[Music introduction].
Hello, everyone! Today we're going to learn about the enduringly popular song "Moon River".
It was made famous as the theme song to the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany's and is a collaboration between composer Henry Mancini and lyricist Johnny Mercer.
"Moon River" is considered one of the most iconic pieces of film music ever written, and the combination of Henry Mancini's melody and Johnny Mercer's lyrics makes it particularly moving. "Moon River" was a huge hit with people in its day, and has been covered by many singers ever since. The melody and lyrics are calming and emotional, evoking the feeling of an autumn night walking with someone you love. We hope it brings a warm feeling to your heart, too.
[Behind the scenes].
By the way, the story behind this song is also very interesting: the title "Moon River" was not the first title - you might know that it was originally titled "Blue River" - and the lyrics "River of Tears" were thought of before the song was finalized.
What's the story behind the music? The melody and lyrics have a wistful feel to them, as if there's a story behind them. Composer Henry Mancini reportedly used a recording of the sound of a river flowing through trees to work on the melody, which gave the song a more melodic and calming feel.
The song was initially written to be sung by Holly Golightly, the main character in "Breakfast at Tiffany's." However, during the recording process, the producers realized that Audrey Hepburn's singing skills were lacking, so they sampled Audrey Hepburn's voice to complete the song. Audrey Hepburn later became a huge hit when she sang the song live.
Also, while the song was made famous in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's, in the novel on which the movie is based, "Moon River" is not a song of the female protagonist, but rather a song often sung by the male protagonist's mother. This prompted composer Henry Mancini to create a new version of the song for female vocals, transposing it down a key and making some changes to the melody.
[composer's musical world]
So, who is the composer Henry Mancini, and what does his musical world and view of music look like?
Henry Mancini worked as an orchestral composer and composed music for a variety of films and dramas. His works are characterized by a natural conveyance of emotion and an emphasis on melody. Mancini also had an innovative approach to his work, introducing new instruments. Mancini was a major influence on jazz music in the United States, and he supported the popularity and commercialization of jazz. He believed that creating music that was popular was about touching as many people as possible.
Mancini also enjoyed working with film scores, and he loved to see his music become a big hit alongside movies. His music has an emotional and authentic quality to it, which has served to add depth and emotion to films.
[Henry Mancini quote]
As a musician, Henry Mancini had a lot of wisdom that he gained from his life experiences and artistic insights, and his quotes can be a source of encouragement and comfort to many people.
One of his most famous quotes is "Unexpressed emotions will never die. They are buried alive and will come forth later in uglier ways." This means "Unexpressed emotions will never die. This means, "Unexpressed emotions will never die. They are buried alive and will come forth later in uglier ways."
This quote shows that Mancini valued emotion and art, and strived to put emotion and heart into his music. It's also a reminder that it's important for everyone to be honest about their feelings and express them artistically.
Henry Mancini also hoped that "Moon River" would be a source of strength and comfort for people going through difficult times in their lives, saying, "If you don't have a problem, you don't have a song to write."
These Henry Mancini quotes have inspired and encouraged many people, not only with his music, but with his wisdom about life itself.
[Lylics]
Moon river, wider than a mile
I'm crossing you in style some day
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
Wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way
Two drifters, off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after the same rainbow's end
Waitin' 'round the bend
My huckleberry friend
Moon river and me