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    89 views11 pages

    Rhapsody in Blue Paper

    Uploaded by

    api-385802292

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
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    1072/20, 10:03 AM Ari60 a a * a9% Mikey Mayer Rhapsody in Blue: A Nationalistic Masterpiece of the American Genre George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue isa very influential piece of American music, not only because it was nationalistic, but because it shed new light on a very rapid changing culture in America, The 1920s in America is mostly regarded as the “Jazz Age” because of the growing admiration for the new genre of jazz, and all of its subgenres. The country was finding itself in an expansive amount of wealth, to the caliber that it had never seen before, and jazz personified itself through that wealth to a new genre of music. For the most part, jazz remained a popular ‘genre of music, not really venturing out to the classical realm of the twentieth century. Jazz is defined as the “American music developed especially from ragtime and blues and characterized by propulsive syncopated riythms, polyphonic ensemble playing, varying degrees of improvisation, and often deliberate distortions of pitch and timbre.” This genre was generated by Aftican American culture as an outlet for creativity. One reason why Rhapsody in Blue is so important to music is because of the recognition of popular culture to the outside world, This paper will discuss how George Gershwin used jazz elements in Rhapsody in Blue and how it connects to nationalism, the social effect of the piece, how it changed music in the 20" century, how itis incorporated into different fields of study, and an analysis of the piece. Although he lived a short life, George Gershwin became a well-known figure in ‘American history. Coming from an immigrant family, they moved a lot, not allowing for a great ‘education, but he excelled in neighborhood piano lessons. At the age of 15, George Gershwin left "Jan," Merriam-Webster (Merriam-Webster), accessed April 13, 2019, ttpsi//www.merriart-webster.com/dictionary/jazz. tps: brightspace com/eppsiannoations-vewr/.1. index him..Asubmissionlé=1306877Bous146116Bhost=https%3A%2F%.2Fonline.eiu.edu Mayer? school and worked a New York's Tin Pan Alley “as song plagger—a salesman whe promoted the fnn’s songs by playing and singing them for performers. Because ofthe lack of recording devices, int wouldofen hear ive performance before buying a piece, and that was what Gershwin dd, He aimed for being songwriter and found fame in Broadway in he 1917 A year, before Rhapsody n Blue was writen, in 1923, he was induced to jez rough concer. The premiere ofthe Rhapsody was a statement, calling it an “experiment in moder musi." Because erties were not fond of jazz, Gershwin attemredt blend the popular music of jaz with a asia seting, and Rhapsody in Ble was a quick success. Mer the haps, he Kept on doing Broadway wih his brother, Ir, an weoe two symphoni works al incorporating jazz elements He ved quit lavishly, but he unexpectedly was dignosed with brain tumor in 1937. He fel imo coma, and after emergency surgery, he ded atthe young age of 38. Although not theft piece that uss jazein the concert halls, Rhapsody in Best broke the mold of casial setng musi, because its success changed public and erie opinion, George Gershins breakout instrumental pie was “ute unprecedented with egard to scope, careful planing, and sriousnes of purpose” The twelve minute pian rhapsody was not only changing music in terms ofthe styl, but it was ls extending the ime that jazz was in the ‘concer hall, The influence of his “experiment in modern music" sil celebrated and preserved today. Fred Grofe, an orchestrator forthe work, donated the Score to the Library of Congress in 1946 1s important to remember that George Gershwin id not write everything in the ‘hapsody, but had others working on it as wel. Grofe, gave thematic mateils to Gershwin and “the well-known slow melody in Emajor™ was credited to Grofe, who also orchestrated “fihard Gawd and Wye. Serie, “Geshu, George” Onferd Must Onn, 2013, s/o ora/t0.1083/¢moy9763561582690 aie 0225201. Edward N ltrs, “Geshwi's Rhapsody nue” Quarter ova of Acquistion 43), May 1947, page 65 “Ear Waters, “ers "Rhapsody in Bie,” Qvrter ural of Acuston 4/3), May 3987 page 6 Mayer3 Gershwin’s piano sketches. On of the most widely knoven themes in Rhapsody in Blue is the clarinet lissando inthe very beginning ofthe piese, which could symbolize the freedom of tempo in jazz (Ap). The az styled solo inthe clarinet is echoed throughout the piece in

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