Music You Can Read®

"By the Light of the Silvery Moon"
       
     
"By the Light of the Silvery Moon"
 


"By the Light of the Silvery Moon," Lyrics, Text Format



Dotted and straight syncopation, melodic rhythm patterns,
four minor thirds (m3) and three perfect fourths (p4).

Click to hear melody.
 


Description
 
  • Grade: Fifth

  • Origin: USA - words: Edward Madden
    music: Gus Edwards, circa. 1909

  • Key: A Flat Major

  • Time: 4/4

  • Form: phrases: ABACD - chorus: AB

  • Rhythm: intermediate: | ti (ti) ti/ ri ti/ ri ta | syncopation, | ti (ti) ta ta ta | syncopation,
    | ti (ti) ti ti ti ti ta | syncopation, | ta/a ta/a |
    | ta/a/a ti/ ri | syncopation, | ta ta ta ta |
    | ta ti/ ri ti/ ri ta | syncopation, | ta/a/a/a |

  • Pitches: intermediate: Mi Fa So La Ti Do Re Mi Fa

  • Intervals: intermediate: So/Do (P4), Do\La (m3), La/Re (P4), Ti\So (m3), La\Mi (P4), Mi/So\Mi (m3), Re/Fa8 (m3) Do/Mi (M3), note: the placement of the minor thirds and the change to a major third at the end, just before landing on the tonic, Do

  • Musical Elements: notes: whole, dotted half, half, quarter, dotted eighth, sixteenth; rest: eighth; pickup beat, tied notes, syncopation, melodic rhythm patterns, vocal slur, use of minor third intervals, melody centered around the dominate (So) before arriving at the tonic (Do)

  • Key Words: USA history, Tin Pan Alley, turn of the century, ballad, courting song, silvery, moon, spoon, honey, croon, tune, honeymoon, beams, moon beams, dreams, cuddling; abbreviation: silv'ry (silvery); possessive love's; echo singing

  • Recorder: intermediate: tied whole notes at the end of phrases foster breath support

 
 

"By the Light of the Silvery Moon"


By the light of the silvery moon,
I want to spoon, to my honey I'll croon love's tune,
Honeymoon keep a-shining in June,
Your silv'ry beams will bring love dreams,
We'll be cuddling soon,
By the silvery moon.

(second time)
By the light, (By the light, By the light),
Of the silvery moon, (The silvery moon).
I want to spoon, (Want to spoon, Want to spoon)
To my honey I'll croon love's tune.
Honeymoon, (Honeymoon, Honeymoon),
Keep a-shining in June. (Keep a-shining in June)
Your silv'ry beams will bring love dreams,
We'll be cuddling soon,
By the silvery moon.

Chorus to the popular turn of the century song, circa. 1909.
One of a series of moon related Tin Pan Alley songs of the era.
A great concert addition to:
"On Moonlight Bay"
"Shine On Harvest Moon".



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Additional Formats


music

"By the Light of the Silvery Moon," Music Format
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beats

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rhythm

Click to Enlarge: "By the Light of the Silvery Moon," Rhythm Format
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pitch numbers

Click to Enlarge: "By the Light of the Silvery Moon," Pitch Number Format
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solfeggio

Click to Enlarge: "By the Light of the Silvery Moon," Solfeggio Format
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letter names

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