Bespin 8,480 Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 George Gershwin (September 26, 1898 – July 11, 1937) was and remains one of the most successful and utterly American composer of all time. It is not surprising that John Williams recorded and arranged some of his best works! I will take this opportunity to again go back in time and dig into John Williams's discography, as we celebrate this year the 80th anniversary of Gershwin's death. Manne–That's Gershwin! In 1965, John Williams handled the musical direction, arrangements, and orchestrations of Shelly Manne's LP Manne—That's Gershwin! In 2002, Steve Houghton re-recorded those arrangements. For this "remake," Houghton formed a quintet (with trumpeter Clay Jenkins, altoist Dan Higgins, pianist Stefan Karlsson, and bassist Lou Fischer) and utilized the University of North Texas Two O'Clock Lab Band. The musicians interpret the ten selections from the original album (which includes a few combo pieces) plus four additional quintet performances, with all of the music being by George Gershwin. Highly recommended. Manne–That's Gershwin! (1965, Capitol Records, T-2313) Arrangements and Musical Direction by Johnny Williams. (Released in 1965, Capitol Records, ST-2313, Stereo) (Reissued in 1984, Discovery Records, DS-909, Stereo) Steve Houghton Quintet - The Manne We Love: Gershwin Revisited (2002, TNC Recordings, CD-1713)* Concerto Intro; By Strauss; My Man's Gone Now; Mine; Love Is Here To Stay; Summertime; Real American Folk Song; The Man I Love; Prelude No. 2; How Long Has This Been Going On?; Concerto In F; Soon; Love Walked In; Plenty O' Nuttin'; Lady Be Good. * You can buy this album here: https://www.tncmusic.net Love is here to stay “Love Is Here to Stay” is a song written by George Gershwin with lyrics by Ira Gershwin for the movie "The Goldwyn Follies" (1938). It reached popularity in 1951 when it was sung by Gene Kelly to Leslie Caron in the film "An American in Paris". In 1984, John Williams recorded it with the Boston Pops Orchestra and the american opera singer and recitalist Jessye Norman. With a Song in My Heart (1984, Philips, 412 625-1; Norman, Boston Pops O/Williams) Falling In Love With Love; In The Still Of The Night; Spring Is Here; I'm Old-Fashioned; A Sleepin' Bee; I Love Paris; The Song Is You; I Love You; Love Is Here To Stay [Featuring John Williams (p)]; All The Things You Are; Love Walked In; With A Song In My Heart. (Released in 1984, Philips, 412 625-2) (Reissued for digital download in 2014, Decca) An American in Paris An American in Paris is a jazz-influenced symphonic poem written in 1928. Inspired by the time Gershwin had spent in Paris, it evokes the sights and energy of the French capital in the 1920s and is one of his best-known compositions. John Williams recorded it with the Boston Pops Orchestra in a 1990 tribute album called "Pops by Gershwin", as well as some others Gershwin's most memorable works, like the famous "Rhapsody in Blue". Pops By George: The Music of George Gershwin (1990, Philips, 426 404-2; Dichter, Boston Pops O/Williams) An American In Paris; Suite From Porgy & Bess; Selections From Girl Crazy; Rhapsody In Blue. (Released in 1990 "Pops by Gershwin", Philips, 426 404-2) Strike up the band Strike Up the Band is a 1927 musical with a book by Morrie Ryskind, lyrics by Ira Gershwin and music by George Gershwin. It ran in Philadelphia that year, unsuccessfully, and on Broadway in 1930 after the original book by George S. Kaufman was revised. The story satirizes America's taste for war: America declares war on Switzerland over a trivial trade issue. The overture is often performed as a stand-alone concert work. John Williams recorded two versions of this overture, both with the Boston Pops Orchestra. The first one for the 1980 album "Pops on the march" and the second one, for the 1991 album "I Love A Parade". I Love A Parade (1991, Sony Classical, SK 46747; Boston Pops O/Williams) I Love A Parade; Midway March; Washington Post March; Seventy-Six Trombones; El Capitan; South Rampart Street Parade; Semper Fidelis; Liberty Bell March; Colonel Bogey March; Strike Up The Band; The Thunderer; Hands Across The Sea; King Cotton; Pops On The March; Under The Double Eagle (Unter Dem Doppleladler); The Stars And Stripes Forever. Fantasy for violin & orchestra on Porgy and Bess Jascha Heifetz asked George Gershwin to compose a violin work, but the composer's early death prevented what would no doubt have been a fruitful collaboration. Whether Alexander Courage's 'Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra on "Porgy and Bess"' is "as close as we can get to the violin concerto Gershwin never wrote," as Joshua Bell says, is certainly a point for debate. Courage, composer of the original 'Star Trek' theme, was asked by conductor John Williams to assemble the fantasy and the result is a showpiece for violin which uses eight songs from 'Porgy and Bess.' The work is a successful vehicle for the soloist: Bell's Stradivarius sings as he glides through the passagework with ease. Gershwin Fantasy (1998, Sony Classical, SK 60659; Bell, London SO/Williams) Fantasy For Violin And Orchestra On Porgy And Bess; Three Preludes [Featuring John Williams (p)]; Songs For Violin And Orchestra; I Got Rhythm; Embraceable You; Nice Work If You Can Get It; Liza; But Not For Me; Sweet and Low-Down; Love Is Here To Stay. Stempel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,493 Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 Not to mention the piece that he wrote for Bernstein, specifically -- "For New York!" (as it's called now). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488 Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 Don't fucking post anything with the word 'death' in the title on the Williams forum! Not Mr. Big and Will 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wojo 2,453 Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 20 minutes ago, Bespin said: (September 26, 1898 – July 11, 1937) What calendar do you use up there in Canada? Aren't you a little early for an 80th anniversary? More like 79.667 anniversary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted March 26, 2017 Share Posted March 26, 2017 8 hours ago, Selina Kyle said: Don't fucking post anything with the word 'death' in the title on the Williams forum! In the wake of.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not Mr. Big 4,639 Posted March 26, 2017 Share Posted March 26, 2017 8 hours ago, Selina Kyle said: Don't fucking post anything with the word 'death' in the title on the Williams forum! Agreed. Moderator ought to change the title Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted March 26, 2017 Share Posted March 26, 2017 Many threads that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out topic titles! igger6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stempel 136 Posted March 26, 2017 Share Posted March 26, 2017 Disco Stu and Will 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,480 Posted March 26, 2017 Author Share Posted March 26, 2017 1 hour ago, Stempel said: 'S Wonderful, yes! Another great Gershwin's song recorded by the Maestro! Stempel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,493 Posted March 26, 2017 Share Posted March 26, 2017 On 25.3.2017 at 10:13 PM, Thor said: Not to mention the piece that he wrote for Bernstein, specifically -- "For New York!" (as it's called now). Ha, ha....I was clearly drunk yesterday. Got my Gershwin and Bernstein confused. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted March 27, 2017 Share Posted March 27, 2017 *high fives* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted March 27, 2017 Share Posted March 27, 2017 Pops by George is one of my 5 or 6 favorite BPO albums from Williams. Sadly, it was, I believe, the very last BPO release before they moved to Sony Classical, so digital availability is spotty. Bespin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TownerFan 4,983 Posted March 27, 2017 Share Posted March 27, 2017 There's also a peppy arrangement of "Fascinatin' Rhythm" penned by JW in the 1960s album Rhythm in Motion: Stempel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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