Alec Wilder (1907-1980) was an American composer whose gift for melody and harmonic sophistication earned him recognition across concert music, theater, and film. He wrote over 600 compositions, many of them songs that have become standards in the American songbook, characterized by their wit, accessibility, and subtle compositional craft.
Wilder's work in vocal music and his careful attention to text-setting make him an invaluable resource for singers and pianists developing taste and interpretive maturity. His lead sheets offer direct access to his melodic genius and are particularly useful for performers learning to navigate jazz-inflected harmonies with classical sensibility.
