Free Jazz Standard Sheet Music Downloads

"Lullaby of the Leaves" was composed by Bernice Petkere with lyrics by Joe Young in 1932. Petkere, dubbed the "Queen of Tin Pan Alley" by Irving Berlin, achieved her greatest commercial and critical success with this song, which sold over 50,000 copies of sheet music—ten times the average hit of the era.

The tune is a 32-bar standard commonly played in C minor. The minor-key A sections create the dusky, atmospheric mood suggested by the title, while the bridge shifts toward the relative major for a moment of tonal contrast. Blue notes are woven effectively into the melody, giving the tune a natural affinity with jazz improvisation. Its harmonic and melodic framework adapts well to a range of styles from swing to bop, making it a versatile addition to any jazz musician's repertoire.

Notable recordings include Benny Goodman's hot 1951 sextet version, Anita O'Day's bop-inflected 1952 vocal rendition, and Ella Fitzgerald's widely heard interpretation on her 1964 album Hello, Dolly!.