Free Jazz Standard Sheet Music Downloads

"Be My Love" is a popular song with music by Nicholas Brodszky (1905–1958) and lyrics by Sammy Cahn, published in 1950. It was written specifically for tenor Mario Lanza and featured as a duet with Kathryn Grayson in the MGM film The Toast of New Orleans. The song received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Song that year.

The composition features a soaring, operatic melody with a dramatic vocal line that reaches a high C at its climax, blending grand theatrical elements with broad popular appeal. Originally conceived as a crossover piece bridging opera and popular song, the tune's sweeping romantic melody and rich harmonic underpinning have attracted jazz musicians who reinterpret it as a lush ballad or a medium-tempo swing vehicle. The chord changes offer sufficient harmonic interest for improvisation while the melody's wide intervals and emotional arc make it a rewarding challenge for vocalists.

Mario Lanza's original 1950 recording for RCA Victor became his first gold record, selling over two million copies and reaching number one on the Billboard charts. In jazz contexts, the Phil Woods Quartet offered a notable small-group interpretation in 1955, and the tune has remained a staple for vocalists drawn to its dramatic possibilities.