Sunday, September 27, 2009

Minor Musings....Thoughts about George Shearing, Mack the Knife and Kurt Weill

If you think you know the tune Mack the Knife, as written by wonderful composer Kurt Weill - think again.

Listen to George Shearing play it, as a delicate, mournful, Chopin-esque piano solo - and you'll discover a whole new tune.

George transforms it from major into minor, and completely re-imagines the landscape of the melody and the harmonies.


It's so beautiful! There's an ethereal section near the end, where George is rolling the chords, and it is sheer perfection - a delicate creme puff among the sadness...

I wonder if Kurt Weill had a chance to hear this version? I hope so!




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