Baubles, Bangles, & Beads

"Baubles, Bangles, & Beads" is a popular song from the 1953 musical Kismet, credited to Robert Wright and George Forrest. It is based on the second movement from string quartet nr.2 in D major, "Scherzo. Allegro" by Russian composer Alexander Borodin.

Background

Like almost all the music in that show, the melody was based on works by Alexander Borodin,^[1][2] in this case the second theme of the second movement of his String Quartet in D. The "Kismet" setting maintains the original's 3/4 waltz rhythm; pop music settings change the rhythm to a moderate four-beat accompaniment. Jazz musicians are especially drawn to the song's beguiling melody and advanced harmonic structure. The familiar AA'BA+Coda structure of the song is energized by a key change up a major third interval for every section; the transition is marked by a harmonic progression from the central major key of one section to the tritone minor key of the following section.^{[citation needed]}

1953 recordings

The best-selling version of the song was recorded by Peggy Lee on September 16, 1953^[3] and charted briefly that year.^[4] Other versions were recorded that year by Lu Ann Simms and Georgia Gibbs.

Kirby Stone Four recording

• The Kirby Stone Four re-make hit No. 25 in the Billboard Top 100 in 1958^[5] and remains a favorite on adult standard stations.

Other recordings

The song has appeared on numerous albums over the years including:

• Gerry Mulligan - Recorded in Boston at Storyville (1956)^[6]
• Wes Montgomery - Fingerpickin' (1957)^[7]
• Lena Horne - Give the Lady What She Wants (1958)^[8]
• Eydie Gorme - Gorme Sings Showstoppers (1958)^[9]
• Frank Sinatra - Come Dance with Me! (1959),^[10] Francis Albert Sinatra & Antônio Carlos Jobim (1967)^[11]
• Kay Starr - Movin' on Broadway (1960)^[12]
• June Christy - The Cool School (1960)^[13]
• Sarah Vaughan - You're Mine You (1962)^[14]
• Oscar Peterson Trio - Affinity (1962)^[15]
• Chet Atkins - Travelin' (1963)^[16]
• Johnny Mathis - So Nice (1966)^[17]
• Sylvia Telles - The Face I Love (1966)^[18]
• Dionne Warwick - On Stage and in the Movies (1967)^[19]
• Argentine composer Ernesto Acher mixed the scherzo of Borodin's string quartet with this piece of music, under the name "Borodin, Bangles & Beads" in 1987 on his album Juegos ^[20]
• Sofia Hoffmann - Rebirth (2022)^[21]