Album insights
In 1929, George Gershwin was commissioned to select his best songs and compile them into a collection that included both standard vocal and piano editions as well as Gershwin's own piano transcriptions to showcase the songs as he plays them himself. This project took three years to complete, during which new Gershwin shows hit Broadway with songs like "Liza," "I got rhythm," and "Who cares?" All these songs were eventually included in the collection that was published in 1932, featuring contemporary illustrations by Constantin Alajalov.
Gershwin's introduction expressed his intention to extend the lifespan of his songs by compiling both simplified arrangements and variations he had developed for piano solo. His desire was to present a fresh, straightforward playing style rather than one influenced by 19th-century music. The collection of 18 songs includes complex transcriptions like "Fascinating rhythm," "Liza," and "I got rhythm," all reflecting Gershwin's personal renditions often performed at private gatherings and radio broadcasts.
The RKO film "Shall we dance" in 1937, featuring music and songs by George and Ira Gershwin, became a success with hits like "They all laughed (at Christopher Columbus)," "Let’s call the whole thing off," and "They can’t take that away from me." One instrumental piece, known as "Promenade" in Gershwin's collection at the Library of Congress, appears in a scene where Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers stroll on deck with their dog, Walter, hence the alternate title "Walking the dog."
Franz Waxman, a noted film composer, fled Europe in 1934 and became renowned in Hollywood for scoring films like "Rebecca," "The Philadelphia Story," and "Sunset Boulevard," for which he earned an Oscar. He also composed works outside of film, such as the "Four scenes from childhood" dedicated to Jascha Heifetz. Waxman's collaborations with Alfred Hitchcock resulted in memorable film scores, and his friendship with Heifetz inspired significant non-film compositions like the "Four scenes from childhood."
Bernard Herrmann, closely associated with Hitchcock, composed scores for major Hitchcock films and later worked on films like "Fahrenheit 451" and "Taxi Driver." Herrmann had a strong musical background, drawing inspiration from classical composers like Charles Ives and British composers like Elgar and Vaughan Williams. His last concert piece, the clarinet quintet titled "Souvenirs de voyage," completed in 1967, reflects his rich British and Irish cultural influences, drawing connections to texts that inspired composers like Vaughan Williams.
Aaron Copland wrote a ballet titled "Billy the Kid" in 1938, integrating Western melodies into a full orchestral arrangement, showcasing his exploration of American folk music. In the 1940s, Copland arranged two movements from the ballet for cello and piano in collaboration with cellist Gregor Piatigorsky, creating a piece that captures the essence of the American West.