Music 1010 George Gershwin & Rhapsody in Blue Jolena Childs

George Gershwin

In the beginning…… Jacob (George) is born Sept. 26, 1898 In Brooklyn N.Y. Realizes he enjoys music at a friends Violin recital at the age of 10. At age 12 he Gets his 1 st Piano Begins lessons with Charles Hambitzer

Tin Pan Alley Gershwin drops out of school to work in Tin pan Alley as a “Song Plugger

First Published Songs

Swanee Hits it Big

The George White Scandals George writes music for 5 years for the George white scandals

George & Ira George and Ira's first song together, "The Real American Folk Song (Is a Rag)," is heard on Broadway in LADIES FIRST, sung by Nora Bayes.

Paul Whitman makes history

Rhapsody in Blues is created

Historical Background “Devils Music” Classical, Jazz, blues

The Big Night for George

Awards and Acknowledgements 1993 Olivier Award for Best Musical 1992 Tony Award for Best Musical 1938 Oscar Nomination for Best Music, Song : THEY CAN’T TAKE THAT AWAY FROM ME from :SHALL WE DANCE?

Some of his songs

Film Scores

Stage Productions

Rhapsody Listening Guide 0:00 Introduction: The song starts out with a sexy clarinet solo that arches up then you can hear “sauntering” back down in the notes to be a simple tune, but setting the common theme or melody that will be carried through the whole piece. There is a light melody in the background of violas but they stay light giving the clarinet all of the attention. 0:35 Low, light trumpets, muted trumpets and trombones maybe even saxophones and bassoons start to join in with the clarinet. The Clarinet hits high notes. Adding more depth but still staying very subtle. Also adding to the Imitation of the melody. 0:57 Gershwin joins in with the piano. Rondo. We hear the theme underlining with the strings and trumpets. Then everyone stops but the piano giving it the full attention. Gershwin will use the Timbre of the melody and piano to keep the piece uniform. 1:04 the Orchestra joins in with allegro and there is a large crescendo, strings and trumpets and the clarinets are strong. They add a definite cadence. Up down 2:22 Strings light, barley in the background and adding just a touch of sound. Sometimes it is hard to tell if all Gershwin is or if there really is more sound than just piano. 2:48 It builds, crescendos, you call feel it coming the dissonance is starting again.

Listening Guide Cont. 3:21 Even if you hear it build you still are surprised. If you are closing your eyes it almost makes you jump. (if you have it as loud as I do) The orchestra comes in strong and fierce. Just as quick as they start they stop. Allowing Gershwin to add more to his theme. It goes from consonance to loud descending and dissonance. Then immediately shifts to using consonance again. Up and down up and down. Inverted Arch Contour. 3:29 Piccolos, trill and use allegro. 3:40 it starts to soften the strings mainly violas start to lento; they bring the music down with a slower rhythm and slower beats. A new song is starting inside the other one. You can a different feel. Almost a different place. 3:40 the descent starts. The piano and strings start descending down lower and slower. Then the western begins. You are rounding up cattle. 4:20 the muted trumpet makes you tap your feet as the rhythm starts to build and rondo. Gershwin and piano are joined by flutes and clarinet solo pieces before the chorus or theme starts. The whole orchestra is playing in harmony. The drums and strings add staccato. With sharp clean stops. 5:02 The clarinet gets a solo again. It is in rondo It keeps the same form making the earlier chaos become calm and smooth, meno masso. The muted trumpet joins in helping the music descend. You can slightly hear the timpani’s join in the background.

Listening Guide Cont. 5:26 Sharp staccato rears with the strings drums and horns to start Gershwin back on his path. To rondo again. Flutes and clarinets are backing Gershwin’s piano. It’s almost like your riding a horse, a gallop. It is the tempo that starts to build only to stop for a French horn? 6:02 the strings join in. Flutes horns, Drums end the sentence. 6:30 Gershwin starts to do a fast scale up the piano. It has a sharper timbre as he ascends the keys then ends with an abrupt phrase. 6:40 Gershwin all by himself on the piano starts a fast scale almost a glissando but he is repeating a few notes in between the climb. It is the theme or chorus. He is playing with it. Changing the tempo and pulse to keep it different but the same. 7:34 A French horn or baritone horn joins Gershwin to add a low slow smooth quality to Gershwin’s piano. The horn plays a simple melody accompaniment in the background to add not over shadow the piano. It has a clear consonance making the listener relax and enjoy. 8:27 Gershwin adds allegro. The piece is going to build again. He is preparing you for the entrance of more instruments to join in. 8:45 Clarinet or French horn join in for a whimsical duet. It is just a small play of back and forth. Playing a bit of the theme.

9:34 Gershwin plays the theme. He is improvising most likely. Keeping the constant theme in mind but playing around in-between. Then building back on theme and adding Arch contour and then back again. 11:30 My favorite part. Whether by childhood memories or beauty and consonance. The strings come in quiet and clean playing the theme, the melody joined by the clarinets and the rest of the orchestra. Timpani is played just in the right places. You can hear a snare drum, Violas ascend then descend. It is the part where the main characters in a love story find each other. It feels like it is going to be the end of the song. You hear the triangle in the back quiet but present. 13:07 Gershwin starts to build. It is almost a new song. There is some familiar notes in the background is still using form to unify the different parts and sounds of the song. 13:29 It almost sounds like there are 2 pianos 2 players. When I saw this live I felt like I could hear 2 but only saw one. There are so many notes played in such an amazing tempo it is hard to fathom that only Gershwin is playing with his 2 hands. He is playing 2 different tempos at the same time. 14:00 Gershwin plays staccato using the high sharp notes. He is creating dissonance. I am actually feeling a stress when it instantly mellows then speeds up again. If feels like my life. Running, running. Catch up then run fast. I see fantasia when all of the water is over taking Mickey. Listening Guide Cont.

15:55 The end is coming Gershwin is playing the theme, the chorus the build then stop. 16:00 Gershwin and strings mainly violins and violas. Bases in the back they are playing the final chorus and building up to the finale. 16:19 Gershwin uses glissando and shoots up the key board. 16:28 the strings and drums are marching, The orchestra has all joined in. Trumpets, trombones,drums all building. They crescendo. And peak. There is a huge sound as it all comes together in unison. Cymbals crash. Gershwin in is the front the strings in the back are pianissimo. Gershwin is still the star of the show and is playing forte so he can be the strong ending. They all finish together not loud or soft, just a slight crescendo, it is just right. 16:50 Ends Listening Guide Cont.

Sources Pictures adway-and-tin-pan-alley adway-and-tin-pan-alley _crop.jpg _crop.jpg content/uploads/2008/06/tin-pan-alley-and-gg-song-plugger- wp.jpg content/uploads/2008/06/tin-pan-alley-and-gg-song-plugger- wp.jpg songbook.html songbook.html gif gif

Sources " George Gershwin." Encyclopedia.com. N.p., Web. 1 Oct "George Gershwin." George Gershwin. Classical Net, n.d. Web. 02 Oct "George Gershwin." The Biography Channel website. Nov , 12: "The Tv Series & Beyond." PBS.org. pbs, 10/07/2013. Web. 04 October