Second Rhapsody (Gershwin, George)

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Contents

Performances

Recordings

MP3 file (audio)
Kerikan (2012/10/24)

Performer Pages Jeff Manookian (pianist)
Publisher Info. Windsor Editions
Performers Intermountain Classical Orchestra; Joel Rosenberg, conductor
Copyright
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Sheet Music

Arrangements and Transcriptions

For 2 Pianos (Composer)

PDF scanned by Unknown
Guifré (2012/2/19)

PDF scanned by Unknown
Benny82ta (2017/2/25)

Arranger Composer
Editor First edition (reissue)
Publisher. Info. New York: New World Music Corporation, 1932. Plate N.W.106-44.
Copyright
Misc. Notes Non PD US
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General Information

Work Title Second Rhapsody
Alternative. Title Rhapsody in Rivets
Composer Gershwin, George
I-Catalogue NumberI-Cat. No. IGG 18
Key F major
Year/Date of CompositionY/D of Comp. 1931
First Performance. 1932-01-29 in Boston, Symphony Hall.
Boston Symphony Orchestra, Serge Koussevitzky (conductor); George Gershwin (piano solo)
First Publication. 1932 - 2-piano verion.
1951 - R. McBride's reorchestration
Gershwin's original orchestration remains unpublished.
Average DurationAvg. Duration 10 minutes
Composer Time PeriodComp. Period Early 20th century
Piece Style Early 20th century
Instrumentation piano, orchestra
External Links Wikipedia article

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The form most commonly heard today is a re-orchestrated version by Robert McBride created fourteen years after Gershwin's death. McBride was assigned by Frank Campbell-Watson (the music editor for Gershwin's publisher New World Music) to completely rescore the piece. Since this version is the only one offered by the publisher, it has been almost impossible for orchestras to perform the piece as Gershwin envisioned it.

Most of Gershwin's orchestrations have been vastly simplified. For example, the string quartet portion of the adagio was inexplicably rescored for violin, clarinet, oboe, and cello. Many string passages were reassigned to other instruments, or instruments that formerly had solos now have other instruments doubling their passages. Also, eight measures excised by the composer were re-added to the recapitulation by the editor.

Michael Tilson Thomas has been a promulgator of Gershwin's original version, as he sought out the original manuscript in the library as the basis of his 1985 recording and for his later performances.