djangonut - Posted - 11/17/2024:  16:30:23

I'm a small group jazzer, but I am to join a 75 piece symphony orchestra on 1st December to perform Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue". Ferde Grofe's original orchestration includes a tenor banjo part. I am sure that Paul Whiteman's banjoist Mike Pingitore had some input in constructing the part, for it falls nicely under the fingers. The last page is quite exciting. In a dotted rhythm - C7 B7 | Eb7 D7| Db7 | - | F#7 F7| A7 Ab7| C7 Cm|D7 C#7| E7 Eb7| F#7, F7| then two bars each of D7, C7, Bb7 before the final iteration of the big tune in Eb.

The first rehearsal took place in a very resonant sports hall. I played my Ome Mogul tenor, but was asked to take more note of the dynamic markings - p, mp, mf, f, and ff. (The implication was that I was playing too loud!) At the next rehearsal I shall take my B&D Silver Bell Sultana and use a softer pick. But at the actual performance in a large concert hall, I shall revert to the Mogul. What's the point of employing a banjo player, and not being heard? Or am I just there for cosmetic effect?

Tim Jumper - Posted - 11/17/2024:  16:57:02

I'm a five-stinger, but I love all forms of the instrument. To paraphrase Terence, "I am a banjoist; I consider nothing banjonic alien to me."
Best wishes for a great performance, John.
Make sure they hear your Mogul in the back of the third balcony!

tdennis - Posted - 11/17/2024:  18:22:47

I've seen several performances of this piece on YouTube, including some vinyl recordings, (one with a guitar banjo). In almost every performance, the banjo is seen, but not heard, & at best, barely audible.

This is one of my favorite compositions, but I have little or no sense of the banjo part. 

Edited by - tdennis on 11/17/2024 18:37:48

Paul R - Posted - 11/17/2024:  21:10:30

Bela Fleck came to Kingston and played "Rhapsody" on the five-string, seated casually on a stool.



Here's an earlier performance: youtube.com/watch?v=PiwuCOVjtxU&t=66s

djangonut - Posted - 11/18/2024:  03:34:48

I've seen several performances of this piece on YouTube, including some vinyl recordings, (one with a guitar banjo). In almost every performance, the banjo is seen, but not heard, & at best, barely audible.

This is one of my favorite compositions, but I have little or no sense of the banjo part.

Youtube has been useful. I have been practising alongside Leonard Bernstein, Lang Lang, Yuja Wang, Andre Previn etc. etc. !!!!

sunburst - Posted - 11/18/2024:  08:49:08

We were given backstage passes to Rocky Grass last year. I was front and center for Bela's solo set, including Rhapsody in Blue. I thought it was very impressive!
I haven't heard the original with audible banjo, but I'm sure I would enjoy it.

Laurence Diehl - Posted - 11/18/2024:  12:38:48

quote:

---

Originally posted by djangonut

But at the actual performance in a large concert hall, I shall revert to the Mogul. What's the point of employing a banjo player, and not being heard? Or am I just there for cosmetic effect?

---

Exactly! With a 75 piece orchestra I would swing from the elbow and be loud and proud! I don't think anything is more emblematic of music of that period than the tenor banjo. 

 

Also

due to the amplitude of the banjo, it may be loud where the conductor is standing, but quickly fades with distance. Unlike the bass which can be heard in the back row. 

Edited by - Laurence Diehl on 11/18/2024 12:43:06

tdennis - Posted - 11/18/2024:  17:52:26

The banjo part of "Rhapsody in Blue" has come up several times over the years. Players are rightly proud of being part of this great composition, even though they are largely unheard & part of the ambient background. The first recorded films of this piece show the tenor banjoist centerstage & simply comping, completely unheard.

Bela Fleck's iteration of Rhapsody in Blue is his own concoction, & is not the real banjo part.

guitarbanjoman - Posted - 11/28/2024:  09:21:36

Good luck!

I played the same part in 1998 with the Niagara Symphony Orchestra to celebrate George Gershwin’s 100th birthday.

We also performed “Catfish Row” which was a condensed version of “Porgy and Bess” containing a short banjo solo in “I Got Plenty of Nothin’”.

I’m a rather low level music reader so I practiced my part along with recordings.

It was fun to tease the violas, telling them that they must be glad to finally have another instrument to look down on!

(It seems that the viola section is regarded by their orchestral colleagues as being the lowest rank in the orchestra.)


Will