I’ve found any manner of sheet music curiosities at library bookstores and library sales. Sometimes these have a story to tell that will reveal itself to me much later, or — as was the case with “In the Summer of His Years” — an unexpected connection. With a mix of flowery font and solemn script, the plain cover describes this song as “Written for a BBC Television Tribute to the Late President John Fitzgerald Kennedy.”
I suppose I bought the sheet music because it felt like an object pulled out of a time capsule, a snapshot of how some people began to take this fact into their homes and daily lives, prop it up on their pianos: the President of the United States had been assassinated in broad daylight.
Last week I happened to read an obituary for Herbert Kretzmer, who is perhaps best known these days as the lyricist for the English-language version of the musical sensation, “Les Misérables.” Kretzmer died on October 14 at age 95 and had careers as a journalist, a drama critic, and a composer, including a stint as songwriter for the groundbreaking satirical BBC series, “That Was the Week That Was” (TW3). I did a double-take when the obituary mentioned that “In the Summer of His Years” had been written for “That Was the Week That Was.” The song I’d come across years ago, the one about JFK’s death? For a satirical TV series?
After President Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, the producers of “That Was the Week That Was” made the quick call to shift their upcoming show away from the usual sketch-and-song format of lampooning the news. Instead they created an earnest and somber episode which paid tribute to JFK and aired (as originally scheduled) on November 23 — the day after the assassination. Actress, singer, and TW3 regular Millicent Martin debuted Herbert Kretzmer and David Lee’s hastily composed song, “In the Summer of His Years,” on the broadcast.
Where to find it:
"In the Summer of His Years"
Words by Herbert Kretzmer, music by David Lee
VINTAGE SHEET MUSIC: on eBay or on Amazon
Publisher: Leeds Music Corporation (1963)
Status (2020): Out of Print
FOR FURTHER EXPLORATION:
- Official site for Herbert Kretzmer
- JFK Assassination Song: “In the Summer of His Years” – Turn Me On, Dead Man podcast (June 2013)
- That Was Then, This Is Now: Satire from JFK to Savile – Samira Ahmed (November 2012)
- Obituary for Herbert Kretzmer (from the Jewish Chronicle)
So Many Songbooks 