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Bill Finegan's Gershwin Arrangements and the American Concept of Hybridity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 October 2008

EVAN RAPPORT
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Abstract

Bill Finegan's arrangements of George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue for the Glenn Miller Orchestra in 1942 and of Concerto in F for the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra in 1952 provide a basis for interpreting Gershwin's compositions. Finegan's treatments suggest that techniques central to popular forms were foundational to Gershwin's style in these pieces. Furthermore, Gershwin's and Finegan's works shed light on the concept of hybridity in the United States, especially as it concerns the label of “symphonic jazz” or “concert jazz” and ideas about race. Hybrid terms such as “symphonic jazz” manage to challenge musical and social categories while simultaneously reinforcing them.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Society for American Music , Volume 2 , Issue 4 , November 2008 , pp. 507 - 530
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Music 2008

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References

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Discography

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Filmography

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