Music of Ferde Grofé and George Gershwin

Ferde Grofé: Mississippi Suite (1925)
Harmonie Ensemble/New York
Steven Richman, conductor

George Gershwin:
Second Rhapsody for Orchestra with Piano (1931)
(orchestrated by Ferdé Grofe)
Lincoln Mayorga, piano
Harmonie Ensemble/New York
Steven Richman, conductor

Ferde Grofé:
Gallodoro’s Serenade for Saxophone and Piano (1958)
Al Gallodoro, alto saxophone
Lincoln Mayorga, piano

Ferde Grofé: Grand Canyon Suite (1929-31)
Harmonie Ensemble/New York
Steven Richman, conductor

BRIDGE 9212

Click here for an mp3 sample

Bridge Records is very pleased to be releasing a recording focusing on the music and musical relationships of three key American musical figures of the 1920s and 30s– Ferde Grofé, George Gershwin and Paul Whiteman. During his tenure as chief-arranger with the Whiteman Band (1920-1932), Ferde Grofé composed two of his finest works– The Mississippi Suite, and The Grand Canyon Suite, both recorded here in superb performances by the Harmonie Ensemble/New York in their rare original Whiteman Orchestra versions. In addition to his own compositions, Grofé arranged hundreds of works for the Whiteman Band, and his orchestration of Gershwin’s Second Rhapsody, premiered the same year (1932) as the symphonic version, is performed here by pianist Lincoln Mayorga and the Harmonie Ensemble/New York. The Second Rhapsody is George Gershwin’s portrait of Manhattan. This new recording of Grofé’s orchestration is given its premiere recording on this Bridge CD. Al Gallodoro was the phenomenally gifted solo reed player of the Whiteman Band, and this disc includes a new recording of Grofé’s tribute to Gallodoro’s art. This recording was made by the great Gallodoro just weeks before his 91st birthday. Steven Richman and the Harmonie Ensemble/New York have issued some of the day’s most exciting and historically informed recordings of older American music. Their brilliant Copland CD (BRIDGE 9145), which included notable Copland premiere recordings, was preceded by their Grammy-nominated “Stravinsky: Histoire du Soldat, Premieres and Rarities” (KOCH 7438)