Do you know the story of “Moonlight Serenade?

Do you know the story of “Moonlight Serenade?”  It is one of the most popular big band songs.

The music was composed by Glenn Miller and subsequent lyrics by Mitchell Parish. It was originally named “Now I Lay Me Down To Weep.”
When Miller recorded “Sunrise Serenade” in 1939, he placed this song on the back. It was an immediate phenomenon as an instrumental arrangement and was adopted as Miller’s signature tune.

The most striking part of the piece was its use of clarinet-led saxophone section, which is widely considered the classic Glenn Miller sound.
Here are the Mitchell Parish (Stardust) lyrics;

MOONLIGHT SERENADE
Glenn Miller

I stand at your gate and the song that I sing is of moonlight.
I stand and I wait for the touch of your hand in the June night.
The roses are sighing a Moonlight Serenade.

The stars are aglow and tonight how their light sets me dreaming.
My love, do you know that your eyes are like stars brightly beaming?
I bring you and sing you a Moonlight Serenade.

The Top Ten Glenn Miller tunes?

Major Glenn Miller

Our fellow big band fan George Spink of Los Angeles...and the Moderator of the terrific website " Music in the Miller Mood Yahoo!" asked his audience for their top ten Miller favorites... Here they are:


From Joel R:
1. Along the Santa Fe Trail, 2. St. Louis Blues March, 3. Holiday for Strings, 4. Speak Low, 5. Stardust, 6.My Buddy, 7. Long ago and Far Away, 8. Going Home, 9. Blue Champagne, 10. Stormy Weather

From Gregg S:
1.The Woodpecker Song, 2.Little Brown Jug, 3. Moonlight Serenade, 4. Have You Got Any Gum,Chum?, 5.A String of Pearls, 6. Chattanooga Choo Choo, 7. Don't Sit Under the AppleTree, 8 I've Got A Gal in Kalamazoo, 9.In The Mood, and 10. That Old Black Magic.

From Jack F:
1. Moonlight Serenade, 2. Moonlight Cocktails, 3.Serenade in Blue, 4.String of Pearls, 5. Pennsylvania 6-5000, 6. I Know Why, 7. Skylark, 8.In The Mood, 9.Tuxedo Junction. 10. At Last.

From Marty D:
1) In the Mood, 2) Moonlight Serenade, 3) Elmer's Tune, 4) Juke Box Saturday Night, 5) Pennsylvania 6500, 6) Moonlight Cocktail, 7) Tuxedo Junction, 8) String of Pearls, 9) Chattanooga Choo Choo, 10) Little Brown Jug

From Rick Busciglio:
1.Moonlight Serenade 2. String Of Pearls 3. In The Mood 4. Sunrise Serenade 5. At Last 6. Tuxedo Junction 7. Begin The Beguine 8. St. Louis Blues March 9. Little Brown Jug 10. That Old Black Magic
The favorites ...common on four of the five lists are Moonlight Serenade, String of Pearls and In The Mood.
Thank you to George, Joel, Gregg, Jack and Marty for sharing.
Care to share your list? Send to Swing and Big Band Examiner
Please visit:

George Spink
Los Angeles
Moderator - Music in the Miller Mood Yahoo! Group
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/millermood/