An Introduction to America’s Music

CHAPTER 15 | JAZZ IN THE SWING ERA 383

songwriter: Cole Porter

date: composed 1929, recorded 1945

performers: Billie Holiday, vocal; 15-piece

studio orchestra directed by Specs Powell,

drums

genre: Swing-era jazz vocal

meter: duple

form: aaba chorus

WHAT TO LISTEN FOR

• Porter’s tune: mix of major and minor, use of
  blue notes


• Holiday’s singing: back phrasing, timbre, subtle
  variations in the half chorus


• the accompaniment: mix of strings and jazz
  instrumentation, relaxed dance rhythm

CD 3.6 Listening Guide 15.5 “What Is This Thing Called Love?” BILLIE HOLIDAY

timing section text comments

0:00 introduction 8 bars: muted trumpet, then tenor sax, set an

urbane mood over sophisticated harmonies and a

soft but insistent rhythm section.

0:16 chorus a

a

What is this thing

called love...

32-bar chorus. Holiday stretches the first notes

of the melody, immediately beginning to back-

phrase, over an active countermelody in the

saxes.

0:50 b I saw you there one

wonderful day...

Strings add a sweet background at the bridge.

1:06 a That’s why I ask the

Lawd...

The sax countermelody returns.

1:22 chorus a Muted trumpet solo by Joe Guy.

1:55

a

b Electric guitar solo by Tiny Grimes.

2:13 a Sax section.

2:28 half chorus b

a'

I saw you there one

wonderful day...

Holiday sings the b and fi nal a sections only, with

scoring similar to the fi rst chorus. The fi nal 8 bars

are extended to 10 (phrased 6 + 4) to create a sense

of closure.

Listen & Refl ect

1. How does Holiday vary her performance of the second half of the chorus ( beginning at
   0:49) when it recurs at 2:26? Consider rhythmic, pitch, dynamic, and timbral choices.

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