Be A Clown: Lead Sheet
Music and lyrics by Cole Porter
Item: 00-PSL-000210
$4.99
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Description
The motion picture De-Lovely, an original musical portrait of American composer Cole Porter, is filled with Porter's own unforgettable songs, and stars some of the biggest names in film and music, including Kevin Kline, Ashley Judd, Natalie Cole, Sheryl Crow, and Robbie Williams. Our spectacular folio is sure to be a collector's item, including songs performed in the film along with an elaborate section featuring six panels of color artwork that includes a gate-fold display featuring an array of artist and actor photos on a three-page spread. The book is printed on an antique ivory stock reminiscent of the quality publications available during Porter's lifetime. Titles are: It's De-Lovely * Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye * Just One of Those Things * Be a Clown * Let's Do It, Let's Fall in Love * Begin the Beguine * Anything Goes * I Love You * So in Love * True Love * Love for Sale * What Is This Thing Called Love * Easy to Love * Night and Day * Let's Misbehave * Blow, Gabriel, Blow * In the Still of the Night * You're the Top.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Alfred Music
SKU:
00-PSL-000210
More about this title
About the Artist: Cole Porter
Cole Porter (1891-1964) was an American composer and lyricist who fundamentally shaped American musical theatre and popular song. His sophisticated harmonies, witty lyrics, and elegant melodic lines became the standard by which jazz-age standards and theatrical music are measured. Porter composed for Broadway stages, Hollywood films, and concert halls with equal mastery, leaving behind a catalog that defines the Great American Songbook.
Why we love this
Porter's lead sheets offer pianists and singers immediate access to some of the most teachable standards ever written. The harmonic vocabulary and melodic clarity in pieces like "Be a Clown" reward close attention without sacrificing sophistication, making them ideal for building jazz harmony fluency or expanding repertoire for auditions and recitals.
What to expect
Urbane, clever, and deeply musical all at once. Porter's melodies have an effortless grace that makes them memorable after a single hearing, while his harmonies contain surprising turns that reveal new colors with each performance. There's genuine warmth beneath the sophistication.
Who it's for
Pianists and singers preparing jazz standards, musical theatre repertoire, or audition material will find this lead sheet essential. Music students building proficiency with jazz chord changes and singers developing interpretive skills with classic American songs can draw from Porter's elegant writing.
How to get the most out of it
- Study the chord changes carefully before focusing on melody; Porter's harmonic movement often drives the phrase shape as much as the tune itself.
- Sing or play the melody with the vocal line on top, even if you're accompanying, to internalize the relationship between words and music.
- Lean into the lyrical wit and character of the text; Porter's songs ask for personality and a sense of playfulness in the delivery.
How to use it
Pair this with a jazz ensemble context, a cabaret-style recital, or a musical theatre showcase. "Be a Clown" and other selections from this folio work equally well as solo piano pieces with optional vocal melody or as part of a themed evening exploring Porter's theatrical legacy.
Skills your students will build
- Reading jazz chord symbols and slash notation
- Understanding the relationship between melody, lyric, and harmonic progression in standards
- Interpreting rhythmic freedom and swing in jazz-inflected phrasing
- Building confidence with Porter's sophisticated harmonic vocabulary