Ridin' High (from "Red, Hot and Blue!" and "High Society"): Piano/Vocal/Chords

This collection captures Porter at his most inventive, pairing 50 essential songs with archival material that shows the evolution of his craft across nearly three decades. Teachers and performers find themselves drawn back to these pieces repeatedly; the harmonic sophistication keeps advancing musicians engaged while the melodic clarity makes them teachable at multiple levels. The historical documentation transforms a songbook into a window onto American musical theater's golden age.

Urbane, clever, occasionally wistful. Porter's melodies have an uncanny way of feeling inevitable once you know them, yet the harmonic paths he takes to arrive there surprise you each time. These songs evoke nightclubs, Broadway theaters, and elegant evenings; they are conversational rather than grandiose, intimate rather than bombastic.

Pianists and singers preparing audition material or recital programs will find dependable, rewarding repertoire across a range of moods and tempos. Voice teachers and their students can draw from this collection for years; each song offers different technical or interpretive challenges. Pianists accompanying vocalists will appreciate having so many Porter standards in one resource with chord symbols for flexible performance.

• Study the harmonic movement before focusing on interpretation. Porter's chromaticism and unexpected modulations require secure voice leading, especially in accompaniment figures that can sound muddled if the harmonic intent isn't clear.
• Resist over-romanticizing the tempo. Many of these songs swing or move with a deliberate lilt; leaning into Porter's rhythmic profile keeps the music alive rather than making it precious.
• Treat the lyrics as melody partners, not afterthoughts. Porter's lyrical rhythms are integral to phrasing; singing or playing through the text reveals where the musical architecture truly lands.
• Balance the sophistication with warmth. These pieces demand technical control, but their appeal comes from a conversational elegance. Play for the listener, not the difficulty.

Build a recital around Porter selections from this book to show a specific era or mood. Pair lighter, faster numbers with introspective ballads to create shape and variety. These songs also serve jazz programs well; their harmonic language connects directly to the standards repertoire that jazz musicians study.

• Reading and executing chromatic harmony and unexpected chord progressions
• Phrasing vocal melody over sophisticated piano accompaniment
• Interpreting rhythmic subtlety and swing in written notation
• Understanding song form in the American standard tradition
• Accompanying singers with attention to lyrical rhythm and harmonic support