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This week our host Jim Adams for Song Lyric Sunday gave us a rather lengthy weekly prompt. You need a song that features wind instruments which includes Brass instruments (horns, trumpets, trombones, euphoniums, and tubas) and Woodwind instruments (recorders, flutes, oboes, clarinets, saxophones, and bassoons).

Please consider carving out time to read the posts of other bloggers who responded to the Song Lyric Sunday challenge.

Song Lyric Sunday Rules

Post the lyrics to the song of your choice, whether it contains the prompt words or not.  If it does not meet the criteria, then please explain why you chose this song.
• Please try to include the songwriter(s) – it’s a good idea to give credit where credit is due.  Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be.
• Make sure you also credit the singer/band and if you desire you can provide a link to where you found the lyrics.
• Link to the YouTube video, or pull it into your post so others can listen to the song.
• Ping back to this post or place your link in the comments section below.
• Read at least one other person’s blog, so we can all share new and fantastic music and create amazing new blogging friends in the process.
• Feel free to suggest future prompts.
• Have fun and enjoy the music.

Rhapsody in Blue

When I first read the prompt all I could think of was Jethro Tull performing Aqualung with that signature flute solo by Ian Anderson. Yet I wanted to see if I could find a song that would encompass just more than one instrument.

With that goal in mind I settled on Rhapsody in Blue

By 1923, the bandleader Paul Whiteman wanted to do something different with jazz. He wanted to turn his American dance band (Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra) into something a bit more prestigious. Whiteman invited George Gershwin to perform in his Experiment in Modern Music show with his Palais Royal Orchestra, slated for February 12, 1924. George Gershwin is the younger brother to Ira Gershwin.

Gershwin wanted to write something that exemplified America as a melting pot, not to mention to prove his own worth as a serious composer. He did both with his composition Rhapsody in Blue which made it debut with Paul Whiteman in Paris.

The piece is known for its clarinet solo but look at the list of instruments Gershwin’s composition includes. It is scored for solo piano and an orchestra consisting of two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets in B♭ and A, one bass clarinet, two bassoons, two alto saxophones in E♭, one tenor saxophone in B♭; three French horns in F, three trumpets in B♭, three trombones, and one tuba.

Many younger readers of this piece may recognize it from Fantasia 2000 or United Airline Commercials

Here is a 60 second United Commercial

Since my choice is all musical there are no lyrics to post. I located a YouTube video that is from the original 78 LP Album. Sit back and listen to Ross Gorman’s clarinet glissando lead off this timeless tune that includes lots of brass and wood instruments.

Next week the prompt is Past, Present, Future