“Tea for Two” (1924) by Vincent Youmans and Irving Caesar
“Tea for Two” is a song composed by Vincent Youmans, with lyrics by Irving Caesar.
Youmans wrote the basic melody for the song while he was in the navy during World War I. But he didn’t finish it until 1924, when he was asked to provide additional songs to help revitalize the failing musical comedy, No, No, Nanette. The show then became the biggest musical comedy of the 1920’s.
“Tea for Two” is one of Youmans’s most popular songs, appearing in every live production and film adaptation of No, No, Nanette. It has been covered by artists like Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, and Frank Sinatra. Chinese pianist, Yuja Wang, often plays it as an encore during her live performances.
Typically sold for $15.99, the sheet music for “Tea for Two” is yours FREE during February 2024. This arrangement is for solo piano and based on this performance. Grab your copy today!
When you place an order, you will get two versions of “Tea for Two”: a full transcription, and a slightly simplified version.
Fun Facts About “Tea for Two”:
- Tea for Two” is sung by the romantic lead in No, No, Nanette. The lyrics are about two lovers who envision being married together.
- Russian composer, Dmitri Shostakovich, won a bet by arranging the orchestration for “Tea for Two” by memory in under an hour. His exact time was 45 minutes.
- Irving Caesar wrote the lyrics in a hurry, intending to change them later. But Youmans loved the first draft so much, he kept them for the final version.
The sheet music for “Tea for Two” was transcribed by Tunescribers team member Wei Fung F.
