Klarinet Archive - Posting 000216.txt from 2009/03

From: Michael Nichols <mrn.clarinet@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Glissando vs. portamento (was: Rhapsody in Blue)
Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 03:23:04 -0400

On Mon, Mar 30, 2009 at 11:33 PM, Bill Hausmann <bhausmann1@-----.net> wr=
ote:

> Gershwin was an excellent pianist, but not THAT good. =A0The piano roll w=
as
> made in two passes, as it is impossible to play all the notes in it at on=
e
> time. =A0The Rhapsody was written expressly for the Paul Whiteman Orchest=
ra to
> play, and was given its first performance by him, as orchestrated by his
> arranger Ferde Grofe.

That's right. It was written to be played by Gershwin (as solo
pianist) with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra, but Gershwin's manuscript
was for piano four-hands (which he played himself on the piano roll).
Grofe did the orchestration.

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