The ‘Piano Man’

Biography, Composition history and Listening guides of

William Martin “Billy” JoelEvan Easton, Music 1010, Semester Project, July 11, 2014

A Legend is born…

May 9, 1949

The Lost Souls, Billy on left.

The Hassles Billy 2nd from right.

Played piano for the demo recording at age 16.

Won 6 Grammys, nominated for 18 more…

Over 150,000,000 albums sold

Composition History

“Scenes from an Italian Restaurant”

“Keeping the Faith”

“Scenes from and Italian Restaurant”• 0:00- Introduction. The song starts with a soft piano in an inverted arch contour. The piano is slow and

establishes and rhythm that is easy to listen to .• 0:24 the piano continues with a greater volume and an accordion is add into the piece that is dejunct in

its part. Both play together and follows a diminuendo softening the mood of the music.• 0:49 Although very subtle the bass is added enriching the dynamic of the music. It seems to follow the

flow of the piano in its pitch. Guiro is added that gives it a rustic feel• 1:08 at this point in the piece the tempo is changing beginning to build into a crescendo with the

cymbals, saxophone and snare drums. A violin or two follow continuing to build as if getting ready to jump out of an airplane. The tempo picks up as well

• 1:40 this is the point that the song seems to completely shift gears. We go from a nice harmonic flow much like and orchestra to a rock song. We hear a loud hard beat from the piano matched with the drums and a tambourine in a conjunct style.

• 2:07 The Saxophone is added in again to piece. We hear the Soprano, Alto, and Baritone Sax. • 2:49 we lose all the other instruments with the exception of the piano. The tempo is fast and forte. It

leads the lyrics in to a new part of the story. We can feel the building of the song in to its climax. During the next parts the piano is joined by the drums and bass.

• 4:29 the piano and Saxophone harmonize in a up tempo crescendo• 5:05 the electric guitar and the piano provide the melody while the drums keep the beat.• 6:05 we begin diminuendo with a descending contour with the strings that lead us back to where the

piece started.• 6:20 the piano matches the beginning of the song as it brings the piece to its close• 6:48 Finale the strings/cymbal, crescendo into alto sax solo with drums/bass/piano accompaniment• 7:33 end of song

“Keeping the Faith”• 0:00 Introduction the piece starts with a fast tempo and a quick beat laid

down with a synthesizer, electric guitar, cabasa, snare and bass drums, all playing conjunct in an arch contour.

• 0:45 the bass is added here to give the piece a greater dynamic which helps to round it out.

• This same sound continues• 1:29 trumpets and a saxophone chime in to make the lyrics pop a bit. The

accordion seems to draw out the notes of the other instruments. It creates an elongating feel to the music.

• 4:38 end of song

Bibliography

• http://www.billyjoel.com/biography• http://www.billyjoel.com/timeline• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Joel• Sirius/XM radio town hall, Billy Joel Town Hall

Masterclass with Howard Stern 4/28/14, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFLy1Dg6zHs

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keeping_the_Faith_%28song%29

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scenes_from_an_Italian_Restaurant