Silent War – Kenny Drew, Jr.

This dramatic, impassioned ballad is full of the subtle detail that is a Kenny Drew, Jr., trademark. The melody and harmonies of A Silent War are quite intricate while still being logical. Though the key center is established as F minor at the end of the A and C sections, many other tonalities are visited throughout; our lead sheets have no key signature. The A section melody is full of dramatic leaps in a Billy Strayhorn-esque vein. On the bridge, a twisty bass ostinato (piano left hand on the recordings) fills in the long notes of the melody. The form is 36 measures long: two 10-measure A sections, eight-measure B and an eight-measure C section which is a variation of A.

The first chord of the A section is an unusual double triad, G augmented over A♭ augmented; the scale associated with this harmony is a symmetrical "augmented scale" (A♭ B C E♭ E G) alternating minor thirds and half steps. The A section changes visit C minor and G major before landing on F minor. In the bridge, major seventh chords with sharp 5ths shift around before a final resolution to E major; the last two chords of the bridge are the same as the last two of the first A. The C section changes turn the A section's resolution to G major into a turnaround back to F minor.

On this recording, Kenny plays the melody; guitarist Larry Coryell comps at A and C and doubles the bridge melody. Click on the video for an exclusive solo piano version by Kenny, recorded on the famous Steinway "B" at the Van Gelder Studio.