Posts Tagged ‘Classical music’

Sometimes, while doing my gig as a 'serious classical musician,' we would be rehearsing 'The Rite of Spring,' by the Russian new music artist; Igor Stravinsky.

Usually, at one point during the rehearsal, I would remark to my stand partner how much the piece sounded like new music artist George Gershwin.  I always enjoyed the look of bewilderment and disbelief I would get. I mean, Igor Stravinsky was a 'classical' new music artist and George Gershwin was a jazz new music artist, I couldn't seriously be suggesting there was any similarity between the two, could I?

How could I not? In the first place the similarity is there for anyone to hear. In the second place, Igor Stravinsky speaks in interviews of incorporating jazz styles and elements into his music.

There is a story that when George Gershwin went to Paris, where all the 'serious classical new music artists' were hanging out, he went to visit Ravel and asked about studying with him.

Supposedly Ravel asked Gershwin how much he made a year and, when Gershwin told him, he said;

"Well, I should study with you!"

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