Background Information
The selected concert was performed at the New York Philharmonic in 1976. It became one of the most famous renditions of the already iconic composition Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin. Leonard Bernstein, a legendary American conductor, who conducted in New York Philharmonic for forty seasons (Alsop), played the leading part in that performance. On that occasion, he did not only conduct; he also played several long piano solos between the orchestral parts. Bernstein’s piano was accompanied by a big classical orchestra which consisted of trumpets, clarinets, and violins, all played by high-class professional musicians.
George Gershwin, the composer of Rhapsody in Blue, does not need a lengthy introduction. He was one of the first composers who tried to blend jazz with classical music and still remains one of the most renowned and influential American musicians. George Gershwin and his brother Ira achieved great success in the 20s and 30s Broadway scene. George became a famous piano virtuoso, conductor, and composer of celebrated works, such as Porgy and Bess, An American in Paris, and already mentioned Rhapsody in Blue (“Words and Music That Transcend Time”). George Gershwin left a significant musical legacy, despite his untimely death at the age of 39.
The Rhapsody in Blue, one of the most iconic of Gershwin’s compositions, had a curious, even funny history. Gershwin was not working hard on creating a masterpiece; in fact, he started writing Rhapsody only about a month before its premiere (“Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue”). According to an article in New York Tribune, he was supposed to prepare a “jazz concerto” for Paul Whiteman’s jazz band. Whiteman was too optimistic in his estimation; there was not enough time to write a full concert. Instead, Gershwin hastily came up with a rhapsodic work for “piano and jazz band” (“Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue”). That mixture of classical European framework with insertions of modern American jazz became a world-renowned masterpiece.
Rhapsody in Blue (Leonard Bernstein’s Rendition): A Review
The particular rendition of Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin (26 September 1898 – 11 July 1937) was performed by Leonard Bernstein and New York Philharmonic orchestra. From a genre and style point of view, the composition can be described as a romantic rhapsody in an orchestral jazz style — the blend of classical European and modern American musical influences. The tempo varied widely: from cautious clarinet intro to upbeat, nearly dancing middle sequence with violins, then to a slow, lyrical part followed by an upbeat ending. As a result, dynamics were almost chaotic, especially in piano solo parts, where Leonard Bernstein showed his impressive improvisation skills. Bernstein’s piano solos were the most memorable part; the only thing close to them was a famous orchestral refrain with trumpets and violins, which can be heard multiple times. Overall, the performance masterfully created an atmosphere of 20s-30s America with a bittersweet feeling of nostalgia.
To summarize, I will provide a breakdown of the most liked and disliked moments of Bernstein’s rendition. From the technical point of view, I would rate the performance highly. I suppose it is not surprising, considering the skills of the orchestra and Leonard Bernstein in particular. I was impressed by Bernstein’s ability to play piano solos and conduct the orchestra simultaneously. I also liked the faster parts of the composition, as they put me in a cheerful mood. I especially liked the upbeat orchestral insertions, where violins and trumpets came in, creating a very positive atmosphere. The only thing I disliked a bit was the chaotic dynamic and quite sudden tempo changes. I did not listen to the original performance by Gershwin, but Bernstein’s rendition had somewhat abrupt and unpredictable transitions between fast parts, piano solos, and slow sequences, which I found slightly offbeat. Nevertheless, Leonard Bernstein’s and the New York Philharmonic orchestra’s performance of the Rhapsody in Blue was a pleasure to my ears.
References
Alsop, Marin. “Leonard Bernstein, the Conductor.” Leonard Bernstein Office. n.d. Web.
“Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue – the Story Behind a Hastily Composed Masterpiece. “ Classic FM. n.d. Web.
“Words and Music That Transcend Time.” Gershwin. n.d. Web.