As we wrap up
our American music month, the discussion would not be complete without
mentioning the infamous George Gershwin. Because there is quite a bit to say
about Gershwin’s profound output during his tragically short life, I will keep
our discussion for this week focused on the popular Rhapsody in Blue, leaving many of his other works for one of our
later monthly topics.
Gershwin wrote
the famous Rhapsody in Blue at the
young age of 25 after unexpectedly receiving a commission from Paul Whiteman
and the Palais Royale Orchestra. Though Whiteman had mentioned that he hoped
one day Gershwin would write a composition for his ensemble, the composer had
no idea how serious Whiteman was until he saw the advertisement in the
newspaper for an upcoming concert featuring Gershwin’s yet-to-be-composed
piece. The young composer had three weeks to pull something together for the
performance.
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| Paul Whiteman's Orchestra Courtesy of youtube.com |
Because he was
so pressed for time, Gershwin added several piano solos that he could improvise
throughout the piece. This left several blank pages in Whiteman’s score with
the indication to “wait for nod” from George so that Whiteman could then cue
the orchestra following the solos.
The ensemble
score to Rhapsody in Blue was
originally written as a second piano part with certain instrumental figures
indicated throughout. The piece was then handed to Paul Whiteman’s arranger,
Ferde Grofé. You may know some of Grofé’s own works that we often times play on
WGUC including his Grand Canyon Suite and
Mississippi Suite. Grofé later
re-orchestrated Rhapsody in Blue for
an orchestra. This version is what most people are familiar with today.
The premiere
of Rhapsody in Blue was a raging
success. Though it sat as the final piece on a program containing 24
selections, people were elated with Gershwin’s “jazz concerto.” Many important
musicians of the time even showed up to hear this new American sensation
including Sergei Rachmaninoff, Fritz Kreisler, Leopold Stokowski, and John
Philip Sousa.
Join me
Wednesday as I delve into the style and structure of Rhapsody in Blue!
