Danny boy – Free Jazz Lead Sheet
Eb Major – Frederic Edward Weatherly 1913
Danny Boy is a timeless ballad with a memorable, lyrical melody that works beautifully in both vocal and instrumental settings. This lead sheet provides the melody and harmony in Eb Major, making it useful for musicians looking to perform, study, or reinterpret this classic song in a jazz setting.
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Support the projectAbout this song:
Danny Boy, with lyrics by Frederic Edward Weatherly and set to the traditional Irish melody “Londonderry Air,” is one of the best-known sentimental ballads of the early 20th century. Its memorable melody and expressive character have made it popular with both vocalists and instrumentalists, including jazz musicians.
This free online lead sheet presents Danny Boy in a clear format for musicians exploring its melody, harmony, and potential for jazz interpretation.
About the composer: Frederic Edward Weatherly
Frederic Edward Weatherly (1848–1929) was an English lawyer, author, lyricist, and broadcaster. He is estimated to have written the lyrics to at least 3,000 popular songs. He is best known for writing the lyrics to “Danny Boy,” set to the traditional Irish melody “Londonderry Air,” as well as songs including “The Holy City” and “Roses of Picardy.” Weatherly was born in Portishead, Somerset, and studied Classics at Brasenose College, Oxford.
Musical strucutre and form
This song follows an AABC structure.
