Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue (Cambridge Music Handbooks) [Paperback] Review

The Cambridge Music Handbooks try to do what is rarely done-- bridge the gap between the dilettante "light" style of books on music that are written for the "general public" the esoteric style of heavy musicological writing. A noble pursuit, but one that runs the risk of pleasing no one rather than achieving a happy medium. Having read several of the Cambridge Music Handbooks, this one stands out as being one of the more successful. I especially enjoyed the discussion of the history of the forms which the Rhapsody in Blue has appeared ("jazzy" versions versus "classical" renditions), as well as the background of the work's first performance in Aeolian Hall in 1924. At times, the book tends towards the more "musicological" style, but all in all, it remains accessible and interesting to anyone interested in music. Schiff's style throughout is engaging and witty. If this is a piece of music you are looking to explore further, I highly recommend this book.

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Product Description:
The Rhapsody in Blue (1924) established Gershwin's reputation as a serious composer and has since become one of the most popular of all American concert works. In this richly informative guide David Schiff considers the piece as musical work, historical event and cultural document. He traces the history of the Rhapsody's composition, performance and reception, placing it within the context of American popular song and jazz and the development of modernism. He also provides a full account of the different published and recorded versions of the work and explores the many stylistic sources of Gershwin's music.

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