Klarinet Archive - Posting 000987.txt from 1997/03

From: Gary Young <gyoung@-----.COM>
Subj: More on Gershwin glissando
Date: Mon, 31 Mar 1997 11:25:45 -0500

Deena Rosenberg, in Fascinating Rhythm (page 56), writes:

"Ira later recalled that his brother had long been impressed by the
two-octave-plus glissando that Ross Gorman, Whiteman's clarinetist, could
draw from his instrument. Before Gorman, such a long slide was thought to
be technically impossible; Gorman not only played it effortlessly, but in
such a way as to make the clarinet sound as if it were laughing or mocking
itself. According to Dick Hyman, Gorman's sound was very much in the East
European-Jewish klezmer tradition. Ira recalled that George had notated
the glissando in one of his theme books for possible future use and
instantly thought of it as an opening for the work."

Since Rosenberg's book is based on conversations with Ira Gershwin, this
account has lots of authority behind it. Some questions:

1. Who played clarinet at the premiere -- Gorman, or Chester Hazlett, or
someone else?

2. Did Gorman, or whoever it was, really slide from the low G all the way
up to the top?

3. Do any of the versions of Rhapsody actually indicate this should be a
gliss?

   
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