Cuban Overture

Première

The work under the title Rumba received its première at New York's now-demolished Lewisohn Stadium on 16 August 1932, as part of an all-Gershwin programme held by New York Philharmonic, conducted by Albert Coates. The concert was a huge success. As Gershwin wrote:

:It was, I really believe, the most exciting night I have ever had...17,845 people paid to get in and just about 5,000 were at the closed gates trying to fight their way in—unsuccessfully.

The work was greeted favorably by critics. It was renamed Cuban Overture three months later at a benefit concert conducted by Gershwin at the Metropolitan Opera to avoid giving audience the idea that it was simply a novelty item. The new title provided, as the composer stated, "a more just idea of the character and intent of the music."

Scoring

The overture is scored for three flutes (third doubling piccolo), two oboes, English Horn, two clarinets in B-flat, bass clarinet, two bassoons, contrabassoon, four French horns, three B-flat trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion and strings.

A composer's note in the score instructs specific placement of the Latin American percussion instruments including bongo, claves, gourd, and maracas "right in front of the conductor's stand", with pictures.

F. Campbell Watson, who was in charge of Gershwin's scores after his death, had the score tweaked and changed somewhat. This may account for a rhythm piano that appears in some audio recordings.

Preservation status

On September 22, 2013, it was announced that a musicological critical edition of the full orchestral score will be eventually released. The Gershwin family, working in conjunction with the Library of Congress and the University of Michigan, are working to make scores available to the public that represent Gershwin's true intent..

References

References

1. Joan Peyser, ''The Memory of All That: The Life of George Gershwin'', 1998 ch. 3, p. 199
2. Beidler, Philip D.. (2014). "The Island Called Paradise: Cuba in History, Literature, and the Arts". University of Alabama Press.
3. Pollock, Howard. (2006). "George Gershwin: His Life and Work". University of California Press.
4. (2013-09-14). "New, critical edition of George and Ira Gershwin's works to be compiled".
5. (2013-09-19). "U-M Gershwin Panel Part 8: Loras Schissel (HD)". YouTube.
6. (8 September 2013). "The Editions » Gershwin".
7. (2013-09-17). "Musicology Now: George and Ira Gershwin Critical Edition".