RHAPSODY IN BLUE

 

I consider this to be one of my crowning glories.

What, Jon - - you have more than one??

Let's preface this with a quote from Mae West.

"Modesty will get you nowhere."

I'm talking about my solo piano arrangement of "Rhapsody in Blue" by George Gershwin (1898  - 1937). It's the best and most difficult of all the piano arrangements I've ever done.

Why is it so difficult?

The original composition is written for piano and orchestra. My arrangement combines the orchestra and piano all in one piece. You have to be one helluva pianist to play it.

Are you one helluva pianist, Jon?

What? I didn't hear you.

I've already told this story several times before, but I have a desire to rehash it again.

Gershwin wrote this composition in 1924 for piano and small jazz orchestra. For some strange reason it was originally entitled "Experiment in Modern Music".

The work premiered in New York City on February 12, 1924. Gershwin was the pianist with Paul Whiteman as conductor.

Ira Gershwin (George's brother) attended an art exhibition which featured paintings by James McNeill Whistler. One painting was called Nocturne in Blue and Gold.

Inspired by this, Ira came up with the title "Rhapsody in Blue" for his brother's composition.

Later, American composer Ferde Grofe ( who wrote "The Grand Canyon Suite") arranged "Rhapsody in Blue" for full symphonic orchestra, which is the version we know today.

So, where do I come in? Here's the tale.

I was about 24 years old, existing in Hollywood. One hot summer night I went to see a musician friend of mine who lived in the Hollywood Hills.

I had just finished writing my solo piano arrangement of "Rhapsody", and my friend wanted to see it.

It was a lazy night and we eventually got plastered on Sangria. Long after midnight, my friend suggested that I play my new arrangement. And he wanted to record it.

I was adamatly against it.

I was drunk and out of practice. I'm always extremely nervous when I record, for fear of making a mistake. This piece is dangerously difficult and over fifteen minutes long. The risks are enormous.

I had more wine. I decided to risk it. My friend recorded my performance, and..........I got through it without a  mistake! (??)

So, the performance on the video is the exact recording made that long-ago summer night. No edits. No enhancements. The audio isn't perfect, but I don't care.

This recording reminds me of my golden years in California,  of my reckless youth, and that balmy summer night.......

when the balcony doors were open and Hollywood was sprawled out before us, and the moon was high above distant palm trees that shrugged in the gentle haze, and the glorious future beckoned us in our eternal youth....

and suddenly a few sentimental tears swell up, remembering what used to be.

Thanks for reading this,  Jon

Through the years I've made several (better) recordings of this but all were lost. This crude recording is the only one I have left.

(Video best watched in full-screen)