"When You're Smiling" is a classic tune from the Tin Pan Alley era, first published in 1928 by composers Larry Shay, Mark Fisher, and Joe Goodwin. The song quickly gained popularity, with early recordings by Seger Ellis and Louis Armstrong, the latter of whom helped cement its status as a jazz standard. Over the years, the song has been interpreted by a diverse array of artists, including Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett, and Michael Bublé. The sentiment of its simple yet uplifting lyrics has resonated with audiences for nearly a century.

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Tamezō Narita (1893-1945) was a Japanese violinist, composer, and teacher. While attending the Tokyo Music School, he concentrated his studies on European classical music, and began creating some of his own compositions in the style of those masters. He was especially influenced by the Austrian composer Johann Strauss II. One of Narita’s earliest compositions was a waltz melody he named “Hamabe no Uta”, or “Song of the Seashore”. It was inspired by the words of a poem written by Kokei Hayashi, which evokes the serene and reflective feelings of gazing at the vast expanse of the sea.

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Charles Wesley (1707–1788), a co-founder of Methodism alongside his brother John Wesley, was one of the most prolific hymn writers of the 18th century. Known for his theological depth and poetic finesse, Wesley penned over 6,000 hymns during his lifetime. Among his well-known works is the Easter hymn “Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise,” which celebrates the ascension of Christ.

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