The ‘Piano Man’
Biography, Composition history and
Listening guides of
William Martin “Billy” Joel
Evan Easton, Music 1010, Semester Project, July 11, 2014
The Lost Souls, Billy on left.
The Hassles
Billy 2nd from right.
Played piano for the demo recording at age 16.
Won 6 Grammys, nominated for
18 more…
Over 150,000,000 albums sold
Composition
History
“Scenes from an Italian Restaurant”
“Keeping the Faith”
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“Scenes from and Italian Restaurant”
0:00- Introduction. The song starts with a soft piano in an inverted arch contour. The piano is slow and
establishes and rhythm that is easy to listen to. It is in a simple quadruple meter.
0:24 the piano continues with a greater volume and an accordion is added into the piece that is dejunct
in its part. Both play together and follow a diminuendo softening the mood of the music. This creates a
deeper texture to the song that also make you feel as though you may have just sat down to dinner at
the restaurant of which he sings.
0:49 although very subtle the bass is added enriching the dynamic of the music. It seems to follow the
flow of the piano in its pitch. Guiro is added that gives it a rustic feel. This is an elegant dynamic that
mimics the questions asked in the lyrics of which kind of wine to have. Though I wouldn’t consider this
the first verse it is the first of the lyrics. I feel like it is more like the set up for the end of the song, a
place to return to so to speak.
1:08 Bridge. At this point in the piece the tempo is changing beginning to build into a crescendo with
the cymbals, saxophone and snare drums. A violin or two follow continuing to build as if getting ready
to jump out of an airplane. The variety of the instruments and the differences of sounds give it a
polyphonic sound. The tempo picks up as well.
1:40 Verse 1. This is the point that the song seems to completely shift gears. We go from a nice
harmonic flow much like and orchestra to a rock song. We hear a loud hard beat from the piano
matched with the drums and a tambourine in a conjunct style. It is as if we have left the quiet restaurant
for a late night diner with a jukebox in the corner, reminiscent of the happy days era. He begins to tell a
story of reminiscing with an old friend and the good times they used to have at the local hangout.
2:07 The Saxophone is added in again to piece. We hear three saxophones. The Soprano, Alto, and
Baritone Sax.
2:24 Bridge. This bridge seems to be more of a circus feel that is leading us in to the next part of a story
about the popular kids that everyone wanted to be like who probably lived more of a circus kind of life
than others.
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3:14 Verse 2. We lose all the other instruments with the exception of the piano. The tempo
is fast and forte. It leads the lyrics in to a new part of the story. We can feel the building of
the song in to its climax. During the next parts the drums and bass join the piano.
3:44 Verse 3. The song continues to tell the story and you can hear the piano in the
background hitting hard on the downbeats that grabs your attention and keeps you engaged
in the music.
5:00 Verse 4. The instruments are limited and the vocals are accentuated and the leaves a
feeling of lacking, that matches the loss of a lifestyle of those in the song.
5:15 Verse 5. The electric guitar and the piano provide the melody while the drums keep the
beat. The hard beats emphasize the feeling of the story as he wraps up the story. There is a
dynamic texture between the piano, drums and the vocals that accentuate the feeling of the
lyrics.
6:05 we begin diminuendo with a descending contour with the strings that lead us back to
where the piece started.
6:20 Coda. The piano matches the beginning of the song as it brings the piece to its close. As
if saying goodbye to a friend, much like the lyrics describe the reminiscing of two old friends
while dinning at the restaurant. They talk and enjoy the time spent in a quiet restaurant
while remembering a more rowdy time when they were younger.
6:48 Finale the strings/cymbal, crescendo into alto sax solo with drums/bass/piano
accompaniment
7:33 end of song
“Keeping the Faith”
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0:00 Introduction. The piece starts with a fast tempo and a quick beat laid down with a
synthesizer, electric guitar, cabasa, snare and bass drums, all playing conjunct in an arch
contour. It is a simple duple meter and gives a feeling of excitement of life as a young man.
0:11 Verse 1. Lyrics begin to tell a story of himself as a young man and remembering how
great it was to be there. He is very descriptive in his words, which contrast the seemingly
simple melody.
0:45 Chorus. The chorus is short and it is a quick phrase that ties into the end of each verse.
The bass is added here to give the piece a greater dynamic, which helps to round it out.
“…Till their music set me on fire, then I was saved…”
1:04 Verse 2. He begins the description of what he wore and how he would get ready to hit
the town. It is easy to hear the chorus come on by the ascending melody and how the words
begin to rhyme with “keeping the faith”
1:41 Chorus. Though it is a chorus it is not typical as the words are a bit different because
they are the end of the verse that leads into the chorus. “…combed my hair in a pompadour
like the rest of the Romeos wore a permanent wave…”
1:55 Bridge. The trumpets fell somewhat irreverent in the way they interrupt the song.
There are a few lyrics but not the same number of lines or duration as the other verses. It is
like it is a little breather between verses.
2:18 Verse 3. The music remains upbeat and fun its dynamics and tempo. The verse comes
in quick and on the heels of the bridge.
3:10 Bridge. This is more of a true bridge as the trumpets play a completely different melody
than that of the rest of the song. They are a quick tempo and short quick notes. They are
similar enough to feel good in the song but different enough to know that this is a different
part of the song. He sings his “OH’s” though the bridge that lend some continuity to the
bridge.
3:27 Verse 4. He gives a quick phrase almost as a precursor to the main verse. The tempo
and pitch of the music remains high and excited.
4:09 Coda. He repeats the song title as if it were a condensed version of the chorus. And the
music and lyrics fade together to the end of the song.
Bibliography
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http://www.billyjoel.com/biography
http://www.billyjoel.com/timeline
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Joel
Sirius/XM radio town hall, Billy Joel Town Hall
Masterclass with Howard Stern 4/28/14,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFLy1Dg6zHs
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keeping_the_Faith_%28
song%29
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scenes_from_an_Italian
_Restaurant