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100 years ago today was the premiere performance of George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue", the composer at the piano. I believe this is the first recording:
It seems slightly higher than the the old 78 I had a copy of:
But that could be from the YouTuber. Either way, the piece had to be abridged for recording, due to the time limits on 78s.
The "laughing" quality in the opening clarinet part -- much downplayed in many later performances by other hands -- was not originally intended by Gershwin, but played in rehearsal by Ross Gorman, Whiteman's clarinetist, as a joke on the composer, who liked it so much he rewote the part.
The "laughing" quality in the opening clarinet part -- much downplayed in many later performances by other hands -- was not originally intended by Gershwin, but played in rehearsal by Ross Gorman, Whiteman's clarinetist, as a joke on the composer, who liked it so much he rewote the part.