Re: singer/wiener

[Tim Meyen <tim...>]

elkahn (at) JTSA(dot)EDU wrote:

> FOR THE RECORD:
>
> Israel Baline or Irving Berlin emigrated to America where he grew up on
> the Lower East Side of New York. While one cannot call his music "Jewish,"
> it is most certainly influenced by the song of Russian/Eastern European
> Jews. I believe you can hear it in the following examples (all in a
> melodic minor key): The B-section of BLUE SKIES ("Never saw the sun
> shining so bright..."), the A-section of LET'S FACE THE MUSIC AND DANCE
> ("There may be trouble ahead.."), the lovely modulation in ALWAYS
> ("That's when I'll be there, Always...") and the entire minor key PUTTIN'
> ON THE RITZ.
> ...

Could you please explain further why you feel these examples show the influence 
of E. European Jewish song? Use of the melodic minor isn't
limited to Jews or that geographic area... In what other ways do you feel 
Berlin's music shows these influences?