Songs
Songs
Put it all together with five complete songs — from Bach's 'Minuet in G' to Elton John's 'Benny and the Jets' — spanning classical, rock, and jazz.
Song 1: “Minuet in G” (J.S. Bach)
The “Minuet in G” is part of a collection of instructional pieces Bach compiled for his second wife. Long assumed to be by Bach, it was probably in fact composed by his colleague Christian Petzold. The main melody is carried by the right hand in the upper register, supported by some light harmony in the left hand.
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Song 2: “Come Sail Away” (Styx)
“Come Sail Away” is a classic power ballad from the 1970s pop/rock band Styx, and was included on the band’s 1977 triple-platinum album The Grand Illusion. The song also enjoyed a resurgence in the early 21st century when it was included on the soundtrack to the animated series South Park. Check out those left-hand arpeggios and right hand triads—all classic pop/rock piano techniques (the first three measures use the “Alberti bass” we discussed in the classical music chapter)! On the recording, you may notice a second piano part playing faintly in the background. Many groups would often add extra parts in the studio to enhance the music.
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Song 3: “Benny and the Jets” (Elton John)
“Bennie and the Jets” is from Elton John’s 1973 album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, and was arranged around John’s percussive piano downbeats that begin the tune. The percussive quality is indicated by the eighth notes with eighth rests in between, notifying the player to “hit” these rather than play them. This Top-10 hit also features honky-tonk-style playing on the verses.
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Song 4: “Takin’ Care of Business” (BTO)
“Takin’ Care of Business” was a Top-20 hit for Bachman-Turner Overdrive in 1974, and is still going strong into the 21st century on commercials for a well-known office supplies company. The left-hand root–5th and root–6th intervals, together with the right-hand blues phrasings, all add up to some great rock ’n’ roll piano!
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Song 5: “Misty” (Erroll Garner/Johnny Burke)
“Misty” is one of the best known jazz standards ever, and has been recorded by hundreds of wellknown artists. This is a jazz trio version (piano, bass, and drums), with the piano comping behind the vocals.
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