The one person who’d know can’t tell me .

May 18, 2024 11:21 AM

I’m sitting in hospice with my mom, who would know the answer to this question, but I can’t ask her.

The song is probably from a Broadway musical, a waltz. She played it in E flat, and I learned it years ago by osmosis, hearing her play downstairs while I was upstairs doing my homework.

Google didn’t like my humming, and Shazam is out of its depth. The melody goes a little something like this:

Da | da dum da | da | … |
Da | da dum da | da de da | … |
Da | da dum da | da de da | … |
Da | da dum da | da | … |

Can you help a frustrated pianist having a bit of an existential crisis?

posted by emelenjr to Media & Arts (12 answers total)

This album looks like a nice place to start: Carousel Waltz and Other Waltzes From The Musical Theatre. Given the names of the pieces listed there, you can probably listen to snippets online to see if any sound familiar.
posted by metonym at 11:43 AM on May 18 [1 favorite]

I don't know, but I just want to say I'm sorry for your situation. I hope you can find the waltz and some measure of comfort.
posted by Alensin at 12:30 PM on May 18 [7 favorites]

Saw this earlier, couldn't grok it.

Read again, and it does sound familiar. I have a different remembrance of the "lyrics", and I also agree it is from some musical. Thanks for the brainworm.
posted by Windopaene at 12:37 PM on May 18 [1 favorite]

Virtualpiano.net describes itself as "the original online piano platform". Haven't tried any other emulators. Hope that helps!
posted by HearHere at 12:44 PM on May 18 [1 favorite]

Darn, I dont recognize it from that description.

Here's where you can sample songs from the above.

https://music.apple.com/us/album/carousel-waltz-and-other-waltzes-from-the-musical-theatre/213437370

Here's an article which mentions numerous waltzes from musicals.

https://masterworksbroadway.com/blog/lets-go-back-to-the-waltz/

Also, if you find the piece, play it for her on whatever device you have handy. In fact, play her the kind of music she likes in general.

Virtual hug.
posted by NorthernLite at 12:44 PM on May 18 [3 favorites]

I've had luck using SoundHound to recognize my terrible humming of an obscure french song from my childhood when Shazam couldn't.
posted by eatcake at 1:03 PM on May 18 [1 favorite]

From your da da dums I first thought of the main theme from Émile Waldteufel's Skaters' Waltz. I knew that tune but couldn't name it, so I used the Musipedia melodic contour search, which has been very useful to me in cases like these.
posted by spielzebub at 1:04 PM on May 18 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Melody notes:

Eb / Eb D Eb / Eb /
Bb / Bb A Bb / Bb Eb Ab /
G / G F# G / G C F /
Eb / Eb D Eb / Eb /
(Repeats)

Ab G Ab / Eb C# / C /
Eb. D Eb / Bb Ab / G /
Ab G Ab / Eb C# / C / F / D / Bb / Ab / F /

Eb / Eb D Eb / Eb /
Bb / Bb A Bb / Bb Eb Ab /
G / G F# G / G C F /
Eb / Eb D Eb / Eb //
posted by emelenjr at 1:23 PM on May 18

I'm not sure if you have access to a laptop, but MuseScore might help. It's free and quick to download. You can arrange the composition and play it back until Shazam picks it up or you recognise it. There might also be apps that do the same thing, though I don't know the best ones off the top of my head.
posted by fight or flight at 1:42 PM on May 18 [1 favorite]

Best answer: This Nearly Was Mine, from South Pacific.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=N9cCP0iwtCc
posted by JanetLand at 1:49 PM on May 18 [34 favorites]

Best answer: Ah, yes. absolutely, JanetLand. (I was doing the rhythm incorrectly, while thinking, this melody's so familiar.)

"One dream in my heart..."

Hope this is of small comfort.
posted by NorthernLite at 1:55 PM on May 18 [5 favorites]

Response by poster: Thanks, MetaFilter. Just in time.
posted by emelenjr at 2:23 PM on May 18 [92 favorites]