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A George Gershwin Tribute
Centennial of RHAPSODY IN BLUE performed by George Gershwin
"I Got Rhythm" - The Genius of George Gershwin lecture/ podcast
A Few Recommended CDs and DVDs
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This Guide is now SOLD OUT
Excerpt from an essay in this Guide
(PineTree Press, 1998)"George Gershwin was America's greatest musical genius. The word "genius" is thrown around too often today, but Gershwin firmly resided in that illustrious domain. How does he hold up when compared to other American musical giants of our country? He holds up extremely well. His concert music, especially Rhapsody in Blue, is performed regularly all over the world. Naturally other American composers are widely performed too, such as Aaron Copland and Leonard Bernstein. But Gershwin remains the most popular of them all."
-- Roger Hall
"Music is a phenomenon that to me has a very marked effect on the emotions. It has the power of moving people to all the various moods. Through the emotions, it can have a cleansing effect on the mind, a disturbing effect, a drowsy effect, an exciting effect. I like to think of music as an emotional science."
--George Gershwin, 1933
For many years Roger Hall, a music preservationist, former radio host, music teacher, and a current film music critic
for Film Music Review, has been lecturing on the music of George Gershwin, especially his music on radio and in movies.
Ever since he first heard "Rhapsody in Blue" while in high school, he has been fascinated with Gershwin's music.
Over the years he has taught college level classes on Gershwin's music and has lectured widely on the subject.
He has also produced radio tributes such as a Gershwin Gala special on his former radio program, IN THE MOOD,
playing music of the 1930s, '40s and '50s.
Lecture or Podcast: "I Got Rhythm - The Genius of George Gershwin" presented by Roger Hall
Based on years of research, this program will highlight the brilliance of Gershwin's music.
The focus will be on his songs written with his brother, Ira, for Broadway and Hollywood and also Gershwin's concert works in the 1920s and 1930s.
You will hear samples of Gershwin songs played by him on rare recordings also a few video clips.
If you wish to contact Roger Hall for scheduling a possible lecture or podcast on the music of George Gershwin,
write to him -- click here
100th Anniversary of RHAPSODY IN BLUE
The year 2024 marks the centennial anniversary of RHAPSODY IN BLUE, premiered on February 12, 1924
at Aeolian Hall in New York with the orchestra conducted by Paul Whiteman.
Listen to the 1927 recording with George Gershwin performing RHAPSODY IN BLUE on YouTube -- click hereWatch the first film performance with Paul Whiteman conducting from KING OF JAZZ (1930) -- click here
LADY, BE GOOD!
On December 1, 1924, the first musical with words & music by George and Ira Gershwin opened in New York at the Liberty Theater and ran for over 300 performances.
A song from this musical, sung by Adele and Fred Astaire with George Gershwin at the piano is included in this webinar...
Rare Gershwin Performances In Illustrated Webinar:
Otto Hermann Kahn (1867-1934) was one of America's wealthiest citizens in the early 20th century and his beautiful Oheka Castle on Long Island was the second largest private residence in America and is now the largest private residence which has been restored after being almost completely destroyed by vandals.
Otto Kahn spent considerable time and money in support of music and other arts.He was a major supporter and President of the Metropolitan Opera in New York in its early years and brought major opera people from Europe, such as the famous Italian tenor, Enrico Caruso, and the conductor, Arturo Toscanini.
Kahn also helped support many musicians and actors on Broadway, including composer, George Gershwin,
and actor, Paul Robeson.A webinar about Otto Kahn was presented by Roger Hall for the New York Adventure Club -- here.
In 2004, he was an invited guest at Oheka Castle and sang several Gershwin songs at the Friends of Oheka Garden Party.
Mr. Hall has also researched Roger Wolfe Kahn, Otto's son, who had his own jazz orchestra in the 1920s and was one of the songwriters for this popular Roaring Twenties song which is the title of Mr. Hall's book --
The New York Times once called Kahn's Oheka Castle,
"the finest country home in America"
A Few Recommended CDs and DVDs
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Gershwin: Remembrances and Discovery (CD)
Recommended DVDs by Pianist Richard Glazier
A few recommended books
about George and Ira Gershwin
George Gershwin
Edited & Designed by Merle Armitage
George Gershwin: His Life and Work
by Howard Pollock
The George Gershwin Reader
by Robert Wyatt and John Andrew Johnson
Remembering Radio:
Singers, Songwriters and Big Bands
Name Those Tunes!
What are some of your favorite Gershwin songs?
Participate in this annual free Online event.
For details, see
Songwriters Series
"Ac-cent-tchu-ate The Positive"
Johnny Mercer in Hollywood
"High Hopes"
A Centennial Tribute To Sammy Cahn
"I Hear Music"
A Centennial Tribute To Frank Loesser
"The Last Roundup" -- Billy Hill
"Moon River" - Memories Of Henry Mancini
"River Of No Return" -- Ken Darby
CAMP Song Links
- America Song History Survey
- Lotsa Lanza!
- Popular Songwriters and The Great American Songbook
- Song Anniversaries
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