Laura

Recorded on October 22, 1947 this arrangement served as the backdrop for one of the greatest moments in recording history. Sinatra would later name the David Raksin song Laura as his favorite ballad - and his reading from this Columbia recording session serves as the definitive treatment. A distant modernist introduction hints at the melody before a brief ritard gives way to shimmering strings and the vocal entrance. As the harp gently arpeggiates chords, the horn in F provides a counter-melody answer to the vocal line. The rhythm section enters at measure 15 as the strings take center stage. The arrangement begins to build through the first chorus moving us to the eight-bar instrumental section arranged as a waltz. The previous half note becomes a dotted half (engraved in 6/4). The vocal re-enters as the arrangement returns to 4/4. The ending features shimmering strings again, this time sul ponticello. Simply put, this is one of the most iconic arrangements in the storied career of Frank Sinatra. The vocal key starts in A and modulates to Bb.