[Dixielandjazz] The Bridge

[Mike Durham]

So now you know, Rebecca: but just to confuse matters, British musicians 
call the bridge  "the middle eight"..... silly really, as it isn't the 
middle eight bars of a 32-bar tune!

Mike D.



>From: Stephen Barbone <barbonestreet at earthlink.net>
>Reply-To: barbonestreet at earthlink.net
>To: Dixieland Jazz Mailing List <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
>Subject: [Dixielandjazz] The Bridge
>Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2004 22:48:27 -0500
>
>Rebecca asks about the bridge.
>
>The bridge is the "inside" section or the tune. For example the tune
>"Back Home In Indiana" has no bridge, a rarity in compositions and the
>fodder for various jokes like, "clarinet, take the bridge", or "Name a
>bridge in Indiana". Dummy, there is no bridge in Indiana.
>
>Typical Dixieland tunes have a verse and a chorus,
>
>Typical chorus's, have a bridge. (except for Indiana)
>
>The bridge marries the first section of the chorus to the second section
>of the chorus.
>
>Most songs are diagrammed thusly: a a b a (Note small letters as opposed
>to Part A, Part B which use capitals. The first "a" section is the
>melodic statement. The second "a" section is usually an exact repeat of
>the first "a" melodic statement. The "b" part is the bridge and has
>different chords from those of the melodic statement. The last "a" part
>is the final repeat of the melodic statement. May not always have the
>exact chords of the first 2 "a"s but is very close.
>
>Example "I Can't Get Started" aaba below. (Words Modified because I sing
>it to YOUNG girls) Kimmi, are you listening? Here I am at 70 singing
>these words to your contemporaries and they love it because they
>perceive me as harmless, and funny and we maintain eye contact
>throughout the song.
>
>I've flown around the world in a plane    )
>I've settled Revolutions in Spain             )  a
>The North Pole I have Charted               ) melody
>But Still I Can't Get Started With You   )
>
>On the Golf Course I'm Under Par            )
>Steven Spielberg Has Asked Me To Star   )  a
>I've Got a House, It's A Showplace            ) melody
>Still I Can't Get No Place With You           )
>
>Cause You're So Supreme, Lyrics I write of you Dream )
>I Dream Day and Night of you and I scheme                 )   b
>Just For The Sight Of You, but Baby                             )
>Bridge
>What Good Does It Do?                                                )
>
>Madonna has asked me to Tea                                   )
>And Brittany Spears Wants to Make Love with Me   )    a
>Still, I'm Broken Hearted                                            )
>Melody
>Cause I Can't Get Started, With You.                         )
>
>
>Many, many bridges are virtually the same chordal sequence. The most
>popular bridge section is from Gershwin's I got Rhythm. Because so many
>jazz tunes use this chord sequence, some players tend to dismiss those
>bridges as the "Sear Roebuck Bridge" and consequently of little
>importance. To me, the bridge is the "inside" of the tune and the as
>marriage between the "a" sections vitally important to being able to
>solo coherently. I was taught that if you play a casual bridge because
>you are bored, you ruin the song.
>
>Cheers,
>Steve Barbone
>
>
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