performed by The U.S. Army Concert Band · Rhapsody in Blue, originally for solo piano and jazz orchestra, was Gershwin’s first instrumental concert work. Composed in 1924 on a

performed by

The U.S. Army Concert Band

Gershwin - Liner Notes.indd 1 3/29/06 3:40:05 PM

GershwinColonel Thomas Rotondi, Jr., conducting

1. CubanOverture . . . . . . . . . . . arr. Dwayne S. Milburn

2.Summertime. . . . . . . . . . . . arr. SFC Douglas Richard lyrics by DuBose Heyward

Staff Sergeant Leigh Ann Hinton, soprano

3.MyMan’sGoneNow. . . . . . . . arr. SFC Douglas Richard lyrics by DuBose Heyward


4.RhapsodyinBlue . . . . . . . . . . . . . orch. Ferde Grofé arr. Donald Hunsberger

Master Sergeant Joseph Holt, piano

5.Fascinatin’Gershwin . . . . . . . . .arr. MSG Paul Murtha lyrics by Ira Gershwin

Sergeant First Class Holly Bingham, soprano

6.AnAmericaninParis . . . . . arr. MSG (ret.) Steve Satone

Few music lovers realize that composer George Gershwin lived a life of only 38 years. The volume of music he created—and its immense popularity—lead us to believe he was around much longer. This recording features arrangements of Gershwin’s most popular symphonic works and highlights many of his best known songs. Because his compositional time line was so abbreviated, it seems only fitting to present these notes in a biographical format.

GeorGe Gershwin1898–1937

AmericancomposerGeorgeGershwinwasborninBrooklyn,NewYork,onSeptember26,1898.ThesecondsonofRussianimmigrantparents,GershwinspenthischildhoodinapoorJewishneighborhoodwherehewasknownasanundisciplinedstudentwithapenchantforstreetfighting.Hisformalmusicaltrainingbeganatage13whenheshowedanexceptionaltalentplayingthepianohisparentshadboughtforolderbrotherIra.HelearnedquicklyandbythetimeGershwinwas15hewasapianistandsong-pluggerforaTin-PanAlleypublishinghouse.

ItwasduringthisemploymentthatGershwinbeganwritinghisownsongs;afterfouryears,hewashiredasastaffcomposerforaBroadwaystagepublisher.Onesongledtoanotherandby1919hehadwrittenhisfirstBroadwayshowandwasthehitofNewYorkCitysocialgatherings.


Rhapsody in Blue,originallyforsolopianoandjazzorchestra,wasGershwin’sfirstinstrumentalconcertwork.Composedin1924onacommissionfromNewYorksocietybandleaderPaulWhiteman,Rhapsody in Bluewaswrittentobeaconcertpiecethatcombinedelementsofjazzandclassicalmusic.Ittookhimjustthreeweekstowritethepiece,largelyduetothefactthathehadforgottenthecommitment!Gershwinwrotethisofhiscreativeprocess:“Itwasonthetrain,withitssteelyrhythms,itsrattly-bang,thatissooftensostimulatingtoacomposer—Ifrequentlyhearmusicintheveryheartofthenoise—andthereIsuddenlyheard,andevensawonpaper—thecompleteconstructionoftheRhapsody,frombeginningtoend.Nonewthemescametome,butIworkedonthethematicmaterialalreadyinmymindandtriedtoconceivethecompositionasawhole.IhearditasasortofmusicalkaleidoscopeofAmerica,ourvastmeltingpot,ofourunduplicatednationalpep,ofourblues,ourmetropolitanmadness.”

Rhapsody in BluewasorchestratedbyWhiteman’spianist/arrangerFerdeGroféandpremieredFebruary12,1924,withGershwinatthepianoimprovisingmuchofthepianoscoreandnoddingatWhitemanwhenitwastimetocuetheorchestra.AlthoughWhitemanandGershwinconsideredthepremiereasuccess,theperformancewasmetwithmixedreviews.TheNewYorkTimesstated:“Thiscompositionshowsextraordinarytalent,asitshows

ayoungcomposerwithaimsthatgofarbeyondthoseofhisilk,strugglingwithaformofwhichheisfarfrombeingamaster…Inspiteofallthishehasexpressedhimselfinasignificantand,onthewhole,highlyoriginalform…”

Twoyearslater,inMarchof1926,a28-year-oldGeorgeGershwinfoundhimselfinParissketchingwhatwouldbecomeoneofhismostskillfullycraftedsymphonicworks.Thesketch,shelveduntilthefollowingyearwhenWalterDamroschofferedGershwinacommissionforanewpiece,becameAn American in Paris,Gershwin’smostpopularorchestralwork.InaninterviewgivenbeforetheDecember1928premiere,Gershwinsaidthisofhislatestcomposition:“Thisnewpiece,reallyarhapsodicballet,iswrittenveryfreelyandisthemostmodernmusicI’veyetattempted.TheopeningpartwillbedevelopedinthetypicalFrenchstyle,inthemannerofDebussyandTheSix,thoughthethemesarealloriginal.MypurposehereistoportraytheimpressionofanAmericanvisitorinParis,ashestrollsaboutthecity,listenstothevariousstreetnoises,andabsorbstheFrenchatmosphere.”

Cuban Overturewasanotherpieceinspiredofforeigntravel.Followingahecticscheduleofpremieresandperformances,GershwinandfriendstraveledtoHavana,Cuba,lateinFebruaryof1932.Describingthestayas“twohystericalweeksinCuba,wherenosleepwashad”Gershwinimmersedhimselfinthelocalnightlife—thoroughlyenjoying


themusicandculture.HedevelopedapassionforCubanpercussioninstrumentsandrhythms,anduponreturninghomesetoutwritingthecompositionRumba—whichwaslaterrenamedCuban Overture.

TheoverturewaspremieredbytheNewYorkPhilharmoniconAugust16,1932,asGershwin’snewestworkonafirst-everall-Gershwinconcert.Acrowdofnearly18,000attendedthesummerconcertwithanother5,000turnedawayatthegate.Afterward,Gershwinremarked,“Itwas,Ireallybelieve,themostexcitingnightIhaveeverhad.”

DespiteGershwin’snew-foundreputationasa“seriouscomposer,”itwassongwritingthatwasthefoundationofhispopularity.I Got Rhythm,Our Love is Here to Stay,Embraceable You,Someone to Watch Over Me,andThey Can’t Take That Away From Mewerecomposedbetween1926and1937fortheBroadwayshowsGirl CrazyandOh, Kay!andfilmscoresShall We DanceandThe Goldwyn Follies.TheseselectionshighlightGershwin’screativegeniusandmakeupthemedleyFascinatin’ Gershwin.

Throughouthiscareer,Gershwinhadanaspirationtocomposeafull-lengthopera.In1926,hereadDuBoseHeyward’snovelPorgyandfoundthestoryhewouldmakefamous.TheoperatakesplaceinCatfishRow,apoorwaterfronttenementinCharleston,SouthCarolina,andtellsthelifeofacrippledblackmannamedPorgywhofallsdesperatelyinlovewithBess—awomanofquestionablecharacterandvirtue.

GershwinbegancomposingthescoreofPorgy and BessinFebruaryof1934;uponcompletioninJulyof1935,theprojecthadbecomealarge-scale,threeactfolkoperawith700pagesofmusic.Summertime,oneofGershwin’sbest-knownandmostrecordedmelodies,wasthefirstsongcomposedfortheproduc-tion.Themusicispresentedasasoothinglullabyandappearsthroughouttheoperainvariousforms.My Man’s Gone NowissunglateinthefirstactbythecharacterSerena.Hersongwailsofsorrowandlossasshemournsthedeathofherhusband.

Sadly,GershwindidnotlivetoseetheproductionofPorgy and Bessgainworldwidepopularity.Theshowclosedafteronly124performancesandwasconsideredafinancialloss.Shortlythereafter,GershwinleftNewYorkforHollywoodtopursuealucrativecareercomposingfilmmusicals.Twoyearslater,onJuly9,1937,the38-year-oldGeorgeGershwincollapsedintoacomaandneverregainedconsciousness.Despiteemergencysurgery,hediedtwodayslaterofabraintumor.

Porgy and BesswentontogreatfameintheyearsfollowingGershwin’sdeath,particularlyinEuropewhereitwasregardedasatrueAmericanopera.Thisopera,alongwithhissongsandorchestralcompositions,establishedhiminthepantheonofgreatAmericancomposers.

Notes by SFC Regena Swanson


ColonelThomasRotondi,Jr.ColonelThomasRotondi,Jr.,istheeighthLeaderandCommanderofTheU.S.ArmyBand“Pershing’sOwn.”OriginallyfromChicagoHeights,IL,ColonelRotondiholdsaBachelor’sofMusicdegreefromMillikinUniversity,Decatur,IL,andaMaster’sofBusinessAdministrationinManagementdegreefromGoldenGateUniversity,SanFrancisco,CA.WhileatMillikinUniversity,ColonelRotondiwasveryactiveinPhiMuAlpha,themen’sprofessionalmusicfraternity,andwasselectedforPiKappaLambdaHonoraryMusicFraternity.

ColonelRotondijoinedtheU.S.ArmyasatrumpetplayerinDecemberof1977.HereceivedhiscommissioninJulyof1982throughOfficerCandidateSchool,wherehewasanhonorgraduate.HispreviousassignmentsincludeCommander,EnlistedStudentCompany,andDirectorofEvaluationand

Standardization,ArmedForcesSchoolofMusic,Norfolk,VA;ExecutiveOfficer,U.S.ContinentalArmyBand,FortMonroe,VA;StaffBandOfficer,ForcesCommand,FortMcPherson,GA;staffconductorandadministrativeintern,FortWorthSymphonyOrchestra,FortWorth,TX(thisassignmentmadepossiblethroughtheArmy’s“TrainingwithIndustry”program);Commander/Conductor,U.S.ContinentalArmyBand,FortMonroe,VA;DeputyCommander,U.S.MilitaryAcademyBand,WestPoint,NY;Commander/Conductor,U.S.Army,Europe,BandandChorus,Heidelberg,Germany;andCommander/ConductoroftheU.S.MilitaryAcademyBandatWestPoint,NY.

ColonelRotondihasstudiedconductingwithJohnGiordano,ConductorEmeritusoftheFortWorthSymphonyOrchestra,andwithEijiOue,MusicDirectoroftheBarcelonaSymphonyOrchestra.HehastwiceattendedtheConductor’sSeminarattheTanglewoodMusicCenter(summerhomeoftheBostonSymphonyOrchestra)wherethefacultyincludedSeijiOzawa,MauriceAbravanel,andGustavMeier.

HismilitarydecorationsincludetheLegionofMerit,theMeritoriousServiceMedalwithfiveOakLeafClusters,theArmyCommendationMedalwiththreeOakLeafClusters,andtheArmyAchievementMedalwithoneOakLeafCluster.


TheU.S.ArmyConcertBandFluteMasterSgt.AndreaL.Artley,St.Charles,ILSgt.1stClassBarbaraA.Vigil,Garland,TXSgt.1stClassKendraB.Craven,SturgeonBay,WIStaffSgt.RobertE.Aughtry,Gaffney,SC

PiccoloSgt.1stClassBerylE.Lemmons,GulfBreeze,FL

oboeMasterSgt.RobertD.Huffman,Alexandria,VA

oboe/enGlish hornStaffSgt.AmandaP.Jury,Belmont,MA

e Flat clarinetStaffSgt.LeesaS.Voth,Jonestown,TX

b Flat clarinetSgt.MajorMichaelA.Knight,York,PASgt.MajorDebraL.McGarity,Covington,VAMasterSgt.DeanA.Hess,Connellsville,PAMasterSgt.DennisP.McFarland,ChapelHill,NCMasterSgt.BohdanP.Duma,Carteret,NJSgt.1stClassMichaelW.Shaw,Covington,GASgt.1stClassDennisStrawley,Philadelphia,PASgt.1stClassJulieM.Berry,LongBeach,CASgt.1stClassLaneS.Shioji,ElPaso,TXSgt.1stClassSylviaM.Stanton,Akron,OHSgt.1stClassPhillipL.Dennis,Belvidere,ILSgt.1stClassDonaldE.Hoffman,Northumberland,PASgt.1stClassCharlesB.Morrow,Westfield,NC

bass clarinetStaffSgt.JeannaNelson,Babylon,NYStaffSgt.MartinH.Gold,Sarasota,FL

bassoonMasterSgt.DavidW.Brundage,Woodbridge,VAStaffSgt.MaxWharton,Grafton,OH

contrabassoonStaffSgt.DeanG.Woody,Dalton,GA

saxoPhoneMasterSgt.RickN.Parrell,Fairfax,VASgt.1stClassStevenS.Ticknor,Topeka,KSStaffSgt.ScottH.Weinhold,Albany,NYStaffSgt.CesarEliGonzalez,RioGrandeCity,TXStaffSgt.MichaelM.Vance,Woodland,WA

trumPetSgt.MajorWoodrowR.English,Coldwater,MISgt.MajorCharlesL.Seipp,Akron,IAMasterSgt.TammyJ.Leverone,Richmond,KYSgt.1stClassTerryBingham,Fairfax,VASgt.1stClassGilH.Hoffer,Indianapolis,INSgt.1stClassKennethW.McGee,Stafford,VASgt.1stClassScottW.Sabo,Pittsburgh,PAStaffSgt.TroyA.McKay,Richmond,MO

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French hornMasterSgt.MarcoR.Caluori,Bridgeport,CTMasterSgt.RichardE.Dearstyne,Midland,TXSgt.1stClassJosephG.Lovinsky,Miami,FLSgt.1stClassRegenaL.Swanson,CoxsMill,WVStaffSgt.RobertP.Craven,Manchester,NHStaffSgt.AaronK.Cockson,Foley,ALStaffSgt.AndreaC.Hardie,Gettysburg,PA

euPhoniumSgt.MajorRobertJ.Powers,VirginiaBeach,VAMasterSgt.DonaldJ.Palmire,Jr.,PenneyFarms,FLMasterSgt.D.PatrickMorris,Philadelphia,PA

tromboneMasterSgt.FrederickJ.Gleason,SilverSpring,MDSgt.1stClassDarrylR.Buning,GrandRapids,MISgt.1stClassJamesL.Fantz,Crosby,TXSgt.1stClassJerryJ.Amoury,Leawood,KSSgt.1stClassMichaelA.Parnell,Topeka,KSStaffSgt.SamuelB.Woodhead,Northport,ME

tuba Sgt.1stClassDavidT.Brown,Nashville,TNStaffSgt.ThomasL.Bratten,PalmBeachGardens,FLStaffSgt.JonathanW.Voth,Hutchinson,KSStaffSgt.DavidC.Kirven,Paris,TX

strinG bassMasterSgt.MichaelA.McReynolds,St.Louis,MOStaffSgt.EricJ.Seay,OakRidge,TN

PercussionMasterSgt.TimothyJ.Huesgen,Pontiac,MIMasterSgt.JayC.Brown,York,PAMasterSgt.EdwardW.Asten,Charlotte,NCSgt.1stClassGlenD.Gurnard,Cashmere,WAStaffSgt.MichaelH.Siberts,Tulsa,OKStaffSgt.HaroldF.Summey,Jr.,NewportNews,VAStaffSgt.MarioH.Ramsey,Pendleton,SC

timPaniStaffSgt.JulieA.Angelis,Worcester,MA

Keyboard MasterSgt.DeanA.Hess,Connellsville,PASgt.1stClassDonaldE.Hoffman,Northumberland,PA

banjoStaffSgt.DeanG.Woody,Dalton,GA

Piano soloistMasterSgt.JosephHolt,Columbus,GA

soPrano VocalistsSgt.1stClassHollyC.Bingham,Potomac,MDStaffSgt.LeighAnnHinton,Stuyvesant,NY

†non-commissioned officer in charge ‡concertmaster**group leader ¹group producer *section leader

††member of The U.S. Army Ceremonial Band

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Forpromotionaluseonly.Notforresale.

Providingamusicalbackdropformanyofthecountry’smostnotableevents,TheUnitedStatesArmyConcertBandhasaworldwidereputationforextraordinarymusicianship.

HeadquarteredinWashington,DC,TheConcertBandhasperformedinsuchrespectedvenuesasCarnegieHall,theLincolnCenter,theKennedyCen-ter,andtheHollywoodBowl.Theensembleoftenappearsatnationalandinternationalmusicevents,andregularlyperformsfortheTexasBandmastersAssociation,theMidwestBandandOrchestraClinic,theMusicEducatorsNationalConference,andtheAmericanBandmastersAssociation.

ThemusiciansoftheConcertBandhavebeentrainedatthenation’smostprestigiousuniversitiesandconservatories.Theyperformwiththe

versatilityandskillnecessarytoexecutetheband’svastrepertoireandoftenappearinsmallensemblesorassoloists.

Inanefforttopromoteinternationalgoodwill,the65-piecetraditionalconcertbandhasperformedjointconcertswiththeSovietArmy,theRussianNavy,andtheUkrainianNavybands,andhasperformedformilitarytattoosinScotland,Sweden,Holland,Norway,Australia,Canada,andJapan.

TheU.S.ArmyConcertBandperformstoahomeaudienceinBruckerHall,locatedonhistoricFortMyerinArlington,Virginia.Throughlivebroadcasts,allconcertsandrecitalscanbeheardworldwideviawww.usarmyband.com.

TheUnitedStatesArmyConcertBand


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Recorded at Brucker Hall, Fort Myer, Virginia, February 2006

CREDITS

Leader and Commander COL Thomas Rotondi, Jr. Deputy CommanderLTC John Clanton Enlisted Leader

SGM Ross Morgan, Jr.

Concert Band Group LeaderSGM Debra McGarity

Producer

Mr. Gregory K. Squires

Executive ProducerLTC John Clanton

Recording EngineersMr. Gregory K. Squires

MSG Paul Stramella

Additional Recording EngineeringSFC Craig Lauinger

Graphic Design and Layout

SSG Derek Hansen

Program Content and NotesSFC Regena Swanson

Library

SGM Kim Newlen

Gershwin - Jewel Case.indd 2 3/30/06 11:48:52 AM

1.CubanOverture(10:52) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . arr. Dwayne S. Milburn

2.Summertime(3:35). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .arr. SFC Douglas Richard lyrics by DuBose Heyward


3.MyMan’sGoneNow(4:13) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . arr. SFC Douglas Richard lyrics by DuBose Heyward


4.RhapsodyinBlue(19:09) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . orch. Ferde Grofé arr. Donald Hunsberger

Master Sergeant Joseph Holt, piano

5.Fascinatin’Gershwin(11:51). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . arr. MSG Paul Murtha lyrics by Ira Gershwin

Sergeant First Class Holly Bingham, soprano

6.AnAmericaninParis(19:50). . . . . . . . . . . . arr. MSG (ret.) Steve Satone

Total Time 69:31

The UniTed STaTeS army Band “PerShing’S Own”

FormoreinformationaboutTheU.S.ArmyBand“Pershing’sOwn”

visitusonthewebatwww.usarmyband.com

Forbookinginformationcontact:TheU.S.ArmyBand“Pershing’sOwn”

400McNairRoadFortMyer,VA22211-1306

(703)696-3647

The United States A

rmy Concert Band G

ershwin

Forpromotionaluseonly.Notforresale.

The

Uni

ted

Stat

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Conc

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and Gershwin

Colonel Thomas Rotondi, Jr., conducting

TheU.S.ArmyConcertBand

Gershwin - Jewel Case.indd 1 3/30/06 11:48:50 AM

performed by The U.S. Army Concert Band · Rhapsody in Blue, originally for solo piano and jazz orchestra, was Gershwin’s first instrumental concert work. Composed in 1924 on a

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