A Leaf

Last updated
"A Leaf"
A Leaf.jpg
Single by Paul McCartney
Released21 April 1995
Recorded23 March 1995
Genre Classical
Label EMI Classics (CD LEAF I/7243 8 82176 2 0)
Songwriter(s) Paul McCartney
Producer(s) John Fraser
Paul McCartney singles chronology
"Transpiritual Stomp"
(1993)
"A Leaf"
(1995)
"Come Together"
(1995)

A Leaf is a classical piece written by Paul McCartney, with assistance from John Fraser, [1] and performed by Anya Alexeyev [2] on piano. [3] The piece is split into 7 parts. [4] It was recorded live in front of Prince Charles as part of the "An Evening with Paul McCartney & Friends" concert, on 23 March 1995 at Royal College of Music, and it was debuted on US radio as part of a radio special titled Classical McCartney. [2]

An orchestral version, performed by the London Symphony Orchestra, appears on McCartney's 1999 album Working Classical . [5] Another orchestral version was recorded on 23 July 1996, at AIR Studios, in London, but remains unreleased. [6]

An original arrangement for piano duet of A Leaf is part of the album British Music for Piano Four Hands. [7] [8] Commissioned by XXI-21 Productions Inc., this album was recorded in 2009 by Duo Caron, on Fazioli piano, at the Bon-Pasteur Chapel in Montreal, Canada. [9]

Track listing

  1. "Andante Semplice" – 1:12
  2. "Poco Piu Mosso" – 1:19
  3. "Allegro Ritmico" – 1:51
  4. "Andante" – 2:04
  5. "Allegro Ma Non Tanto" – 1:15
  6. "Moderato" – 1:18
  7. "Andante Semplice (II)" – 0:54

Related Research Articles

<i>Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band</i> 1967 studio album by the Beatles

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is the eighth studio album by the English rock band the Beatles. Released on 26 May 1967, Sgt. Pepper is regarded by musicologists as an early concept album that advanced the roles of sound composition, extended form, psychedelic imagery, record sleeves, and the producer in popular music. The album had an immediate cross-generational impact and was associated with numerous touchstones of the era's youth culture, such as fashion, drugs, mysticism, and a sense of optimism and empowerment. Critics lauded the album for its innovations in songwriting, production and graphic design, for bridging a cultural divide between popular music and high art, and for reflecting the interests of contemporary youth and the counterculture.

<i>Revolver</i> (Beatles album) 1966 studio album by the Beatles

Revolver is the seventh studio album by the English rock band the Beatles. It was released on 5 August 1966, accompanied by the double A-side single "Eleanor Rigby" / "Yellow Submarine". The album was the Beatles' final recording project before their retirement as live performers and marked the group's most overt use of studio technology to date, building on the advances of their late 1965 release Rubber Soul. It has since become regarded as one of the greatest and most innovative albums in the history of popular music, with recognition centred on its range of musical styles, diverse sounds and lyrical content.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Day in the Life</span> 1967 song by the Beatles

"A Day in the Life" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles that was released as the final track of their 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Credited to Lennon–McCartney, the opening and closing sections of the song were mainly written by John Lennon, with Paul McCartney primarily contributing the song's middle section. All four Beatles played a role in shaping the final arrangement of the song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Here, There and Everywhere</span> 1966 song by the Beatles

"Here, There and Everywhere" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1966 album Revolver. A love ballad, it was written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. McCartney includes it among his personal favourites of the songs he has written. In 2000, Mojo ranked it 4th in the magazine's list of the greatest songs of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">For No One</span> 1966 song by the Beatles

"For No One" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1966 album Revolver. It was written by Paul McCartney, and credited to Lennon–McCartney. An early example of baroque pop drawing on both baroque music and nineteenth-century art song, it describes the end of a romantic relationship. Mostly performed by the composer, the track is distinguished by its French horn line performed by Alan Civil, played first as a solo and then as counterpoint in the final verse. It was considered one of McCartney's most mature compositions to date on its release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Long and Winding Road</span> 1970 single by the Beatles

"The Long and Winding Road" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1970 album Let It Be. It was written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. When issued as a single in May 1970, a month after the Beatles' break-up, it became the group's 20th and last number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States.

<i>Anthology 2</i> 1996 compilation album by the Beatles

Anthology 2 is a compilation album by the Beatles, released on 18 March 1996 by Apple Records as part of The Beatles Anthology series. It features rarities, outtakes and live performances from the 1965 sessions for Help! until the sessions immediately prior to their trip to India in February 1968. It is the second in a trilogy of albums with Anthology 1 and Anthology 3, all of which tie in with the televised special The Beatles Anthology. The opening track is "Real Love", the second of the two recordings that reunited the Beatles for the first time since the band's break-up. Like its predecessor, the album topped the Billboard 200 album chart and has been certified 4× Platinum by the RIAA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hello, Goodbye</span> 1967 single by the Beatles

"Hello, Goodbye" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. Backed by John Lennon's "I Am the Walrus", it was issued as a non-album single in November 1967, the group's first release since the death of their manager, Brian Epstein. The single was commercially successful around the world, topping charts in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, West Germany, Canada, Australia and several other countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eleanor Rigby</span> 1966 song by the Beatles

"Eleanor Rigby" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1966 album Revolver. It was also issued on a double A-side single, paired with "Yellow Submarine". Credited to the Lennon–McCartney songwriting partnership, the song is one of only a few in which John Lennon and Paul McCartney later disputed primary authorship. Eyewitness testimony from several independent sources, including George Martin and Pete Shotton, supports McCartney's claim to authorship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">She Came In Through the Bathroom Window</span> 1969 song by the Beatles

"She Came In Through the Bathroom Window" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1969 album Abbey Road. Written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney, it is the fifth song of the album's climactic medley, immediately following "Polythene Pam".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carnival of Light</span> Composition by the Beatles

"Carnival of Light" is an unreleased avant-garde recording by the English rock band the Beatles. It was commissioned for the Million Volt Light and Sound Rave, an event held at the Roundhouse in London on 28 January and 4 February 1967. Recorded during a session for the song "Penny Lane", "Carnival of Light" is nearly 14 minutes long and contains distorted, echo-laden sounds of percussion, keyboards, guitar and vocals. Its creation was initiated by Paul McCartney's interest in the London avant-garde scene and through his connection with the design firm Binder, Edwards & Vaughan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dig a Pony</span> 1970 song by the Beatles

"Dig a Pony" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1970 album Let It Be. It was written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The band recorded the song on 30 January 1969, during their rooftop concert at the Apple Corps building on Savile Row in central London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Never Give Me Your Money</span> 1969 song by the Beatles

"You Never Give Me Your Money" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles. It was written by Paul McCartney, and thematically documents the personal difficulties that were facing the band. The song is the first part of the medley on side two of their 1969 album Abbey Road and was recorded in stages between May and August that year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cry Baby Cry</span> 1968 song by the Beatles

"Cry Baby Cry" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1968 double album The Beatles. It was written by John Lennon and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership. The coda of the song is a short segment referred to as "Can You Take Me Back", written by Paul McCartney, which was actually an outtake from the "I Will" session.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Good Day Sunshine</span> 1966 song by the Beatles

"Good Day Sunshine" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1966 album Revolver. It was written mainly by Paul McCartney and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership. McCartney intended it as a song in the style of the Lovin' Spoonful's contemporaneous hit single "Daydream". The recording includes multiple pianos played in the barrelhouse style and evokes a vaudevillian mood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">She's a Woman</span> 1964 single by the Beatles

"She's a Woman" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, written primarily by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was released on a non-album single in November 1964 as the B-side to "I Feel Fine", except in North America, where it also appeared on the album Beatles '65, released in December 1964. Though it was the B-side, it charted in the US, reaching number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and number eight on the Cash Box Top 100. The song originated in McCartney's attempt to write a song in the style of Little Richard. The lyrics include the first reference to drugs in a Beatles song, with the line "turn(s) me on" referring to marijuana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Good Night (Beatles song)</span> 1968 song by the Beatles

"Good Night" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1968 double album The Beatles. It was written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The lead vocalist on the recording is Ringo Starr, who was the only Beatle to appear on the track. The music was provided by an orchestra arranged and conducted by George Martin. Written for Lennon's five-year-old son Julian, "Good Night" is the final song on the White Album.

<i>Standing Stone</i> (album) 1997 studio album by Paul McCartney and London Symphony Orchestra

Standing Stone is Paul McCartney's second full-length release of original classical music, although he defined it as orchestral music. It was issued shortly after the release of Flaming Pie. The world premiere performance was held at The Royal Albert Hall on 14 October 1997.

<i>Yellow Submarine</i> (album) 1969 studio album/soundtrack by the Beatles

Yellow Submarine is the tenth studio album by the English rock band the Beatles, released in January 1969. It is the soundtrack to the animated film of the same name, which premiered in London in July 1968. The album contains six songs by the Beatles, including four new songs and the previously released "Yellow Submarine" and "All You Need Is Love". The remainder of the album is a re-recording of the film's orchestral soundtrack by the band's producer, George Martin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duo Caron</span>

Duo Caron is a classical music group who transcribe and perform great orchestral works for various piano formations.

References

  1. Everett, Walter (1999). The Beatles As Musicians:Revolver Through the Anthology . Oxford University Press. p.  283. ISBN   9780199880935.
  2. 1 2 Borzillo, Carrie (30 September 1995). "Classical, Motown Specials On Tap – McCartney Shows His Non-Rock Roots With 'Leaf'". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 94.
  3. Everett, Walter (1999). The Beatles as Musicians: Revolver Through the Anthology . Oxford University Press. p.  368. ISBN   9780199880935.
  4. Hinson, Maurice (2000). Guide to the Pianist's Repertoire (3rd ed.). Bloomington [Ind.]: Indiana University Press. p.  508. ISBN   9780253109088.
  5. Calkin, Graham. "Working Classical". Jpgr.co.uk. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  6. "The McCartney Recording Sessions - 1996". Archived from the original on 2013-12-26. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  7. "Duo Caron - British Music For Piano Four Hands". Discogs . Retrieved January 10, 2013. CD entry in Discogs
  8. Laverdière, Michel (2009). Duo Caron : trésors perdus et retrouvés...British Music for Piano four Hands (Article). "Beatles Québec magazine, Volume 15 no 1" (PDF) (in French). p. 12. Retrieved July 16, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. "Société Métropolitaine du Disque / Espace 21". Martin Duchesne. Retrieved January 23, 2010.