GERSHWIN PERFORMS GERSHWIN: RARE RECORDINGS
1931-1935 (RADIO)
Summary
A compilation of rare recordings of radio programs broadcast between 1931 and 1935, featuring George Gershwin performing his own songs. The following five programs are represented on the tape: (1) "Music by Gershwin," broadcast on NBC on February 19, 1934, is the premiere program of this music series which was sponsored by Feen-A-Mint chewing gum laxative. After announcer Don Wilson introduces the show and Gershwin, Gershwin has the orchestra play the overture of "Of Thee I Sing"; tells the history of the "The Man I Love" which is being used as the signature for the program and plays the piano part himself in a rendition; plays his particular favorite, "I Got Rhythm"; and concludes the program before signing off with a sampling of "Swanee." Includes commercial. (2) "Music by Gershwin," broadcast on NBC on April 30, 1934, is another program from the series. The orchestra plays Gershwin's "Mine"; Gershwin explains and plays his most recent composition, some variations on his "I Got Rhythm"; and Gershwin ends with excerpts from two songs from his musical "Of Thee I Sing," "Love is Sweeping the Country" and "Wintergreen for President." Announcer Don Wilson closes the program, noting that Louis Kaplan directed the orchestra. Includes commercial. (3) The next program is an excerpt from the Rudy Vallee show, "The Fleischmann Hour," broadcast on NBC Red on November 10, 1932, which features Gershwin. Gershwin begins with an opening "piano bow" with variations on his "Fascinating Rhythm" and "Liza," and then proceeds to introduce and play what he calls "a sort of of blue lullaby," the second of his three Preludes for Piano. Rudy Vallee interviews Gershwin who talks about how he creates music with his brother Ira Gershwin, his admiration of Jerome Kern and Irving Berlin, how he got his start in music, and which of his songs is his favorite. Gershwin answers "I Got Rhythm" to the last query, and the excerpt ends with a rendition of that song. (4) The next program is a NBC broadcast on June 26, 1931, of a rehearsal performance of Gershwin's "Second Rhapsody." (5) The final program is a rehearsal broadcast on CBS on June 19, 1935 -- "recording and playing for the first time" -- Gershwin's new opera "Porgy and Bess." Gershwin conducts and introduces the following excerpts from the opera: the introduction and "Summertime," sung by Abbie Mitchell; "A Woman is a Sometime Thing," sung by Edward Matthews; the finale from Act I, Scene I; "My Man's Gone Now," sung by Ruby Elzy; and "Bess, You is My Woman Now," sung by Todd Duncan and Anne Brown.
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: November 30, 0192
- RUNNING TIME: 1:09:33
- COLOR/B&W: N/A
- CATALOG ID: R:9299
- GENRE: Radio - Music
- SUBJECT HEADING: Orchestral music; Piano with orchestra; Piano music; Musicals - Excerpts
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS:
- Radio - Commercials - Feen-A-Mint chewing gum laxative
CREDITS
- George Gershwin … Conductor, Host, Performer
- Louis Kaplan … Conductor
- Rudy Vallee … Host
- Don Wilson … Announcer
- Anne Brown … Performer
- Todd Duncan … Performer
- Ruby Elzy … Performer
- Edward Matthews … Performer
- Abbie Mitchell … Performer
- Irving Berlin
- Ira Gershwin
- Jerome Kern