100 YEARS OF RHAPSODY IN BLUE

Today marks 100 years since the immortal song Rhapsody In Blue was first recorded. Written by George Gershwin, it was recorded on this day - June 10, 1924 by Paul Whiteman & His Orchestra on the Victor label with George Gershwin himself on piano...

HISTORY OF A SONG: RHAPSODY IN BLUE

I have a lot of favorite songs since music plays such an important part in my life. Currently, the instrumental song Rhapsody In Blue is my favorite song. I have had a lot of favorite songs like Pennies From Heaven, Someone To Watch Over Me, and Smile, but this is the first time I have picked a strictly instrumental song as one of my favorites. Rhapsody in Blue is a 1924 musical composition by American composer George Gershwin for solo piano and jazz band, which combines elements of classical music with jazz-influenced effects.

The composition was commissioned by bandleader Paul Whiteman. It was orchestrated by Ferde Grofé several times, including the original 1924 scoring, the 1926 "theater orchestra" setting, and the 1942 symphony orchestra scoring, though completed earlier. The piece received its premiere in the concert, An Experiment in Modern Music, which was held on February 12, 1924, in Aeolian Hall, New York, by Whiteman and his band with Gershwin playing the piano.

The editors of the Cambridge Music Handbooks opined that "The Rhapsody in Blue (1924) established Gershwin's reputation as a serious composer and has since become one of the most popular of all American concert works."

Rhapsody in Blue premiered in an afternoon concert on Tuesday, February 12, 1924, held by Paul Whiteman and his band, the Palais Royal Orchestra, titled An Experiment in Modern Music, which took place in Aeolian Hall in New York City. Many important and influential musicians of the time were present, including Sergei Rachmaninoff, Igor Stravinsky, Fritz Kreisler, Leopold Stokowski, John Philip Sousa, and Willie "The Lion" Smith. The event has since become historic specifically because of its premiere of the Rhapsody.

The purpose of the experiment, as told by Whiteman in a pre-concert lecture in front of many classical music critics and highbrows, was "to be purely educational". It would "at least provide a stepping stone which will make it very simple for the masses to understand, and therefore, enjoy symphony and opera". The program was long, including 26 separate musical movements, divided into 2 parts and 11 sections, bearing titles such as "True form of jazz" and "Contrast: legitimate scoring vs. jazzing". Gershwin's latest composition was the second to last piece (before Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1). Many of the numbers sounded similar and the ventilation system in the concert hall was broken. People in the audience were losing their patience, until the clarinet glissando that opened Rhapsody in Blue was heard.

The Rhapsody was performed by Whiteman's band, with an added section of string players, and George Gershwin on piano. Gershwin decided to keep his options open as to when Whiteman would bring in the orchestra and he did not write down one of the pages for solo piano, with only the words "Wait for nod" scrawled by Grofé on the band score. Gershwin improvised some of what he was playing, and he did not write out the piano part until after the performance, so it is unknown exactly how the original Rhapsody sounded.

The opening clarinet glissando came into being during rehearsal when; "... as a joke on Gershwin, [Ross] Gorman (Whiteman's virtuoso clarinettist) played the opening measure with a noticeable glissando, adding what he considered a humorous touch to the passage. Reacting favourably to Gorman's whimsy, Gershwin asked him to perform the opening measure that way at the concert and to add as much of a 'wail' as possible.

One of my favorite versions of this masterpiece is by Leonard Bernstein, but nothing captures the emotion of 1920s America more than Rhapsody In Blue...

HISTORY OF A SONG: SWANEE

Despite all his later accomplishments, this career-making hit for Gershwin would remain the biggest hit of his entire life. Written on a train ride with Caesar one New York afternoon as a parody of Stephen Foster's "Old Folks at Home", it was introduced in the Broadway revue Demi-Tasse. The song had little impact in its first show, but not long afterwards Gershwin played it at a party where Al Jolson heard it. Jolson then put it into his show Sinbad, already a success at the Winter Garden Theatre, and recorded it for Columbia Records in January 1920. "After that," said Gershwin, "Swanee penetrated the four corners of the earth.".

The song was charted in 1920 for 18 weeks holding No. 1 position for nine. It sold a million sheet music copies, and an estimated two million records. It became Gershwin's first hit and the biggest-selling song of his career; the money he earned from it allowed him to concentrate on theatre work and films rather than writing further single pop hits. Arthur Schwartz said: "It's ironic that he never again wrote a number equaling the sales of Swanee, which for all its infectiousness, doesn't match the individuality and subtlety of his later works."
Jolson recorded the song several times in his career, and performed it in the movies The Jolson Story (1946), Rhapsody in Blue (1946), and Jolson Sings Again (1949). For the song's performance in The Jolson Story, Jolson, rather than actor Larry Parks, appeared as himself, filmed in long shot. Although usually associated with Jolson,

Swanee" has been recorded by many other singers...
Recorded By: Al Jolson (numerous times)
Judy Garland (numerous times)
Bing Crosby (numerous times)
Buddy Clark (on radio)
Jaye P. Morgan
Rufus Wainwright
The Temptations

THE 2011 TCM FILM FESTIVAL

TCM (Turner Classic Movies), the TV network that has kept classic Hollywood at the forefront of all who adore classic films, took a bold step last year by launching its first TCM Classic Film Festival. The streets near Egyptian, Grauman’s Chinese, and Mann’s Chinese Theatres were packed with stars and fans. The festival was such a hit, TCM is back this year for a second festival with another huge lineup of films, stars and special surprises taking place April 28 through Sunday, May 1, 2011.

Opening night premieres the 60th anniversary restoration of the Oscar-winning musical classic An American in Paris (1951). Star of the film, Leslie Caron, is scheduled for an appearance at the festival. Other world premieres during the festival include the 60th anniversary digital restoration of A Streetcar Named Desire (1951); the West Coast premiere of the newly restored La Dolce Vita (1960), and a screening of Shall We Dance (1937), which is part of the festival’s Gershwin tribute.

TCM – devoted to preserving classic movies – is also dedicated to showcasing the best possible projection, including digital, 35mm and 70mm prints. The festival will present more than 50 screenings including special introductions, guest appearances and panel discussions. Some of the films to be shown include: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) and Royal Wedding (1951) – presented by Jane Powell; The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964) – presented by Debbie Reynolds ; Carousel (1956) – presented by Shirley Jones; and The Little Shop of Horrors (1960) – presented by Roger Corman.

Special focus this year is on silent films such as Erich von Stroheim’s The Merry Widow (1925) and Buster Keaton’s The Cameraman (1928), as well as a spotlight on cinema music. TCM will celebrate the work of George and Ira Gershwin with a collection of films featuring their most memorable songs. Disney’s Musical Legacy addresses the multi-faceted collection of screenings that celebrates Disney’s history of bringing music and film together.

Classic film historian, author, producer and film restorian Kevin Brownlow, a recipient of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences Honorary Award in 2010, will be at the festival imparting his vast knowledge and love of classic films as will TCM host extraordinaire Robert Osborne.

Festival participants with the right passes will enjoy the opening night film as well as the lavish Vanity Fair Party. Other ticket passholders can fill in hours between the films and events at Club TCM located in the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel to relax, mingle, and enjoy special presentations as well as live music. Ticket passes for the festival range from $1199 - $299. The official site has more information the festival and how to find out which other stars are attending.

SOURCE

For more information on festival go to:2011 TCM FILM FESTIVAL

FAVORITE SONGS: RHAPSODY IN BLUE

"Rhapsody In Blue" does not have lyrics but it is a supreme masterpiece. Here's an abridged version of the George Gershwin masterpiece composed for Paul Whiteman in 1924, from THE KING OF JAZZ(1930).

The segment opens with a completely unrelated "Voodoo Dance" from Africa, followed by the opening clarinet solo danced by Jacques Cartier, and then Roy Bargy playing the piano solo. I challenge anyone not to be moved by the song "Rhapsody In Blue"...