Free Jazz Standard Sheet Music Downloads

"Over The Rainbow" was composed by Harold Arlen for the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. Arlen was one of the great masters of the American Songbook, responsible for such enduring standards as "Stormy Weather," "Blues in the Night," and "That Old Black Magic." The song became the signature piece of Judy Garland, who performed it for over thirty years.

The tune is a 32-bar AABA form in the original key of A♭ major. Its most striking feature is the opening melody's bold octave leap, which musically evokes the longing to reach somewhere far beyond the rainbow. The bridge, which Arlen described as inspired by "a child's piano exercise," provides an intimate contrast to the soaring A sections. In jazz contexts, the song is typically treated as a ballad, and its diatonic harmony invites rich reharmonization, making it a favorite vehicle for creative interpretation.

Notable jazz recordings include Art Tatum's virtuosic solo piano rendition and Ella Fitzgerald's warmly expressive vocal version. The song was ranked number one on the AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs list, cementing its status as arguably the most iconic American film song ever written.