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A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square

Music by Manning Sherwin

According to Maschwitz, the title was "stolen" from a story by Michael Arlen. The song had its first performance in the summer of 1939 in a local bar, where the melody was played on piano by Manning Sherwin with the help of the resident saxophonist. Maschwitz sang the words while holding a glass of wine, but nobody seemed impressed. In the spring of 2002, an attempt was made to find the bar where this song was first performed: it was hoped that a blue plaque could be set up. With the help of the local tourist office, elderly residents were questioned, but it proved impossible to identify the venue.

Early charts hits of the song in the USA were by Glenn Miller, Ray Noble, Guy Lombardo and Sammy Kaye. The Glenn Miller recording (Bluebird 10931) with a Ray Eberle vocal was made in New York City on 11 October 1940. The fluttering clarinet that opens the track and no doubt is meant to suggest the sound of the nightingale began, it seems, with the Miller recording. The opening, using either a clarinet or flute, has been picked up by others including, on this page, the Frank Sinatra recording. The record was first charted on 21 December, 1940 peaking at #2.

    Release Date: 1940
Awards
1981 - Grammy Winner - Best Vocal Arrangement for Two or More Voices


A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square

A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square

Voces8

VOCES8 sings Jim Clements arrangement of Manning Sherwin's classic chart 'A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square'.


A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square

A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square

The Manhattan Transfer

Performing the Grammy winning Gene Puerling arrangement.


A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square

A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square

For over seven decades, this song, written during World War II has held an emotional connection with music-lovers for its nostalgic longing for happier times. This a cappella setting offers an accessible option to vocal jazz and concert choirs and opportunities for building style and technique.

Voicing: SATB


A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square

A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square

For over seven decades, this song, written during World War II has held an emotional connection with music-lovers for its nostalgic longing for happier times. This a cappella setting offers an accessible option to vocal jazz and concert choirs and opportunities for building style and technique.

Voicing: SSAA



Songbooks, Arrangements and/or Media

Displaying 1-9 of 9 items.


Gene Puerling : Puerling Charts II : Mixed 5-8 Parts : Sheet Music Collection

Gene Puerling : Puerling Charts II

Includes the Grammy Award winner "A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square" as recorded by The Manhattan Transfer. The note-for-note arrangement matches the original recording!

Songlist: Deck The Halls, The Gene Puerling Sound, Silent Night, Snowfall, A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, April in Paris, Autumn in New York, Dancing in the Dark, Indian Summer

More details
Voicing: Mixed 5-8 Parts | Performed by The Singers Unlimited | 4211b | Sheet Music Collection | $14.75 | A Cappella


The Manhattan Transfer : Manhattan Transfer for SAA Voices : SSA : Sheet Music Collection

The Manhattan Transfer : Manhattan Transfer for SAA Voices

Its the ladies turn to sing the songs of one the the greatest jazz vocal groups ever! "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie" will put your choir on the jazz track with its hip '40s lyrics. This accessible setting of "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" retains all the flavor of the original Manhattan Transfer hit. Four of Manhattan Transfer's signature songs are showcased here in a 6-minute mini-medley "Manhattan Transfer Swings!" that will totally energize your concert! Includes: Four Brothers, Route 66, That Cat Is High, Tuxedo Junction. A driving beat leads this chart of fresh new chord changes and rhythmic surprises. "The Boy from New York City" - Terrific for show, jazz or concert choirs and the SSA voicing will thrill your women's groups!

Songlist: Choo Choo Ch' Boogie, A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, Operator, Manhattan Transfer Swings!, The Boy from New York City

More details
Voicing: SSA | Performed by The Manhattan Transfer | 2921b | Sheet Music Collection | $11.95


The Manhattan Transfer : Manhattan Transfer Complete Vol 2 : SATB : Sheet Music Collection

The Manhattan Transfer : Manhattan Transfer Complete Vol 2

Mac Huff's arrangement of Bobby Darin's "Dream Lover" is from the Manhattan Transfer's recording and "Choo Choo Boogie" will put your choir on the jazz track! Hip '40s lyrics and the burnin'. "A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square" very deservedly won a Grammy for best vocal arrangement and here is a note-for-note arrangement that matches the original recording! "How High The Moon" is an up-tempo piece has exciting vocal writing. The vocal jazz standard "Java Jive" gets a great a cappella treatment with the Kirby Shaw touch! Still swings!

Songlist: Java Jive, A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, Choo Choo Ch' Boogie, Dream Lover

More details
Voicing: SATB | Performed by The Manhattan Transfer | 4406b | Sheet Music Collection | $8.95 | A Cappella


Bobby Darin : Bobby Darin Songbook : Solo : Songbook : 073999321272 : 1423404084 : 00306744

Bobby Darin : Bobby Darin Songbook

25 songs from Bobby Darin's long and fruitful career.

Songlist: About A Quarter To Nine, Artificial Flowers, Beyond The Sea, Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home, Call Me Irresponsible, Clementine, Dream Lover, Eighteen Yellow Roses, Hello, Dolly!, Hello, Young Lovers, If I Were A Carpenter, Lazy River, Lovin' You, Mack The Knife, More (Ti Guarder˜ Nel Cuore), Multiplication, A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square, Queen Of The Hop, Simple Song Of Freedom, Splish Splash, That's All, Things, What'd I Say, You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby, You're The Reason I'm Living

More details
Voicing: Solo | Performed by Bobby Darin | 4022b | Songbook | $17.95 | PVG


The Manhattan Transfer : Manhattan Transfer Songbook : Solo : Songbook : 073999574708 : 0793520819 : 00357470

The Manhattan Transfer : Manhattan Transfer Songbook

Formed in New York in 1969, vocal quartet Manhattan Transfer was the first group to receive Grammy Awards in both the pop and jazz categories in the same year. This special second-edition songbook features their best-known songs performed in concert and on records, from Birdland to their show closer A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square. 25 songs in all, including: Body and Soul, The Boy from New York City, Chanson D'Amour, Java Jive, Love for Sale, Operator, Poinciana, Route 66, Tuxedo Junction, You Can Depend on Me and more.

Songlist: Birdland, Blue Champagne, Body and Soul, Boy From New York City (piano/vocal/guitar), Candy, Chanson D'Amour, Four Brothers, A Gal In Calico, Gloria, Java Jive, Love For Sale, A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square, On A Little Street In Singapore, Operator, Poinciana, Popsicle Toes, Route 66, S.O.S., Scotch and Soda, That Cat Is High, Trickle, Trickle, Tuxedo Junction, Twilight Tone, You Can Depend On Me

More details
Voicing: Solo | Performed by The Manhattan Transfer | 4405b | Songbook | $14.95


Steve Rawlins : Jazz Ballads For Singers - Womens Edition : Solo : Songbook & Online Audio : 073999761238 : 0634064568 : 00740258

Steve Rawlins : Jazz Ballads For Singers - Womens Edition

15 essential standards have been given new arrangements tailor-made for singers, with alternative jazz chord changes, complete verses, introductions and singer-flattering endings. This book is in a traditional jazz format designed for improvising accompaniments, with melody line, lyrics and chords in a handwritten music engraving style. Traditional chord changes are also included, along with the alternative chords in Steve Rawlins' creative arrangements. Keys in the Women's Edition are in a generally lower range, as is customary for this style of music. The Men's Edition keys are in a medium range. Audio is accessed online using the unique code inside the book and can be streamed or downloaded. The audio files include PLAYBACK+, a multi-functional audio player that allows you to slow down audio without changing pitch, set loop points, change keys, and pan left or right.

Songlist: Autumn in New York, Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans, Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye, I Could Write a Book, I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good), It Might as Well Be Spring, Just One More Chance, Lush Life, Manhattan, My Romance, Nature Boy, The Nearness of You, A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, Solitude, Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most

More details
Voicing: Solo | 9040b | Songbook & Online Audio | $19.95 | Voice with Jazz Combo


Various : 151 of the Most Beautiful Songs Ever : Solo : Songbook : 888680925482 : 1540048292 : 00291051

Various : 151 of the Most Beautiful Songs Ever

This huge songbook (672 pages!) features 151 standards that every musician should know! Each song is arranged for piano and voice with guitar chord frames. Songs include: All the Things You Are - At Last - Bridge over Troubled Water - City of Stars - Constant Craving - Crazy - Gabriel's Oboe - Hallelujah - Imagine - La Vie En Rose (Take Me to Your Heart Again) - My Heart Will Go on (Love Theme from 'Titanic') - Over the Rainbow - Perfect - River Flows in You - Shallow - Somewhere - Summertime - This Is Me - Time After Time - Wonderful Tonight - You Raise Me Up - and more. Listen to a Spotify playlist of all the songs from this book!

Songlist: Easy Living, Open Arms, Crazy, Good Night, Can You Feel The Love Tonight, Believe, Beautiful In My Eyes, You Belong To Me, Beauty And The Beast, The Colour Of My Love, At Last, Gabriel's Oboe, The Rose, Time After Time, Sway, Faithfully, If, Perfect, Hello, All I Ask Of You, All I Have To Do Is Dream, Change The World, Someone Like You, All Of Me, The Tracks Of My Tears, Ooo Baby Baby, Best Of My Love, All The Things You Are, All The Way, Somewhere, and more

More details
Voicing: Solo | 70728b | Songbook | $32.95 | PVG


Various Arrangers : The Great American Songbook - Jazz : Solo : Songbook : 884088862497 : 1476875502 : 00110387

Various Arrangers : The Great American Songbook - Jazz

A great resource of 100 classics of American songwriting arranged for piano and voice with guitar chord frames.

Songlist: Love You Madly, Dancing In The Dark, All Alone, All Blues, All Or Nothing At All, The Lamp Is Low, Almost Like Being In Love, Alone Together, Along Came Betty, Lucky To Be Me, And The Angels Sing, Angel Eyes, As Time Goes By, Sweet Lorraine, Summertime, Star Eyes, Django, There Is No Greater Love, Bernie's Tune, Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea, Billie's Bounce (Bill's Bounce), Blue Moon, Bluesette, Emily, If I Had You, But Not For Me, Allen's Alley, Reunion Blues, Can't We Be Friends, Just Friends, and more

More details
Voicing: Solo | 2559b | Songbook | $27.95 | PVG


Various Arrangers : Singers Book Of Jazz Standards (Mens Edition) : Solo : Songbook : 073999442724 : 0634049674 : 00740209

Various Arrangers : Singers Book Of Jazz Standards (Mens Edition)

All fifty arrangements of jazz standards in this book are written in a single line "fake book" or "lead sheet" format. However, they are not just the standard renditions of the songs. All are custom arrangements, logical suggestions for repeated sections, and simple but stylish song endings. The chords below the lines are the traditional harmonies. The chords above the line are more advanced, alternate harmonies. A musician using these arrangements may use just one set of these chord changes, or a mixture of them within a song.

Songlist: All or Nothing at All, Alright, Okay, You Win, Autumn in New York, Body and Soul, But Beatufiul, Cheek to Cheek, Day by Day, Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me, Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans, Don't Get Around Much Anymore, Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye, Fly Me To The Moon, The Frim Fram Sauce, Gee Baby, Aint I Good to You, Have You met Miss Joses?, Hello, Young Lovers, Honeysuckle Rose, I Could White a Book, I Get Along Without You Very Well, I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good), I'm Beginning to See the Light, I've Got My Love to keep Me Warm, I've Got the World on a String, I've Got You Under My Skin, It Might As Well Be Spring, Just One More Chance, The Late Late Show, Lean Baby, Lost Mind, Lush life, and more

More details
Voicing: Solo | 9046b | Songbook | $17.95 | Accompanied


Individual Folios

Displaying 1-3 of 3 items.


A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square : SATB : Gene Puerling : Manning Sherwin : The Manhattan Transfer : Songbook : 07357775 : 073999577754

Gene Puerling : A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square

The Grammy Award winner recorded by The Manhattan Transfer. The note-for-note arrangement matches the original recording!

Arranger: Gene Puerling | Composer: Manning Sherwin Performed By: The Manhattan Transfer

More details
Voicing: SATB | Sheet Music | $2.15 | A Cappella |
(Minimum order 4 copies)
| 07357775


A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square : SATB : Kirby Shaw : Manning Sherwin : Sheet Music : 00158181 : 888680611897

Kirby Shaw : A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square

For over seven decades, this song, written during World War II has held an emotional connection with music-lovers for its nostalgic longing for happier times. This a cappella setting offers an accessible option to vocal jazz and concert choirs and opportunities for building style and technique.

Arranger: Kirby Shaw | Composer: Manning Sherwin

More details
Voicing: SATB | Sheet Music | $2.15 | A Cappella |
(Minimum order 4 copies)
| 00158181
Other Voicings: SSAA, SATB, SSAA


A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square : SATB : Alan Billingsley : Manning Sherwin : The Manhattan Transfer : Sheet Music : 08740149 : 073999401493

Alan Billingsley : A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square

This accessible setting retains all the flavor of the original Manhattan Transfer hit. Available: SATB, SAB, SSA. Performance Time: Approx. 2:00.

Arranger: Alan Billingsley | Composer: Manning Sherwin Performed By: The Manhattan Transfer

More details
Voicing: SATB | Sheet Music | $2.15 | With Piano | video
(Minimum order 4 copies)
| 08740149
Other Voicings: SSA

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