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Double Bass Tuppence

Chris Fitzgerald

Chris Fitzgerald

Student of Life
Staff member
Administrator
Gold Supporting Member
Oct 19, 2000
27,574
38,471
Louisville, KY
www.chrisfitzgeraldmusic.com
#1
Don't laugh. My son has been watching "Mary Poppins" almost every day in the way that 3 years olds will do, which means that I've been subjected to portions of it non stop for the last month. In addition to my beginning to think that Julie Andrews was pretty damn cute in that movie, I've got this song stuck in my head and am thinking about plunking it into Sibelius, doing a few judicious reharms, and adding it to the tune list - it's a really well constructed melody with a solid bridge, and catchy as hell. Or am I just so smitten with my kid that I think anything he likes must be good? :D

Anyway, was wondering if anyone knows of any jazz recordings of this tune out there that might be perused by old DURRL. Thanks, and don't forget to feed the birds.
 
#2
Great tune. Love the bridge. It's a home run. I don't know why I haven't heard anyone do it. It's begging for the stick of pain too. Arco the head on the bass. Don't forget the verse. Makes the whole thing kill.

Feed the Birds I think it's called.

Julie Andrews is amazing in that film. Can't take your eyes off here when she's on the screen. That voice...
 
#3
Check this out. Good taste is good taste.

"Feed The Birds (Tuppence A Bag)"
Mary Poppins - 1964
Music and Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman
"All around the cathedral the saints and apostles
Look down as she sells her wares
Although you can't see it, you know they are smiling
Each time someone shows that he cares"​
Lead Vocals: Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins
Source Album: Mary Poppins Original Soundtrack
Alternate Tracks: Michelle Nicastro deftly blends "Feed the Birds (Tuppence a Bag)" and "Chim Chim Cher-ee" in a moving medley on Reel Imagination.

Behind the Music:
  • Walt's personal favorite.The Shermans would often visit Walt on Friday afternoons, and he always requested them to play this song on his office piano. After Walt passed away, they would still visit his office and play it for him.
  • An unreleased demo of this song can be heard on the soundtrack.



I swear I'm going to do a whole night of Disney tunes with someone. They have had some great stuff.
 
#4
Yeah, Phil, I know what you mean - they did have a bunch of great stuff. That story about going by Walt's office to play it for him even after he passed is kind of eerie. And kind of cool.


I found the lyrics and the basic chord structure - and you're right, he bridge does kill:

Early each day to the steps of St. Paul's
The little old bird woman comes
In her own special way to the people she calls
Come buy my bags full of crumbs

/ Am E7 Am E7 / Am E7 Am - / :

Come feed the little birds, show them you care
And you'll be glad if you do
The young ones are hungry, their nests are so bare
All it takes is tuppence from you

/ G7 - C - / G7 - C E7 / Am E7 Am E7 / Am E7 Am G7 /

Feed the birds, tuppence a bag
Tuppence, tuppence, tuppence a bag
Feed the birds, that's what she cries
While overhead her birds fill the skies

/ C - F C / F C D7 G7 / C - F C / F C G7 CE7 /

All around the cathedral the saints and apostles
Look down as she sells her wares
Although you can't see it you know they are smiling
Each time someone shows that he cares

/ Am E7 Am E7 / Am E7 Am - / C G7 C G7 / C E7 Am G7 /

Though her words are simple and few
Listen, listen, she's calling to you
Feed the birds, tuppence a bag
Tuppence, tuppence, tuppence a bag

/ C - F C / F C D7 G7 / C - F E7 / Fmaj7 D9 CG7 C /


What I love about this melody and melodies like it is the simplicity, and all of the different reharms that can fit and still sound natural, like they weren't written by the jazz police. On my three string gig last night (broke my E on the second tune), the piano player called "If I Only Had a Brain", and it was a hoot...and the folks listening loved it.
 
#5
Charts a bit weird. Its a waltz I thought.

Everyone should play a 3 string gig once in awhile. Keeps you fresh.

If I only had a brain. Brilliant. Next Thursday we're gonna steal that. We've been doing Walk Like an Egyptian, Sleepwalk, James Bond, Flinstones, and the Theme from The Price is Right. Its gonna fit great.
 
#8
ChisomNasium said:
I was working on a harmonization this morning, and may post when it's done. Gorgeous tune!
Click to expand...
Post it for sure. I'll be stealing it of course.
Thomastico said:
I keep thinking that Bill Evans would probably have had some fun with this tune.
Click to expand...
No doubt. Of course he can make chopsticks sound like a romantic masterpiece.
 
#9
SWILL MARINADE said:
Post it for sure. I'll be stealing it of course.
Click to expand...

I'm thinking more "Lynne Arriale hymn tune" than uncle Bill, but I think it's gonna be a keeper. Here's the A section, one chord per bar (melody always on top) in a slooooooowwww waltz feel (thinking AABA' at this point):

F....Fadd9/A....Bbadd9....Fadd9/A....Bbadd9....Dmi7add4....G7....BbMa/C (D->Db)

F....Fadd9/A....Bbadd9....A7#5(+9 if desired)....BbMa7....Bmi7b5....Bb/C....F....Bb/C


The bridge is trickier because it's so static, but I know the answer is out there. More later...
 
#12
I have a beautiful version of this song on 33. It's on a Hal Wilner produced tribute album of Disney Tunes, entitled "Stay Awake".The version is arranged and performed by Garth Hudson of the Band .(Unfortunatly my turntables broken so i haven' t heard it in a while).
 
#14
Ed Infinitum said:
Or the parody version sung by Barney on the "Shirley Bobbins" episode of THE SIMPSONS...
Click to expand...
Bart: Can I be a boozehound?
Homer: Not...till...you're...fifteen.

I love that episode. All of their old musical numbers were great. I transcribed that "Senor Burns" song that Tito Puente's group played on the Simpsons.

Alf Clausen, who does the music for the Simpsons, is a good writer. I seem to remember playing some cool big band charts by him once.

Speaking of recordings of "Tuppence" aka "Feed the Birds" check this out: Duke Ellington Plays Mary Poppins

P.S. See how it looked like I was totally hijacking this thread, but then brought it back in the end? That was awesome.
 
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#15
I came across this on a random search. I don't play DB but I'm a Poppins fan. I always loved Dick Van Dyke's character(s) when I was a kid and I still do.

Chim Chim Cher-Ee is a great song too as is Step in Time.

bc
 
#17
I grew up in London, England with Mary Poppins, and even now that I live in Los Angeles my young kids (boy 2 1/2 and girl 5 1/2) are watching it over and over again.

[EDIT: on re-reading, this above is an interesting statement as Mary Poppins was set in London, but filmed entirely on a sound stage in Los Angeles. What a coincidence - who'd a' thunk it.]

Wonderful, classic songs - I'd love to get to play jazz arrangements of them some time.

Oh, and just for ToR-Tu-Ra's benefit; I have spent a lot of time in Mexico City and my wife is from there. And I love the Simpsons - probably the only TV program I can bear to watch (but rarely get to do so as we are a non-TV household).
 

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