Composition History
Professor Tyler T. Oliphant
Miles Davis

Seven Steps To Heaven

Song selection #1 “I fall in Love Too Easily” by Miles
Davis is from the album titled “Seven Steps To
Heaven”. This album tracks the evolution of Davis
working band over three sessions in 1963 this was the
last studio work he would do until early 1965. The first
two sessions recorded are in the presences of tenor
saxophonist George Coleman, pianist Victor Feldman,
bassist Ron Carter and drummer Frank Butler. “I fall in
Love Too Easily” like all of the tracks focuses on him
lyrically.
“ I Fall In Love To
Easily”

0:00 to 0:16 Introduction with the piano by Victor Feldman.
0:16 to 2:19 Introduction of the trumpet by Miles Davis, with
intermissions made by the piano as well as the bass by Ron
Carter
2:19 to 2:48 Continuation of the trumpet and piano with an
introduction made by the drums, played by Frank Butler
2:48 to 2:53 The piano and trumpet have a brief solo, pausing
quickly to present the piano and then the trumpet
2:53 to 3:10 The trumpet is reintroduced
3:10 to 3:26 There is an introduction to the tenor saxophone
by George Coleman, the bass is also introduced
“I Fall In Love Too
Easily”

3:26 to 4:03 The trumpet is introduced in combination with
the bass, and the piano.
4:03 to 4:43 The trumpet fades and there is an introduction to
the piano and bass play, with a greater emphasis on the bass.
4:43 to 5:50 The piano takes the lead and you can hear the
tremble of the bass in the background.
5:50 to 6:46 The Trumpet is reintroduced the bass continues
in the back ground, ending with the trembling of the bass
and brief on and off introduction from the trumpet.
“Porgy and Bess”

Porgy and Bess is a studio album that was released by Jazz
musician Miles Davis in 1959. The album was recorded over series
of four sessions. This was the 2nd collaboration by Miles Davis and
Gil Evans, the album has been referred to as the best of their
collaborations. “Bess, You Is My Woman Now” was recorded on
7/29/58 and produced by George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin and
DuBose Heyward. Davis was dissatisfied with bebop which was a
style of Jazz characterized by very fast tempo, instrumental
virtuosity and improvisation based on the combination of
simultaneous tones, notes and melodies. Davis felt hindered by the
complex chord changes. Davis became inspired by George
Russell’s approach of “Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal
Organization” because he viewed this as an opportunity to stray
away from dense cord laden composition.
“Bess, You Is My
Woman Now”

0:00 to 0:18 Song begins with the trumpet, symbols and the bass
0:18 to 0:22 Tempo remains the same and becomes more passionate
with the addition of the tuba, saxophone, alto flute, bass flute and
bass clarinet
0:22 to 0:39 Trumpet solo with a light symbol in the background
0:39 to 1:00 Trumpet solo continues with the progression of the
symbol, the timbre of the trumpet fades until it comes to a
complete stop.
1:00 to 1:11 Soft trombone with horns
1:11 to 1:26 Solo trumpet with background symbols increasing in
tempo, leading to a crescendo.
1:26 to 1:36 Trumpet continues playing, tempo slows in the
background
“Bess, You Is My
Woman Now”

1:36 to 1:46 Trumpet continues playing, with the joining of
horns and up tempo
1:46 to 1:56 Steady tempo
1:56 to 2:06 Horns fade and dynamic becomes louder, you
can faintly hear the flute and clarinet
2:06 to 2:16 Trumpet becomes more dynamic, the rhythm of
the trumpet takes over the trumpets presences, horns and
trombone are heard
2:16 to 2:26 Trumpet and trombone fade sequential and the
rhythm of the trombone then is reintroduced
2:26 to 2:37 Solo trumpet continues, brief intro made by the
flugelhorn
“Bess, You Is My
Woman Know”

2:37 to 2:47 Trumpet plays with the incorporation of the alto
saxophone, alto saxophone fades, trumpet continues playing
2:47 to 2:57 Trumpet solo continues, bass flute makes an
appearance and fades
2:57 to 3:07 Trumpet solo continues
3:07 to 3:17 Trumpet and bass flute play
3:17 to 3:27 Dramatic notes played by the trumpet, bass and
symbols continue in the background
3:27 to 3:37 Trumpet continues playing, flute, alto flute and
clarinet make a brief appearance
“Bess, You Is My
Woman Know”

3:37 to 3:47 Dramatic emphasis with the trumpet,
flugelhorn, horn and tuba
3:47 to 3:57 Trumpet continues playing, flugelhorn enters
and exits
3:57 to 4:07 Flugelhorn solo
4:07 to 4:17 Trumpet makes way for flute, alto flute, and
clarinet
4:17 to 4:27 Trumpet continues to play, rhythm of the
trumpet increases and decreases, symbols have a steady
noted pace.
4:27 to 4:37 Symbols slow down, flute, alto flute and clarinet
are present
“Bess, You Is my
Woman Know”

4:37 to 4:47 Horns give way to trumpet solo, wind
instruments fade
4:47 to 4:57 Trumpet solo fades, all instruments give
way to alto flute solo
4:57 to 5:12 Somber horn finale
Works Cited

www.youtube.com for the following videos “Miles Davis Bess, You Is My Woman Now” and “I Fall In Love To
Easily”
Miles Davis Image is brought to you courtesy of
www.jazz.com from “THE DOZENS: TWELVE ESSENTIAL
HERBIE HANCOCK PERFORMANCES” by Ted Gioia