Nature Boy Full Score

Jazz Lines Publications Presents nature boy As recorded by nat ‘king’ cole

prepared by jeffrey sultanof and rob duboff

full score from the original manuscript

jlp-9824

Words and Music By Eden Ahbez

Published by the Jazz Lines Foundation Inc., a not-for-profit jazz research organization dedicated to preserving and promoting America’s musical heritage.

The Jazz Lines Foundation Inc. PO Box 1236 Saratoga Springs NY 12866 USA  nat ‘king’ cole series  nature boy (1947)

Background: One of the most endearing entertainers of the 20th century, Nat ‘King’ Cole’s unmistakeable voice and perennially underrated piano playing make him a true giant of American popular music. Born in Alabama in 1919, Cole was surrounded by music from an early age. He began formal studies on piano at age 12, absorbing influences from the worlds of classical, jazz and gospel music along the way.

Moving to Los Angeles in the late 1930s, Cole formed his most famous trio with guitarist Oscar Moore and bassist Wesley Prince. His profile as a top-tier jazz pianist was well established by the early 1940s; he had been a regular at the early Jazz at the Philharmonic concerts, and had worked as a sideman for such notables as Lester Young and Lionel Hampton.

Initially focusing mostly on light instrumental versions of popular songs, Cole’s career began to gain greater popular attention when he began occasionally singing with his trio during live performances. His first hit recording as a vocalist came with 1943’s Straighten Up and Fly Right. This resulted in a dramatic shift in Cole’s musical life, as he now began to focus more exclusively on his singing. Several hit records over the course of the 1940s cemented his reputation as one of America’s most popular vocalists.

In addition to a continuation of his string of hits, the 1950s saw Cole break a color barrier in the world of popular entertainment by becoming the first African-American host of a television variety show, appropriately calledThe Nat ‘King’ Cole Show. Although the program only lasted a year, it was a groundbreaking achievement in the entertainment industry. It was around this time that Cole became more involved in politics, eventually working with presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson on issues regarding civil rights.

A longtime heavy smoker, Cole contracted lung cancer and would pass away from the disease in 1965. He left behind a lengthy list of iconic hit songs that continue to remain frequently heard to this day. His daughter, the late Natalie Cole, would go on to have a highly successful career in pop music herself, with one of her most memorable performances coming from an overdubbed “duet” with her father on his 1951 recording “Unforgettable.”

The Music: The song Nature Boy was written in 1947 by eden ahbez and is partly autobiographical, basing it on his association with the groups who had adopted Naturmensch and Lebensreform philosophies. The story goes that in 1947 ahbez attended a concert that Nat Cole was performing at the Lincoln Theater. ahbez, who had recently written the song, attempted to get a copy of the music to Cole, but was unable to accomplish this. Instead, he left a copy of the sheet music with Cole’s valet (Otis Pollard), who is the one who officially introduced the song to the famous singer/piano player.

Shortly after having been introduced to the song, Cole began performing live. The reaction was strong and Cole decided to officially record the song. However, he needed to get permission from the song’s creator. Cole had some difficulty in tracking down ahbez, who was living a nomadic lifestyle. Finally he was tracked down living under the Hollywood sign, and Cole was able to secure permission to record the song.

Cole was under contract with Capitol records at the time, so it was decided that Frank De Vol, the in-house arranger, would craft the arrangement. De Vol’s setting with woodwinds and strings suggests the enchanting and somewhat mystical vibe of the song. The recording session took place on August 22, 1947 but the track wouldn’t be released until 1948, during the American Federation of Musicians recording ban. The track reached the Billboard music charts and sold over a million copies. The success of this recording helped cement Cole’s status as an international pop star.

Doug DuBoff and Rob DuBoff - April 2018

 jLp-9824 Jazz lines PubLications Nature Boy recorded by nat 'king' cole Words and Music By Eden Ahbez Score Arranged By Frank DeVol freely  = 80 approx. [1] Prepared by Jeffrey Sultanof and Rob DuBoff  Vocal         solo   flute                  Flute/Clarinet        3 solo English horn P F       English Horn/        Bass Clarinet 3 solo P Fp          Horn in F   ~     ~~     F P Fp     Violin I          sfp Fp          Violin II     

div. sfp unis. Fp  Violin III             

div. sfp unis. Fp            Viola         sfp Fp   Cello              sfp Fp                       Harp En Fs Gn An P Fn Gs Ef Gn Dn Cs Bf  Cn   Bn Bf                  Guitar                                         Celeste  P       

                   Piano p                      arco       Bass       sfp Brushes fp  # # # # Drum Set       ˙    pp P 1 2 3 4 Copyright © 1948 Golden World Enterprises, Inc. Logos, Graphics, and Layout Copyright © 2018 The Jazz Lines Foundation Inc. Published by the Jazz Lines Foundation Inc., a Not-for-Profit Jazz Research Organization Dedicated to Preserving and Promoting America's Musical Heritage. Jazz lines PubLications Nature Boy jLp-9824 Score - Page 2

rall. rubato  = 60

Vox.        There                 Fl.        F         E. Hn.    F

   Hn.  

   Vln. I    

Fp ppdiv.

Vln. II        Fp pp

Vln. III       Fp pp    Vla.     Fp pp  Vc.      Fp pp            g  g  Hp. Fs En Fn g g  Df Dn           

     

Cel.      

             g  g  Pno. g g             

pizz.      Bs.     F 5 6 7 8 jLp-9824 Nature Boy Jazz lines PubLications Score - Page 3

[9]     Vox.                   was a boy, a ver--- y strange, en chant ed boy. They say he wan- dered                         Fl.      3 F

      Vln. I      Fp Fp unis.  Vln. II            Fp Fp  Vln. III            Fp Fp      Vla.       Fp Fp      Vc.       Fp Fp                 g g Hp. Cs            

                 g g Pno.             

    Bs.       

9 10 11 12