The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #2648 Message #3544705
Posted By: GUEST,leeneia
02-Aug-13 - 11:35 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Bye Bye Blackbird (Dixon/Henderson)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bye Bye Blackbird (Dixon/Henderson)
I believe the song is public domain now. The UCLA sheet shows it was renewed in 1948. If they renewed for 28 years, that would have expired in 1976.
Anyhow, I felt that I would enjoy playing this song on the piano, intro, verse, chorus and all, so I made a MIDI of it. I'm sending it in for posting, and it should show up here soon if Joe Offer is in fine fettle. You can listen to the MIDI and learn the melody for the long-lost parts about the blackbird and the bluebird.
It has an introduction (harp) vocal part (recorder) and selected embellishments (guitar.) The sheet music has chords, but I've been experimenting, and they don't have to be as complicated as they show. The piece was written in an era when people felt they it was sophisticated to use the black notes, whether they actually sounded good or not.