RHAPSODY IN BLUE Music 1010 Semester Presentation Alex

RHAPSODY IN BLUE Music 1010 Semester Presentation Alex Molling

INTRODUCTION • George Gershwin (1898 -1937) • Created many great compositions • Rhapsody in Blue

BIOGRAPHY • Born in New York • 2 nd Child • Changed his name to Gershwin • Grew very quickly • Took lessons throughout life

BIOGRAPHY • Was a trouble maker • Loved listening to all music • Created Broadway hits with brother • Loved painting and collecting art

BIOGRAPHY • Became very ill • Had a brain tumor • Died at age 38 • Earned awards after death

COMPOSITION HISTORY • • • Composed in 1924 Solo piano & jazz band Commissioned by Paul Whiteman Orchestrated by Ferde Grofé Premiered in An Experiment in Modern Music

COMPOSITION CONT. • Gershwin was inspired on a Train to Boston • Gershwin improvised much of the music • Recorded multiple times • Played by 84 pianists for the 1984 Olympics

LISTENING GUIDE • Rhapsody in Blue • Rondo Form • Instruments: • • • • Piano Two Clarinets Two flutes Two oboes Bass clarinet Two Bassoons Two alto saxophones Tenor saxophone Three French horns Three trumpets Three trombones Tuba 8 Percussion Parts Banjo Strings

THEMES

LISTENING GUIDE SECTION 1 Timing Form Descriptions 0: 00 Exposition & Theme 1 Clarinet plays an upward glissando to Theme 1 0: 34 Theme 2 Full orchestra takes up theme 1 and the solo piano introduces the new idea 0: 52 Theme 1 The first theme is repeated again with muted trumpets 0: 59 Theme 3 Piano enters with theme 3 1: 04 Theme 1 Full orchestra plays theme 1 with cymbals 1: 12 Piano cadenza Piano extends theme 3, then cadenzas with repeated nots and upward glissando 1: 49 Theme 1 Piano plays theme 1 with a soft orchestra accompaniment with the tempo fluctuating 2: 32 Theme 3 Piano plays through theme 3 with an increase in tempo on to another cadenza 3: 06 Theme 1 Full orchestra plays theme 1 faster at fortissimo

LISTENING GUIDE SECTION 1 CONT Timing Form Description 3: 27 Theme 1 Trombones take over theme 1 3: 37 Theme 4 Trumpets fluttering lead to theme 4. This part is played fortissimo and is accompanied b percussion and piano. It is a Latin type of number in the piece 4: 03 Theme 2 Clarinet solos over theme 2 4: 17 Theme 2 Full orchestration of theme 2 at fortissimo with drum rolls 4: 37 Finish theme 2 Orchestra finishes theme 2 after call and response with the piano and woodwinds

LISTENING GUIDE SECTION 2 Timing Form Description 4: 56 Theme 5 The full orchestra plays 4 syncopated notes, which then leads to the baritone saxophone playing the fifth theme with the percussion softly keeping the time in the background 5: 23 Rubato The bass plays a one phrase rubato 5: 28 Theme 5 resumes The orchestra resumes playing the fifth theme after some crescendos, with the piano adding fills and short solos in the high octave notes. 5: 55 Piano cadenza The piano plays a short upwards cadenza 6: 04 Theme 1 and theme 3 The piano continues, playing the first theme in forte with full chords continued with the third theme being played very softly by the piano. 6: 16 Theme 1 The woodwinds and piano repeat theme 1 with the piano adding short fills and the percussion quietly keeping time in the back. 6: 46 Theme 1 extension The piano extends theme 1 while dramatically slowing the tempo and softening the dynamics.

LISTENING GUIDE SECTION 3 Timing Form Description 7: 28 Theme 6 introduction Saxophones and cellos introduce theme 6 with brass and glockenspiel accents 8: 17 Violin cadenza An andante violin solo accompanied with triangle accents 8: 33 Theme 6 returns with the full orchestra and snare drum rolls with the piano and trumpet repeating earlier answer played earlier on by the brass. 9: 17 Theme 6 resolution Glockenspiel leads into the end of theme 6 with a syncopated rhythm on the piano 9: 25 Piano interlude A slow and soft interlude from the piano 10: 16 Theme 3 Piano briefly revisits the third theme 10: 23 Piano glissando Piano continues alone and ends with an upward glissando

LISTENING GUIDE SECTION 4 Timing Form Description 10: 36 Theme 6 cut time Trombone plays theme 6 in cut time and is joined a second time with lower brass 10: 43 Theme 6 double time Brass plays theme 6 in double time with crescendos on each long note accompanied by piano. 11: 04 Fortissimo dissonant chord Full orchestra plays fortissimo dissonant chord then builds with the piano 11: 23 Bridge Full orchestra plays upward chromatic scale 11: 31 Theme 2 Lower brass loudly plays theme 2 12: 05 Theme 1 recap Full orchestra plays theme 1 with cymbals replicating the opening 12: 17 Theme 3 - Resolution Piano plays theme 3 accompanied by the orchestra reassuring the final downbeat

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES • "George Gershwin, Composer, Is Dead; Master of Jazz Succumbs in Hollywood at 38 After Operation for Brain Tumor" The New York Times, (abstract), July 12, 1937, p. 1 • http: //www. classical. net/music/comp. lst/works/gershwin/rhapblue. php • Schwartz, Charles (1973). Gershwin, His Life and Music. New York, NY: Da Capo Press, Inc. p. 14. ISBN 0 -306 -80096 -9. • Jablonski, Edward. "George Gershwin; He Couldn't Be Saved" (Letter to Editor), The New York Times, October 25, 1998, Section 2; Page 4; Column 5 • Cowen, Ron (1998). ""George Gershwin: He Got Rhythm"". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2015 -08 -30. "Quotation re inspiration on the train"