Composer

:

Harold Arlen

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Average_duration

:

4:43

"A Sleepin' Bee" is a popular jazz standard composed by Harold Arlen with lyrics by Truman Capote. The song was written in 1953 and premiered in the musical "House of Flowers" the same year. The song has since been covered by numerous artists, including Barbra Streisand, Nancy Wilson, and Frank Sinatra. The song is a ballad with a slow and dreamy tempo. It is written in the key of F major and has a 32-bar form. The melody is characterized by its use of chromaticism and unexpected chord changes, which give the song a sense of unpredictability and whimsy. The lyrics describe a bee that is sleeping on a flower, and the singer wonders what dreams the bee is having. The song is divided into two main sections, each with its own distinct melody. The first section begins with a descending chromatic melody that sets the dreamy mood of the song. The second section features a more upbeat melody that contrasts with the first section and adds a sense of energy and excitement to the song. Overall, "A Sleepin' Bee" is a beautiful and unique jazz standard that showcases Harold Arlen's talent for writing memorable melodies and Truman Capote's skill for crafting evocative lyrics. Its use of unexpected chord changes and chromaticism make it a challenging but rewarding song for jazz musicians to play and improvise over.

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