Morning Has Broken - Yusuf/Cat Stevens '70's classic piano hit - breakdown

[@morganahoff2242]

I decided I wanted to learn to play this song, and looked up a tutorial on KZbin, and found an arrangement WITHOUT THE KEY CHANGES! I couldn't believe it.

[@Transterra55]

You hit the keyword for this song… Epic. The first time I heard this song I was also overwhelmed by the beautiful piano playing, the chord progression, and especially the modulations…

[@mnelson56]

I have been working on a solo guitar arrangement of this tune for a while, and it is very helpful to see the chord voicings clearly: thank you!

[@ImpliedMusic]

i'll look forward to hear that!

[@raymondfryar1533]

When I was a young or preteen I loved to gaze into the pastel artwork on the album cover and imagine myself in the picture. Although these were my older sisters albums I would listen to them over and over.

[@Gardener7]

Please make more like this. It's exactly what I need to learn right now.

[@markyachnin1901]

As a member of your generation, I thank you so much for this.

[@harryleblanc4939]

I had no idea the chords were so interesting. They're smooth as silk.

[@winddealer1]

Our High School Acapella class featured this piece in 1975, it was my introduction to Cat Stevens. So happy our teacher chose this piece. Thank you for the great context and your investment to your listeners. Thanks for resonating my joyful memories of those moments. Gratefully.

[@robertpenway]

Like a masterclass in songwriting.

[@chantguitare6007]

Great ! Thank you !

[@MJ1]

Rick tells the story of years later, Cat brought him to perform with him at a show. Cat now wanted it played in a different key. Rick wasn’t pleased about not getting a heads up.

[@chac65]

Everything remarkable about this song was essentially written by Rick Wakeman. He noted in interviews that when he began work on the song, Steven's had about 1 minute of material, all original folk song, not written by Stevens. Everything remarkable is the piano part, which was all Rick Wakeman. He was paid $12, and I believe he originally had no album credit.

[@Heaven-dy9lj]

Eleanor Farjeon.

[@rupertspencer6382]

I never made the connection to the Rick Wakeman song, Catherine Howard I believe on The 6 Wives of Henry the Eighth, but now that you point it out I can definitely hear its influence.

[@leproboscis8767]

Beautifully explained. I need to finish the dang theory and ear training i started 20 years ago. Someone give me a slap

[@b1j]

Odd. It came to my mind this week, too. Imagine that. I thoroughly enjoyed your discussion. Well done.

[@TracyPelton-lm5hp]

Sometimes that same thing happens to me, and I be puzzled 🫤

[@sound4mations]

New to Channel and enjoying every moment! Guitarist / Singer turning to keyboard late in life… Thank You! Please keep em coming! ☮️ + ❤ Cheers! Michael - Santa Rosa CA

[@ImpliedMusic]

More to come!

[@heinzkunobert1359]

I had to google what „really out of leftfield“ means. 🤗 (germany) Thanks for vid - I used to feel the same about the song, back then. Today I learned a lot. 🙏🏽🧔🏼👍🏽

[@benedictbranca-on4ug]

An excellent breakdown of a beautiful piece. Thank you. Your description was as enjoyable as the song.

[@ImpliedMusic]

Thank you very much!

[@mathumphreys]

You just popped up in my feed and wow, you are good! Great explanation and your video production is top notch (I think I'll go ahead and subscribe).

[@mybachhertzbaud3074]

There were a large number of great musicians that primarily hung out as studio musicians during those years.😁

[@vitolafata8864]

Absolutely LOVED this

[@GuyMonroeVoice]

Very generous! Thank you for sharing your passion. Much Gratitude! - Guy 🙂

[@160fleetstreetchambers8]

Nice succinct analysis (as always) of a famous and lovely arrangement, the intro of which I'm also going to have a play around with too now but that A7 over D is surprising too. Rick Wakeman was a huge keyboard figure in that era, including his paino part for Life on Mars by D. Bowie. From the same era there are some other great piano based pop songs like Bridge over Troubled Water and Harry Nilsson's Without You which many might appreciate your take on if you think they are musically interesting enough.

[@ImpliedMusic]

Thanks. Great suggestion

[@markcox5385]

I play this with my choir. We transpose it down a tone so it’s not in the high register for the sopranos!

[@knobby7342]

Hi, I just stumbled across this analysis of Morning Has Broken. You did a great job. Rick’s version of this song is why I started playing 20 years ago. It is on my desert island list. Did you know that Rick never got paid for his work at the time? Thanks.

[@galahadthreepwood9394]

Rick Wakeman tells the story the Yusuf/Cat promised him £10 and credit on the record. He’s still waiting!

[@frankspears4597]

Without Rick’s creativity, it probably wouldn’t have modulated.

[@Andrew-h3q6b]

As soon as you said that Cat Stevens struggled with with the key change, I thought, Klause Nomi would have don it!🤔

[@ShawnBrandon888]

What about those descending arp runs in the verse? Lol

[@ImpliedMusic]

Those are cool. They’re fast but simple, just on the triad.

[@ShawnBrandon888]

So honored thanks, it's the precision timing and accents that Wakeman uses

[@ImpliedMusic]

@@ShawnBrandon888 true. impeccable technique.

[@Gusrikh1]

9/4. Not 9/8. Well presented.

[@EdgarRoock]

Was the intro inspired by Elton John'S "Your Song" which came out not long before this one?

[@marathoner111]

Watch out for the enharmonic equivilents.

[@tomastarragona6348]

apparently that piano intro inspired this masterpiece by charly garcia: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKnYlH96itpnmMk