歌をつくる人にまつわる話
The Story of Songwriters

(16) Puccini and Jazz Poor Butterfly 

 

Giacomo Puccini(1858-1924)


The famous Puccini's Opera "Madam Butterfly" was performed in 1904 for the first time
The American song "Poor Butterfly" which subjected the "Madam Butterfly" was written by John L. Golden and Raymond Hubbel in 1916.

Japanese prima donna in the old days Tamaki Miura performed it at London in 1915 when Frank Sinatra was born.

The melody of "Poor Butterfly" is from the Act two duet Tutti i fior in the verse. There is a song "Stay" which is very similar to the theme song of "Madam Butterfly".

It's refined to sing "Poor Butterfly" in the first chorus and succeeds "Stay" in the second chorus. A Japanese expert singer Keiko Saijo sometimes performs in this way.

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