Free Jazz Standard Sheet Music Downloads

"Falling in Love with Love" was composed by Richard Rodgers with lyrics by Lorenz Hart in 1938. It was introduced by Muriel Angelus in the Broadway musical The Boys from Syracuse, based on Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors.

Written as a waltz in 3/4 time in B♭ major, the song follows an AABA form. The A sections feature flowing ii–V–I cadences that give the waltz an elegant, sweeping momentum, while chromatic passing chords add harmonic color and a wistful undertone. Hart's lyric offers a characteristically ironic twist—the singer ruefully admits to the folly of falling in love with the idea of love itself. In jazz performance, the tune is frequently recast in 4/4 swing, allowing for spirited improvisations that capitalize on the strong melodic contour and familiar changes.

Frank Sinatra recorded the song multiple times, cementing its place in the popular repertoire. Notable jazz versions include Cannonball Adderley's 1955 recording on Julian Cannonball Adderley and Strings and Ahmad Jamal's nimble piano trio rendition on his 1962 live album Ahmad Jamal at the Blackhawk.