I've Got You Under My Skin (from "Born to Dance"): Piano/Vocal/Chords

This collection assembles 50 of Porter's most essential songs from his early period in one beautifully researched volume. The contextual material—rare images, scrapbook photographs, and film stills—situates each song in its original theatrical moment, enriching how singers understand the material's intended elegance and wit. Piano/vocal arrangements of this caliber give serious students and professional musicians reliable scores for recital or audition preparation.

These songs embody the glamour and sophistication of 1920s and 1930s Broadway and Hollywood. Harmonically complex yet vocally graceful, they evoke evening wear, wit, and romantic confidence. The music feels both timeless and decisively of its era, reflecting Porter's ability to write songs that satisfy both popular and cultured audiences.

Serious singers preparing classical vocal recitals, jazz vocalists building their standard repertoire, and pianists seeking reliable accompaniment scores for collaborative work. Voice teachers and coaches will find this collection particularly valuable for introducing students to American song literature with authoritative texts and rich historical documentation.

• Study the harmonic movement beneath the melody; Porter frequently uses chromatic voice leading and unexpected chord substitutions that reward close attention from the accompanist.
• Balance the lyrical sophistication with musical directness; resist over-ornamenting these melodies, which are strongest when sung with clarity and ease.
• Use the historical context provided in the book to inform your interpretation, particularly regarding the song's original theatrical setting and intended tone.
• Shape phrases around the words rather than the bar lines; Porter's rhythmic settings often defer to conversational phrasing.

Feature individual Porter songs in recitals alongside Gershwin, Rodgers, or other Great American Songbook composers to establish a program theme. Select contrasting pieces from this collection—perhaps pairing a witty comic song like "Let's Do It" with a more tender ballad like "Easy to Love"—to showcase Porter's range within a single concert set. The historical and visual materials make this resource particularly valuable for lecture-recitals or educational presentations on American musical theater.

• Interpreting chromatic harmony and jazz-influenced chord progressions
• Managing rhythmic flexibility within structured song forms
• Coordinating piano accompaniment with vocal phrasing in popular song idiom
• Understanding the relationship between theatrical context and musical character
• Sight-reading and learning from professional vocal scores