Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, Creative Essay Example

This piece of music is very recognizable the world over. It has a musical texture that is, at times, thin (piano only) and thick (complete orchestra). It has wide contrasts in musical mood. It came along in the 1920s when the true voice of American composition was coming to the light, as people, like George Gershwin, forsook European influences inn order to create a sound that was unique to the United States.

The first theme begins with a clarinet that makes the sound of the blues as an introduction. Next, the section develops as the entire orchestra adds musical motives based on the theme. Trumpets with mutes play as a thematic extension. Then the piano makes its first entrance, but we as listeners do not as yet know that they work is a showpiece for the piano.  After a short period, the piano bows out as the orchestra, in full sound, states the theme rather forcefully. About a minute and a half into the piece, the piano finally takes off as a solo instrument. It plays cadenzas and playfully works around the theme with numerous embellishments of it. The piano gets faster and louder as it moves along through this section. Its message becomes more urgent in its appeal. Them piano and orchestra combine for a last spin through the initial melody, with the low brass, trombones most prominent, feature the theme. As the first section draws to a close, the clarinet and trumpets with straight mutes are heard, reminiscent of the start of the piece. The complete orchestra gives closure here.

The second theme begins with the full sound of trombones giving listeners their first hint of what is to come. The trumpets enter and work with and around the emergent piano. Soon the piano plays as a solo again, in a slow and deliberate cabaret style theme works its way along. Then the woodwinds join with the piano and make strong, friction sounds that suggest turmoil. This section is not as long as the first, and its mood is distinctly different.

The third theme begins as the orchestra, sans piano, plays at mezzo piano. Instruments not usually expected in an orchestra play along: banjo, accordion, saxophone. Orchestra bells are a refreshing touch to the new, stately melody. The higher strings, violin and viola are prominent and stunning. The piano enters, taking a lesser role than that of the orchestra. If you like to hear string players plucking their strings, you will like this section. The listener is ready for the piano to solo again, and it does not disappoint in its adagio-pianissimo playing. It adds to the noble melody by giving right hand arpeggios that spice things up a little. It goes on to play a series of notes that are short and separated. This idea is interrupted by trombones that are joined by all brass players. We are taken to a musical place where strident chords loudly roar. Low brass players play a portion of a descending scale, and the rhapsody reaches place where you just know that the work is setting up its big finish. Various percussion instruments come in to give the work its final punctuation as all players are included (piano too).

The melodies are glorious. The harmonic structures are rich. Modulations occur at several places throughout. The mutes of the trumpets give them a particularly bright and interesting timbre that stands in sharp contrast to the sonorous clarinet. The piano sounds at times playful, at other times soulful, at other times serious and majestic. It shows the various roles that pianos can play in clubs, theatres, and concert halls. Whether this was intentional on the part of Gershwin, I do not know, but he succeeded in showing the versatility of the instrument in an ingenious manner. The meter seems to be in four throughout, but I do not know for sure without looking at the score. Accents are placed at unexpected places to make the main ideas more energetic.

The work changes keys frequently. It is full of contrasts in tempo, tone, dynamic range, and articulation. The piece would probably work well with a much smaller version of a complete, traditional orchestra. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to it. I listened to it no less than six times during the process of writing this.