major, but it can also be transposed to other keys such as C major or F major.
What genre is Misty?Misty is a jazz standard that belongs to the subgenre of ballads. It has elements of swing, bebop, classical, and blues.
How many bars is Misty?Misty has 32 bars in total, with an AABA structure. The A sections are 8 bars each, and the B section is 16 bars long.
How do you improvise over Misty?To improvise over Misty, you need to know the melody, the harmony, the rhythm, and the form of the song. You also need to use scales, arpeggios, chords, patterns, motifs, and licks that fit the song. You can also use techniques such as chromaticism, substitution, reharmonization, and modulation to create more interest and variety.
I hope you enjoyed this article and learned something new about "Misty". If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. Thank you for reading and happy playing! 71b2f0854b