Queen of the Lesbians

The amazing Judy Garland with Toto 🌹

Sulphur crested cockatoos (Cacatua galerita) in Bingara, NSW, Australia

George Gershwin PLAYS “Rhapsody In Blue” on ‘25 piano roll with '76 RE-CREATED SCORE

“This is as close as you’ll get to hearing an original performance of Rhapsody In Blue, by George Gershwin, backed by Paul Whiteman’s orchestra - unless you’re Doctor Who!

In 1976, what they did was to take his piano roll - then painstakingly cover over all the little dots that pertained to the (double-tracked) piano reduction of the orchestra part (must’ve driven someone DOTTY).

Then they obtained the original Ferdinand Grofe score from the Library Of Congress - and a bunch of period instruments.

And having done all of this, they went to a recording studio - where the orchestra did its damnedest to keep up with GEORGE (there are a couple of places where they didn’t QUITE manage it!)

We must assume they put the roll on at the correct speed (BLOODY fast, in the Twenties!) so what they ended up with was not only George playing the piano part - but since the orchestra had to match George’s piano reduction of THEIR part - it’s kinda like George was playing ALL the parts.

So if you’ve only ever heard the lush, stately "symphonic” version of this piece - prepare for a piece of Roaring Twenties MAYHEM!“

The orchestra had trouble keeping up with the piano roll!! xD

Gershwin composed it for “jazz band and piano”– the jazz band had a piano in it, thus two pianos.

Ira: George, why are you carrying around a car horn?

George: Not just any car horn, it's a French Taxi Horn Ira!

Ira: Ah....Why?

George: Why, I'm going to use it in my new composition of course.

Ira: What do you mean? You can't use a car horn

George: French Taxi Horn

Ira: *sighs* You can't use a French Taxi Horn in a musical composition.

George: Why not? *while playing piano*

Ira: Because it's not a musical instrument...?