I Was So Young

"This wistful 1919 ballad about remembering the bittersweet ecstasy and pain of young love comes from a long-forgotten show entitled Good Morning, Judge. The music was composed by a 20-year old George Gershwin with lyrics by Irving Caesar—a great example of what Duke Ellington used to call “a plaintive song."

I’m not sure that I realized it when I wrote this chart, but listening to it now, I am reminded of Jimmie Lunceford’s Dream Of You, which was composed, arranged and sung by Sy Oliver. Sy’s intimate vocal and the slightly nostalgic clarinet sound perfectly capture the spirit of lost love. Denzal gives more of a Nat Cole approach to our recording, but, like Sy, I used four clarinets. The arrangement and performance are all about capturing the mood." - David Berger

Style: Ballad

Solos: None

Grade: 4

Hear this arrangement: