SUDDENLY | Stephanie Trick

Composer Vernon Duke and lyricist Yip Harburg wrote the tune “Suddenly” in 1934 for the show “Ziegfeld Follies,” which starred comedian, singer, and actress Fanny Brice. It’s a delightful rarity, and I want to thank pianist and collector Alex Hassan for sharing the sheet music with me some years ago. Duke was the composer of such lovely tunes as “I Can’t Get Started,” “Autumn in New York” and “Cabin in the Sky,” and Harburg wrote lyrics for standards like “Over the Rainbow,” “Brother, Can You Spare Me a Dime?” and “It’s Only a Paper Moon.” Together, the two songwriters collaborated on several shows, with an output that included “What Is There to Say?” and “April in Paris.” Vernon Duke had a double life, alternating between the musical theater and the classical world. His circle of friends included George Gershwin, Sergei Prokofiev and Serge Koussevitzky. Duke also wrote classical works (symphonies, concertos, ballets) under his birth name, Vladimir Dukelsky. I hope you enjoy my version of this