Letting Go: Piano/Vocal/Chords

This folio captures one of popular music's most successful creative partnerships, pairing Streisand's interpretive artistry with Barry Gibb's sophisticated melodic and harmonic writing. The chord notations make these arrangements immediately accessible to pianists and guitarists who want to accompany singers, while the vocal line and lyrics support serious study of Streisand's phrasing and interpretive choices. For teachers working with mature singers, these songs offer contemporary material with genuine vocal and musical depth.

These songs inhabit the intimate space between pop accessibility and emotional complexity. The album's partnership between two major artists creates an atmosphere of reflection and quiet sophistication, where melodies sit conversationally over rich harmonic landscapes and lyrics explore relationships, vulnerability, and connection with candor.

This book serves vocalists who want to expand their contemporary repertoire with songs that demand real interpretive skill and emotional honesty. Pianists and guitarists will appreciate having both the vocal melody and chord notation for accompanying singers in studio, lesson, or performance settings. Music teachers working with advanced high school and college-level singers will find sophisticated material that bridges popular music and art song sensibilities.

• Study Streisand's recorded interpretations first. Notice her use of space and silence, her rhythmic flexibility, and how she shapes phrases for emotional impact rather than strict time. The piano part will open up differently once you hear what she does.
• Pay attention to the chord voicings provided. They reflect the producer's harmonic choices and often suggest specific piano textures and colorations that support the vocal line's emotional arc.
• Resist the temptation to rush the tempo in intimate moments. Many of these songs benefit from generous time and space for the lyrics to land, particularly in the verses where the storytelling happens.
• Treat the chords as a guide rather than a rigid framework. Jazz and pop pianists have freedom to reharmonize, add passing chords, or adjust voicings to match the vocalist's phrasing and the room's acoustic.

Include this material in a recital dedicated to contemporary popular song or in a mixed program pairing art songs with carefully chosen commercial material. The folio works particularly well for studio recitals, coffee house performances, or cabaret-style settings where the material's conversational warmth becomes an asset. Pianists and vocalists preparing for vocal jazz or musical theater auditions will find these songs valuable for building an accessible contemporary repertoire.

• Interpreting chord symbols and realizing harmonies on piano
• Shaping contemporary melodies with legit vocal technique and emotional authenticity
• Reading and performing syncopated rhythms in pop/adult contemporary contexts
• Understanding phrasing choices that prioritize lyrical storytelling over strict metric adherence
• Coordinating vocal and piano interpretation to maintain ensemble cohesion in varied harmonic landscapes