Download Rhythm and Meter: Gershwin`s “An American in Paris”

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Gershwin’s
in Paris”
omenico Vessia
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By: Je
Composer Bio: Gershwin
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September 26, 1898-July 11, 1937
Born into a family of Russian-Jewish immigrants in Brooklyn, New York
Was considered a musical “boy-genius” by his mentor/teacher Charles Hambitzer
Dropped out of school at 15, in accordance to working with customers in his other music based
job, he also worked as a broadway rehearsal pianist
Had a mighty affluent career in entertainment and created songs for movies at the time
Created “Porgy and Bess” in which is was received well and became a staple of 20th century
American compositions
After the success of “Porgy and Bess” he moved to Hollywood to create a movie composition
for “Shall We Dance” starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers
However Gershwin is best known for his other musical composition “An American in Paris”
Synopsis of “An American in Paris”
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A composition heavily influenced from early Americana jazz
Evokes the spirit of Paris by incorporating actual taxi horns into the piece
Was influenced by attending a conference in Paris during 1928 in which
included many artists such as Pablo Picasso and Ernest Hemingway
Was responded to positively and enthusiastically with an overabundance
of joy
“An American in Paris” was also made into a film in which its also stands
out as a major staple in American cinema
Jerry Mulligan (Gene Kelly) is an American ex-GI who stays in post-war
Paris to become a painter, and falls for the gamine charms of Lise
Bouvier (Leslie Caron). However, his paintings come to the attention of
Milo Roberts, a rich American heiress, who is interested in more than just
art.
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Syncopation of off beat accented accompaniment figures (A2, A5, B1)
Syncopation in the melody (A3 bars 98-100, B1 bars 470–474, B2 bars 481482)
Syncopation produced by patterns that accent every third quaver (bars
24–27, bars 239–245, bars 408–409, bars 668–672)
Syncopation produced through irregular subdivisions of the bar (e.g. the
accents at bars 103–104)
Polyrhythm
Changes of meter (few changes)
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Rossini’s “
Solennelle”
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By: Jessica S
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Composer
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born February 29th, 1792 in Pesaro, Italy.
Gioachino’s father, Giuseppe, was an avid trumpeter who played quite
often in bands and orchestra, so Giachino grew up in theatre.
At the age of 15, Giachino learned to play violin, horn, harpsichord, and
sing. However, he ended up breaking his voice, so he turned his energy
towards conducting and accompanying.
Heavily influenced by the music of Mozart and Haydn
Became popular for Comic Opera (Opera buffa)
wrote 39 operas (also sacred, chamber music)
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f “Petite Messe
Synopsis o
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written in 1864 During Rossini’s (semi)-retirement period. This piece is a type of
choral music, when Rossini wanted to return to older roots.
Rossini’s mass was composed for the Countess Louise Pillet-Will and given its first
performance at the consecration of her private chapel in 1864.
Originally scored for two pianos, harmonium and 12 solo voices
○ later scored for four soloists and 8–part choir as well
Parts of the Piece: Kyrie (Christe), Gloria (Gloria/Laudamus te, Gratias,
Domine Deus, Qui tollis, Quoniam, Cum Sancto), Credo (Credo, Crucifixus, Et
resurrexit), Offertory: Preludio religioso, Sanctus, O salutaris, Agnus Dei
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Rhythm
Rossini’s rhythmic writing is drawn from that of the Classical period.
(return to his roots!)
Common Features:
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dotted rhythms and highly dotted rhythms (Quoniam, bars 14–26, Gloria, bars 19–
23))
double dotted rhythms (Crucifixus, bars 6-7)
repeated rhythmic figures in accompaniment/repeated idea [OSTINATO] (Kyrie,
bar 2, Gratias, bar.67, Credo, bar 18)
syncopated rhythms (Crucifixus)„
constant pulse/beating (Cum Santo, bar 26)
No complex rhythms or irregular meter (most movements in single meter)
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Differences:
Gershwin:
Polyrhythm, changes in meter (related to time period,
complexity)
Rossini:
Dotted rhythms, no changes in meter (return to simple,
classical era)
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Concludin
SYNCOPATION!!!!! ya
Works Cited
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http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/510222/Gioachino-Rossini/6256/Worksv
http://imslp.org/wiki/Petite_messe_solennelle_%28Rossini,_Gioacchino%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petite_messe_solennelle
http://www.sd5.k12.mt.
us/cms/lib3/MT01001507/Centricity/Domain/114/MT11_scheme_KS5_Rossini_Gershwin.pdf