SOFTLY AS IN A MORNING SUNRISE

Music: Sigmund Romberg- Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II

Year: 1928

 

softly as in a morning surise-clasicos del jazz-standards jazz

Origin of the song

The musical The New Moon premiered on 19 September 1928 at the Imperial Theatre in New York. The song ‘Softly As In A Morning Sunrise’ was heard in both acts of the play and on both occasions it was performed by actor Robert Halliday. The show, which received massive support from the public, gave five hundred and nine performances.

In 1930, in view of its success, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer adapted the operetta to the screen with the title of New Moon, directed by Jack Conway and starring Grace Moore, Lawrence Tibbett and Adolphe Menjou. However, the film did not include this song. The same producer filmed a new version in 1940, New Moon, directed by Robert Z. Leonard, in which ‘Softly As In A Morning Sunrise’ was heard during the credits and then sung by Nelson Eddy.

The New Moon was the last operetta Sigmund Romberg composed for the theatre. He and other musicians saw that the future was in Hollywood.

Other popular operettas by Romberg include Maytime (1917), Blossom Time (1921), The Student Prince (1924), The Desert Song (1926), Rosalie (1928) -in collaboration with George Gershwin- and The Girl In Pink Tights (1954).


Versions in the top charts

PERFORMERS

DATE OF RECORDING

DAY OF ENTRANCE

PERMANENCE WEEKS

HIGH POSITION REACHED

 

Nat Shilkret Victor Orchestra

1928.10.18

1929.01.19

6

 5

Franklyn Baur (voc)

Jazz. Outstanding performances

  Instrumental

PERFORMERS

DATE OF RECORDING

MUSICIANS WHO TOOK PART IN THE RECORDING

 

Artie Shaw Orchestra

1938.11.17

Artie Shaw (cl, dir), Chuck Peterson, Claude Bowen, John Best (tp), George Arus, Russell Brown, Harry Rodgers (tb), Les Robinson, Hank Freeman (cl, as), Tony Pastor, Ronnie Perry (cl, ts), Les Burness (p), Al Avola (g), Sid Weiss (b), Cliff Leeman (d)

Milt Jackson Quartet

1952.04.??

Milt Jackson (vib), John Lewis (p), Percy Heath (b), Kenny Clarke (d)

Modern Jazz Quartet

1955.07.02

Milt Jackson (vib), John Lewis (p), Percy Heath (b), Connie Kay (d)

Bud Shank Quartet

1956.11.08

Bud Shank (as, fl), Claude Williamson (p, cel), Don Prell (b), Chuck Flores (d)

Sonny Clark Trio

1957.10.13

Sonny Clark (p), Paul Chambers (b), Philly Joe Jones (d)

Sonny Rollins Trio

1957.11.03

Sonny Rollins (ts), Wilbur Ware (b), Elvin Jones (d)

Ramsey Lewis Trio

1959.04.22

Ramsey Lewis (p), Eldee Young (b), Redd Holt (d)

Art Pepper Quartet

1960.02.29

Art Pepper (as), Wynton Kelly (p), Paul Chambers (b), Philly Joe Jones (d)

Miles Davis Quintet

1961.04.22

Miles Davis (tp), Hank Mobley (ts), Wynton Kelly (p), Paul Chambers (b), Jimmy Cobb (d)

Bobby Timmons Trio

1961.10.01

Bobby Timmons (p), Ron Carter (b), Albert Heath (d)

John Coltrane Sextet

1961.11.02

John Coltrane (ss, ts), Garvin Bushell (ob), Eric Dolphy (as), McCoy Tyner (p), Reggie Workman (b), Elvin Jones (d)

Larry Young Quartet

1965.11.10

Larry Young (org), Woody Shaw (tp), Joe Henderson (ts), Elvin Jones (d)

Jim Hall- Ron Carter Duo

1972.08.04

Jim Hall (g), Ron Carter (b)

Kenny Drew Trio with Zoot Sims

1978.08.24

Zoot Sims (ts), Kenny Drew (p), Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (b), Ed Thigpen (d)

Freddie Hubbard Quartet

1982.06.17

Freddie Hubbard (tp), Billy Childs (p), Herbie Lewis (b), Louis Hayes (d)

Marc Copland Quintet

1997.09.??

Marc Copland (p), Tim Hagans (tp), Joe Lovano (ts), Gary Peacock (b), Bill Stewart (d)

Daniel Sadownick Sextet

2008.??.??

Daniel Sadownick (per), Joe Magnarelli (tp), Michael Karn (ts), Rob Bargad (p), Scott Colley (b), Daniel Freedman (d)

  Vocal

PERFORMERS

DATE OF RECORDING

MUSICIANS WHO TOOK PART IN THE RECORDING

 

June Christy

1954.03.25

June Christy (voc), Maynard Ferguson, Conrad Gozzo, Shorty Rogers (tp), Milt Bernhart, Harry Betts, Tommy Pederson (tb), John Graas (tpa), Paul Sarmento (tu), Harry Klee, Bud Shank (as), Bob Cooper, Ted Nash (ts), John Rotella (bars), Russ Freeman (p), Howard Roberts (g), Joe Mondragon (b), Shelly Manne (d), Pete Rugolo (dir)

Helen Merrill

1957.12.18

Helen Merrill (voc), Mike Simpson (fl, cl, ts), Dick Marx (p), Freddy Rundquist (g), John Frigo (b), Jerry Slosberg (d)

Abbey Lincoln

1959.03.25

Abbey Lincoln (voc), Kenny Dorham (tp), Phil Wright (p), Les Spann (g), Sam Jones (b), Philly Joe Jones (d)

Lorez Alexandria

1962.02.??

Lorez Alexandria (voc), Howard McGhee (tp), John Young (p), George Eskridge (g), Israel Crosby (b), Vernell Fournier (d)

Jay Clayton & Don Lanphere

1988.09.08

Jay Clayton (voc), Don Lanphere (as, ts), Marc Seales (p), Chuck Deardorf (b), Dean Hodges (d)

Trio da Paz with Dianne Reeves

2002.??.??

Romero Lubambo (g), Nilson Matta (b), Duduka Da Fonseca (d), Dianne Reeves (voc)

On cinemas

 The song 'Softly As In A Morning Sunrise' is included in the soundtrack of the following movies:

 

ORIGINAL TITLE

TITLE IN SPAIN

YEAR OF PRODUCTION

PERFORMERS OF THE SONG IN THE FILM

New Moon

Luna llena

1940

Nelson Eddy; credits

Deep in My Heart

Profundamente en mi corazón

1954

Tamara Toumanova (dubbed by Betty Wand); Helen Traubel

Hollywood Ending

Un final made in Hollywood

2002

Barbara Carroll (piano)

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