Orchestral Vocal Standard
tagStarted c. 1943Peak 1954–1965Last big hit c. 1967
Located in 1 route
Orchestral Vocal Standard surrounds the singer with lush string writing, woodwinds, French horns, and carefully tiered dynamics that heighten sentiment without overwhelming diction. It is one of the most cinematic branches of standards singing, balancing dramatic sweep with meticulous vocal control.
History
The style flowered in the LP and high-fidelity era, when arrangers such as Nelson Riddle, Gordon Jenkins, Percy Faith, and Robert Mersey could shape a standard into a miniature tone poem; Sinatra, Johnny Mathis, Tony Bennett, Andy Williams, Nat King Cole, and Doris Day turned orchestral standards into prestige adult pop, and the format remained a touchstone for later crossover and tribute projects.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- Great American Songbook Foundation, “What is the Songbook?”
- Wikipedia, “Traditional pop”
- Library of Congress, “Songs of America.”