Gershwin Second Rhapsody

[soliloquy]

Worth learning?  Why or why not?

[bench warmer]

Sorry for being so lazy and not looking this up myself, but.....is this the Cuban Rhapsody?

The only rhapsody of his I can think of right now of course is R.in Blue. ( which in itself is a great chunk of music; even the piano solo version)

[jre58591]

the second rhapsody (also known as "rhapsody in rivets", not the cuban rhapsody) is definitely not as straightforward as gershwin's other piano/orchestra works. It does have some nice themes in it though and should definitely be played more often. if you really want to learn it, id say to go for it. i personally wouldnt learn this piece, for it beats around the bush too much for my tastes, but it is a great work.

[mikey6]

It's a more successful piece then r. in blue, and I think Gerswhin considered it one of his best works.  It doesn't have all the easily remembered themes of RIB, but I rather like it.  if you like it, learn it, unless you're teacher has some strong reason for you not to.

[ahinton]

It is indeed one of his best works - yes, it's true, it doesn't have quite the same immediacy of appeal as Rhapsody in Blue but at the sme time it's not quite so hidebound by 2- and 4-bar phrasing as the earlier Rhapsody either. It has far less performances than Rhapsody in Blue, which is rather a pity. Also, there's no "Cuban Rhapsody" - there is, however, the "Cuban Overture", which is an orchestral piece without piano solo and this, along with "An American in Paris", is one of the high points of Gershwin's achievement, I think.

Is the Second Rhapsody worth learning? I would say so. Just don't expect anything quite of the order, say, of the Rakhmaninov Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini, that's all!

Best,

Alistair

[nicko124]

I think it is a really nice work as well. Gershwin intended it to be much darker and challenging than RIB and I think he succeded.

Anyway, here is a solo piano recording of it played by Jack Gibbons:-

https://www.megaupload.com/?d=GPZG7CH9

[nicko124]

and for anyone who wants it - Cuban Overture solo piano recording

https://www.megaupload.com/?d=DJL30NQV

[franz_]

Could anyone post the sheet music of Rapsody in Blue for piano and Orchestra please???
Thanks a lot in advance.