SEMESTER PRESENTATION MUSIC 1010 Samantha Morris

20TH CENTURY COMPOSER AND PIANIST GEORGE GERSHWIN 20TH CENTURY COMPOSER AND PIANIST

JACOB GERSHOWITZS EARLY LIFE Born September 26, 1898 Poor Russian immigrant family Passionate about music Dropped out of high school at 15 Born Jacob Gershowitz, September 26, 1898 in Brooklyn, New York to a poor Russian immigrant family. He had a passion for music at a young age and when the family purchased a piano for the older son, George was the one to take it over. At just 15 years of age he dropped out of high school to play piano professionally. He studied piano under Charles Hambitz and composition with Henry Cowell.

JUST THE BEGINNING Played in nightclubs Rehearsal pianist Composed first published song Many screen and stage songs After several years of playing in nightclubs and working as a rehearsal pianist for Broadway Singers, he composed his first published song: “When you want ‘em you can’t get ‘em”. He also did many screen and stage songs that were very popular, which included, “Let’s call the whole thing off “, You can’t take that away from me” and “I got rhythm”, just to name a few.  

Becoming The Legend ~ George Gershwin Four year period wrote 45 songs Working relationship with brother Wrote several musical comedies At 25 wrote best known piece Over a four year period he wrote forty five songs. He had a great working relationship with his older brother Ira who was his lyricist. "The Gershwin’s" became the dominant Broadway songwriters, creating infectious rhythm numbers and poignant ballads, fashioning the words to the melodies with a "glove-like" fidelity. Together they wrote several musical comedies and that partnership lasted the rest of the composers life. When he was 25 years old her wrote what people would call his best known piece; “Rhapsody in Blue” a jazz inspired piece.

Only the good die young Died July 11th 1937 38 years old Brain tumor The composer died July 11th, 1937 at the age of 38  during brain surgery to remove a brain tumor.

COMPOSITIONS Rhapsody in Blue An American in Paris Porgy and Bess I Got Rhythm Lady Be Good Someone to Watch Over Me Summertime Piano Concert in F Rialto Ripples Shall We Dance In his short life of 38 years he wrote/composed over 500 songs, plays, operas, and other pieces. He had several other things in the works that were never finished. Gershwin’s pieces are used today even more than they were used back then.

AWARDS Nominated for an Oscar Nominated for a Grammy Star on the walk of fame Congressional gold metal award Music Hall of Fame Posthumous Pulitzer Prize

MUSIC HISTORY RHAPSODY IN BLUE One of Gerhwin’s pieces will be presented followed by a listening guide.

RHAPSODY IN BLUE When and where 1st performed Influences 1st recorded Well known “Rhapsody in Blue” was composed by George Gershwin. The piece was first performed February 12, 1924, at New York’s Aeolian Hall. Paul Whiteman, an Orchestral Director was one   of the most influential band leaders of his time. He went to Gershwin and asked him to write an original piece of modern music. Between the two of them they came up with” Rhapsody in Blue”, a concerto for piano and jazz ensemble. Shortly after its February 12th debut it was  recorded. This piece is very well known and is a favorite to many and still has a hold on people   and even is popular with the younger generations. In 1984, the song was used in the opening   ceremonies for the summer Olympics

INSTRUMENTATION Saxophone Flute Oboe Clarinet Piano Heckelphone 2horns 2 Trupets 2 Flugelhorns Violins Euphonium 3 Trombones Tuba Timpani Trap Set 2 Pianos Celesta Accordion Banjo They used a variety of instruments with the principal soloist being the Piano. The Trumpet and Clarinet also had solo pieces.

LISTENING GUIDE RHAPSODY IN BLUE ~ GEORGE GERSHWIN 0:00- Introduction- starts out very soft and slow with the piano. The clarinet comes in with a slide type sound very interesting... It kind of sets the tone for this piece. . The melody has several parts where it repeats itself. The harmony is consonant. The dynamics are soft and sweet. The timbre is the instrument of clarinet and piano. The rhythm is a steady upbeat, beat. The texture of the piano and clarinet have a very powerful sound mixed together, and then when the trumpet comes in it sounds amazing. 0:31- The clarinet and trumpets sounds are high and low. The melody continues to be soft and sweet and then the trumpet comes in loud. 0:57- Piano comes in and has a soft but is fast paced. Then the strings come in loud and clear. The dynamics are a mixture of loud and soft. The timbre is the piano playing by itself but makes very interesting sound. The melody is both smooth and wide apart. The harmony is a mixture of consonant and dissonant. I wasn’t expecting the load entrance of the orchestra, it was very beautiful. The rhythm was slow and fast at time.  1:12-Starts the piano solo. It starts off very soft and slow. Harmony is very pretty and bright. There are a few places where the harmony has both consonant and dissonant. The tempo picks up and gets faster and louder. The rhythm is all over the place not really having anything in common. It does sound very interesting though 3:20-Chorus.Then again, the full orchestra jumps in very loud. It is almost overpowering. It has a marching like rhythm. Dynamics are loud. Timbre has a great mixture of the instruments dipping in and out. It is very upbeat and deep.  

LISTENING GUIDE RHAPSODY IN BLUE ~ GEORGE GERSHWIN 3:57-Melody is very bright and sweet. The harmony is like a marching band. The dynamics are loud. Timbre is a huge variety of piano clarinet trumpet with full orchestra. Rhythm is upbeat and happy. I think this is my favorite part of the song. 4:35- Full orchestra with the melody very bright and happy. The harmony is more dissonant with the dynamics being very loud. The rhythm is a very fast speed and it makes you want to get up and dance.  5:07-Clarinet breaks in with a solo. The melody is low. The dynamics are soft and slow. Rhythm is slower beat.  5:27-The dynamics are loud. The rhythm has a tapping type rhythm that is very fast and upbeat. The harmony is happy and bright.

LISTENING GUIDE RHAPSODY IN BLUE ~ GEORGE GERSHWIN 5:53-Chorus.it quiets down then breaks back in with full chorus. The piano plays all of the keys and it sounds amazing. The dynamics is high and the melody is upbeat. The rhythm is fast.  6:18- The dynamics switch back and forth from loud and soft. With the full orchestra. Then the piano takes off first slow and easy then it picks up then slows down again. Piano does a whole solo for a good minute until you can hear the strings playing softly in the background. Then at the end it gets loud on the piano.  8:38-Clarinet jumps in and has a medley with strings piano and timpani. It’s a very soothing piece and the dynamics are quiet and bright.  9:05- The piano comes in louder but softens the dynamics up. The music slows down and it sounds like it is going to end... but it doesn’t.  9:44- The piano keeps going with a bridge like tune. The dynamics are louder and softer and it keeps repeating the same thing.  10:12- It sounds like it is going to stop again and then the piano gets louder and faster. Over and over again then it does several trills  10:57-The piano gets very loud and then it goes soft. Sounds like a lullaby.. 

LISTENING GUIDE RHAPSODY IN BLUE ~ GEORGE GERSHWIN 11:25- The strings come in very soft and sweet sounding. It is moving very slow and pretty. The trumpet is played into the music and it is played deep and low but it is still long sounding.   12:00-The strings play a very soothing but loud part it sounds very thick. The trumpet get louder and then there is like a drum roll entrance Piano keeps going with the full orchestra. It is loud and soft.  12:53- Then a triangle is played and it sounds like little fairies flying around.. it softens up the scene and the piano joins in with a soft quiet piece then it gets loud and it goes from consonant to dissonant.  13:36- The piano sounds like it is arguing with someone. And then it goes right back to sweet and soft sounds. Then one key is hit over and over again then a lower key hit over again making the dynamic loud the texture is rough. The rhythm is very fast and chaotic  14:36- There are a few trills with the piano and then a loud deep key is hit then the trumpet entwines with the piano. It is very loud and fast. It is getting very exciting.

LISTENING GUIDE RHAPSODY IN BLUE ~ GEORGE GERSHWIN 15:12- The dynamics are loud the rhythm is fast. The piano is playing through with the trumpet. Each one is competing against each other it seems like.  15:40- The symbols go off several times making things very loud. The strings come in and the rhythm is very upbeat and catchy. And the piano is getting louder and louder then it stops.  15:55- Then the brass comes in deep and loud. The chorus is played and it is very bright sweet and then it is loud and then it slows.  16:30- The whole orchestra comes in loud and strong. Symbols are played through piano is loud and it is building up. It sounds like it is going to explode. It is the most beautiful thing I have ever heard.  16:54- end

Bibliography google.com - Images George Gershwin. 2013. The Biography Channel Website Sept. 27, 2013 01:06 http://www.biography.com/people/george-gershwin- 9309643  Pbs.org, June 7, 2006. George Gershwin, American Masters  History.com, This Day in History, February 24, 1924 http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/rhapsody-in-blue-by-george- gershwin-performed-for-first-time  George and Ira Gershwin. 2013 Gershwin.com  google.com - Images