The original Rhapsody in Blue
March 23, 2007
So, we talked about Gershwin's work in inspiring the Rhythm Changes, but his signature work is, of course, Rhapsody in Blue. One of my favorite recent finds is the original recording of Rhapsody in Blue, as preserved by the Internet Archive.
From the IA description:
This is the original recording of Gershwin's masterpiece, what may surprise many people is that it is an acoustic recording not electric one. This record was released soon after the piece was first performed and was soon replaced by a much more common electrically recorded record.
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I remember seeing a video once of the Paul Whiteman Orchestra playing this, but don't remember when it was recorded, or if Gershwin was at the piano.
Donald Clarke has a good account of the opening night:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/RiseandFall/6.htm
Ross Gorman (clarinet) and Louis Armstrong provide examples of how far back world-fusion music goes:
http://test.woodwind.org/Databases/Klarinet/1997/03/000987.txt
http://www.google.com/search?q=%22louis+armstrong%22+nigun
Glad you like it. :)
jd
I heard an orchestra and pianist Dec 4 on CBC-R2 playing Rhapsody in Blue, Who was that?