After all, it’s in the verse that the writer should be freer, for in practical terms it’s the chorus that’s being sold or promoted.”īut then again, perhaps the problem with the song was that it was too far ahead of its time in 1934.

But I find it very interesting, and I approve of its experimental nature. Wilder continues: “It’s extremely difficult and very lush. It begins simply enough, but halfway through it’s almost as if the other musical side of the man couldn’t be silent and the rest of the verse was finished by Dukelsky.” Here Wilder is alluding to composer Vernon Duke’s “other” life as a composer of extended works. “The verse may be the most ambitious I’ve ever seen. It’s this very same verse that composer Alec Wilder, in his book American Popular Song, The Great Innovators 1900-1950, praises. I played it at one or two Westport get-togethers and found the listeners retreating to the bar in the middle of the verse.” Again from his autobiography he discusses the “premier” of the tune: “Both the long ‘conversational’ verse and the constantly modulating refrain contained not a particle of what the Harms (publishing company) moguls called ‘popular appeal’ the song was a genuine emotional outburst and, possibly, this genuineness accounted for its subsequent standard status. In his autobiography Passport to Paris Duke described the show as “a decent, average revue received decent, average notices.”ĭuke wrote “ Autumn in New York” while vacationing in Westport, Connecticut. Harold Murray, and the finale, “ Autumn in New York.” Only the latter remained in the show which opened on December 27, 1934, and closed five months later. Thirteen years later it rose to number 27 on the pop charts thanks to a fine vocal version by Frank Sinatra.Ĭhart information used by permission from Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954Ĭomposer Vernon Duke wrote three pieces for Thumbs Up!: a dance number for Hal Le Roy to tap to, a tango for J. Vernon Duke’s composition was written for the 1934 show Thumbs Up! and introduced by J. the song was a genuine emotional outburst and, possibly, this genuineness accounted for its subsequent standard status.” How can one ever pick a favorite season in New York? I know I can’t.“. It will soon be time to go out there and make snow angels. We’ll be taking in the tables in the back garden any day now. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address.”

Here’s a quote from my favorite movie, Nora Ephron’s You’ve Got Mail: “Don’t you love New York in the fall? It makes me want to buy school supplies. Enjoy it…the holiday crowds will be here soon enough! You’ll find the City is a tad less crowded. New York looks great in golds and oranges.Īutumn is a time to dust off a few wool sweaters, for pumpkins, for chrysanthemums. Just wander around and see what the day brings. To really appreciate Autumn in New York, go to Central Park.

I returned home with a renewed appreciation for the ever-changing landscapes of home. I recently spent some time in Indonesia and the questions the locals asked me the most were “Do you have different seasons in New York?” and “What’s your favorite season?” I guess living in a world where six months are hot and dry and the next six are hot and rainy leads one to wonder how it would feel to jump in a pile of fallen leaves or dress in a sweater and muffler.

Sinatra autumn in new york