<George Gershwin>
Zax, David. "Summertime for George Gershwin." Http://www.smithsonianmag.com/. Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Aug. 2010. Web. 12 Oct. 2013.
Rhapsody in Blue is a roaring twenties inspired piece, with many jazz like rhythms. The upbeat lyricism gets everyone up and out of their chairs dancing. In the beginning on this piece, George Gershwin puts an amazing clarinet solo and a trumpet solo that sets the mood for the rest of the piece. Each of these pieces uses the clarinet solo and the trumpet solo as a way to get the audience to get a feel of what time period the piece is in and the feel for the rest of the song. With these two completely different pieces, I will compare and contrast the two and see how the conductor put their own spin on this already exciting piece.
Zax, David. "Summertime for George Gershwin." Http://www.smithsonianmag.com/. Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Aug. 2010. Web. 12 Oct. 2013.
Rhapsody in Blue is a roaring twenties inspired piece, with many jazz like rhythms. The upbeat lyricism gets everyone up and out of their chairs dancing. In the beginning on this piece, George Gershwin puts an amazing clarinet solo and a trumpet solo that sets the mood for the rest of the piece. Each of these pieces uses the clarinet solo and the trumpet solo as a way to get the audience to get a feel of what time period the piece is in and the feel for the rest of the song. With these two completely different pieces, I will compare and contrast the two and see how the conductor put their own spin on this already exciting piece.
UNC Wind Ensemble - Rhapsody in Blue (Gershwin)
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Rhapsody in Blue (For Concert Band and Marimba)
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The Eastern Wind Symphony Youth Band: Band ensemble with some orchestra instruments and a piano solo.
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The UNC Wind Ensemble: Band ensemble with a marimba solo.
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Compare:
Both pieces incorporated the original piece into their song nicely, both conductors, though, put their own spin on it, either putting a piano solo or a marimba solo both equally taking the spotlight for the piece. Both bands had really good sound quality of a professional wind ensemble. Both used a band ensemble and both had strong sounds from when they came in. The performer's technique for both performances was to have a solo and not only have the band ensemble play. The intonation of the pieces were great and sounded amazing. They sounded like they practiced a lot on mastering what needed to be played out and what could be played at a softer dynamic. The dynamics of both were all over the place and both seemed to have changing dynamics in the beginning, the middle and the end of the piece mainly when the ensemble started to play. Each had powerful sounds at certain points when you can hear the brass or the solo instruments play out. In piece number one at 15 minutes, you can hear the brass play out and for piece number two, you can hear at 3:10 the brass playing out as well. Both pieces have plenty of different rhythms, constantly going at a slower pace into a faster tempo, or the other way around. Either way, both pieces are similar in the way that they are played so powerfully and intensely, you can really tell that the performers are playing with emotion and they are thinking about how each other are playing instead of just playing their instrument and hoping it sounds good.
Contrast:
The Eastern Wind Symphony Youth Band had more of a adult sound to them with their equal balance and intonation, while the UNC Wind Ensemble had a mediocre sound quality. It was good, but at some points like at 4 minutes, the band blasted their instruments leaving the sound of the marimba behind. In the first piece, the piano solo was the main factor of the piece and sort of made the ensemble be the background noise for the whole song, while piece number two, had the same kind of problem, but the ensemble had more times that they can came in and played. Piece number one had equal quality of sound and no instrument played out more than the other where most common mistakes are played. The piece was all even, while piece number two, you could hear at some points where some instruments played out more than the others where it wasn't necessary. How each conductor performed the piece was different in the sense that one kept their top priority on the solo, while the other was able to incorporate both aspects of the two sounds and have them both be equally played. Yes, piece number one sounded all around better, but piece number two was able to keep both sounds at equilibrium where not one sound was being played more than the other. Both pieces were phenomenal, but you could clearly tell which one was played with more detail and was focused more on tone quality.
Both pieces incorporated the original piece into their song nicely, both conductors, though, put their own spin on it, either putting a piano solo or a marimba solo both equally taking the spotlight for the piece. Both bands had really good sound quality of a professional wind ensemble. Both used a band ensemble and both had strong sounds from when they came in. The performer's technique for both performances was to have a solo and not only have the band ensemble play. The intonation of the pieces were great and sounded amazing. They sounded like they practiced a lot on mastering what needed to be played out and what could be played at a softer dynamic. The dynamics of both were all over the place and both seemed to have changing dynamics in the beginning, the middle and the end of the piece mainly when the ensemble started to play. Each had powerful sounds at certain points when you can hear the brass or the solo instruments play out. In piece number one at 15 minutes, you can hear the brass play out and for piece number two, you can hear at 3:10 the brass playing out as well. Both pieces have plenty of different rhythms, constantly going at a slower pace into a faster tempo, or the other way around. Either way, both pieces are similar in the way that they are played so powerfully and intensely, you can really tell that the performers are playing with emotion and they are thinking about how each other are playing instead of just playing their instrument and hoping it sounds good.
Contrast:
The Eastern Wind Symphony Youth Band had more of a adult sound to them with their equal balance and intonation, while the UNC Wind Ensemble had a mediocre sound quality. It was good, but at some points like at 4 minutes, the band blasted their instruments leaving the sound of the marimba behind. In the first piece, the piano solo was the main factor of the piece and sort of made the ensemble be the background noise for the whole song, while piece number two, had the same kind of problem, but the ensemble had more times that they can came in and played. Piece number one had equal quality of sound and no instrument played out more than the other where most common mistakes are played. The piece was all even, while piece number two, you could hear at some points where some instruments played out more than the others where it wasn't necessary. How each conductor performed the piece was different in the sense that one kept their top priority on the solo, while the other was able to incorporate both aspects of the two sounds and have them both be equally played. Yes, piece number one sounded all around better, but piece number two was able to keep both sounds at equilibrium where not one sound was being played more than the other. Both pieces were phenomenal, but you could clearly tell which one was played with more detail and was focused more on tone quality.
Works Cited:
"Rhapsody In Blue: Gershwin At His Greatest." Npr.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct.
2013. <http://www.npr.org/2011/07/18/105855746/
rhapsody-in-blue-gershwin-at-his-greatest>.
Created by: Addie S.
"Rhapsody In Blue: Gershwin At His Greatest." Npr.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct.
2013. <http://www.npr.org/2011/07/18/105855746/
rhapsody-in-blue-gershwin-at-his-greatest>.
Created by: Addie S.