Uploaded September 2024 | Updated September 2026, 5 days ago
Paul Whiteman And His Concert Orchestra play George Gershwin's "Rhapsody In Blue", with the composer at the piano. This is the first recording of the Rhapsody, featuring a superb arrangement for dance band by Ferde Grofé.
As Whiteman's main arranger, Grofé knew the Whiteman Orchestra's strengths, and sometimes exchanged suggestions with its sidemen….for instance, saxophonist and clarinettist Ross Gorman came up with the idea for the clarinet glissando at the start of the piece. As Don Rayno notes in his bio-discography "Paul Whiteman - Pioneer In American Music": "[Grofé's] manuscript was replete with handwritten notes at various points in the score, instructing Ross Gorman, Donald Clark, Henry Busse, Roy Maxon and other key players in the Whiteman Orchestra how to obtain desired musical colorings".
It was George Gershwin of course who was the central figure and key interpreter of the composition. In fact, when "Rhapsody In Blue" was introduced at New York's Aeolian Hall, in the famous Paul Whiteman concert of February 12th, 1924, entitled "An Experiment In Modern Music", the programme listed it as being by "George Gershwin (piano) accompanied by the orchestra".
It was only in 1942 that Grofé produced the much grander symphony orchestra score that most people are familiar with. This reduced the role of the saxophones, and dispensed with the banjo. The original dance band score is much more exciting…faster, more vigorous and a closer interpretation of the composer's intention that "Rhapsody In Blue" represent the blending of elements of classical and jazz/dance band genres to create a new type of American modern music. Some still consider the experiment a failure, and that classical music and jazz are immiscible, but I think it works very well here, perhaps uniquely so. This recording, made when the Rhapsody was fresh and so different from anything else, is probably the most vivacious and spirited interpretation of all.
Issued on a blue-label 12 inch Victor 78, this first recording of "Rhapsody In Blue" is acoustically recorded. In March 1927, Victor had Whiteman re-record it, this time electrically; Grofé revised and expanded the score to incorporate additional instrumentation.
PAUL WHITEMAN AND HIS CONCERT ORCHESTRA
Paul Whiteman, directing: George Gershwin - piano / Henry Busse and Frank Siegrist - trumpets / Roy Maxon and Wilbur Hall - trombones / Arturo "Arthur" Cerino and Al Corrado - French horns / Ross Gorman - alto sax, sopranino sax, clarinet, bass clarinet, oboe / Charles Strickfaden - alto sax, soprano sax, baritone sax, clarinet / Eddie Sharpe - alto sax, soprano sax, clarinet / Edward Stannard - tenor sax, clarinet, bass clarinet / Kurt Dieterle, George Torde, Alex Drassein and Mario Perry - violins / Mike Pingitore - banjo / Al Armer - brass bass / George Marsh - drums & percussion
Recorded in New York, July 10th, 1924
30174-1 / 30173-2.......Rhapsody In Blue…….Victor 55225
Note: Side two was recorded first!
Paul Whiteman And His Concert Orchestra play George Gershwin's "Rhapsody In Blue", with the composer at the piano. This is the first recording of the Rhapsody, featuring a superb arrangement for dance band by Ferde Grofé.
As Whiteman's main arranger, Grofé knew the Whiteman Orchestra's strengths, and sometimes exchanged suggestions with its sidemen….for instance, saxophonist and clarinettist Ross Gorman came up with the idea for the clarinet glissando at the start of the piece. As Don Rayno notes in his bio-discography "Paul Whiteman - Pioneer In American Music": "[Grofé's] manuscript was replete with handwritten notes at various points in the score, instructing Ross Gorman, Donald Clark, Henry Busse, Roy Maxon and other key players in the Whiteman Orchestra how to obtain desired musical colorings".
It was George Gershwin of course who was the central figure and key interpreter of the composition. In fact, when "Rhapsody In Blue" was introduced at New York's Aeolian Hall, in the famous Paul Whiteman concert of February 12th, 1924, entitled "An Experiment In Modern Music", the programme listed it as being by "George Gershwin (piano) accompanied by the orchestra".
It was only in 1942 that Grofé produced the much grander symphony orchestra score that most people are familiar with. This reduced the role of the saxophones, and dispensed with the banjo. The original dance band score is much more exciting…faster, more vigorous and a closer interpretation of the composer's intention that "Rhapsody In Blue" represent the blending of elements of classical and jazz/dance band genres to create a new type of American modern music. Some still consider the experiment a failure, and that classical music and jazz are immiscible, but I think it works very well here, perhaps uniquely so. This recording, made when the Rhapsody was fresh and so different from anything else, is probably the most vivacious and spirited interpretation of all.
Issued on a blue-label 12 inch Victor 78, this first recording of "Rhapsody In Blue" is acoustically recorded. In March 1927, Victor had Whiteman re-record it, this time electrically; Grofé revised and expanded the score to incorporate additional instrumentation.
PAUL WHITEMAN AND HIS CONCERT ORCHESTRA
Paul Whiteman, directing: George Gershwin - piano / Henry Busse and Frank Siegrist - trumpets / Roy Maxon and Wilbur Hall - trombones / Arturo "Arthur" Cerino and Al Corrado - French horns / Ross Gorman - alto sax, sopranino sax, clarinet, bass clarinet, oboe / Charles Strickfaden - alto sax, soprano sax, baritone sax, clarinet / Eddie Sharpe - alto sax, soprano sax, clarinet / Edward Stannard - tenor sax, clarinet, bass clarinet / Kurt Dieterle, George Torde, Alex Drassein and Mario Perry - violins / Mike Pingitore - banjo / Al Armer - brass bass / George Marsh - drums & percussion
Recorded in New York, July 10th, 1924
30174-1 / 30173-2.......Rhapsody In Blue…….Victor 55225
Note: Side two was recorded first!
