Gershwin, George
Gershwin arr. Thorp – Swanee (String Quartet) – Digital Download
Little is known of Irving Caesar's alternative lyric (and title Swansea) for this, George Gershwin's first big success (1919). Prompted by an unexpected and entirely spurious visit to Wales the following year, the new version is suffused with Celtic overtones and contains the legendary lines "I'd give the world to be, Among the folks in D-Y-F-E-D". The next port of call on the companions' short European tour (reflected in this arrangement by Bill Thorp) was Prague (aha!) where they eagerly imbued the Bohemian spirit and lifestyle of the artistic community centred on Novy Svet (literally 'New World'), the old poor quarter.
Gershwin, George
Little is known of Irving Caesar's alternative lyric (and title Swansea) for this, George Gershwin's first big success (1919). Prompted by an unexpected and entirely spurious visit to Wales the following year, the new version is suffused with Celtic overtones and contains the legendary lines "I'd give the world to be, Among the folks in D-Y-F-E-D". The next port of call on the companions' short European tour (reflected in this arrangement by Bill Thorp) was Prague (aha!) where they eagerly imbued the Bohemian spirit and lifestyle of the artistic community centred on Novy Svet (literally 'New World'), the old poor quarter.
This wistful song first appeared in George White's Scandals of 1924 and has been deservedly popular ever since. The chorus begins with the query "Somebody loves me, I wonder who?", which prompted the arranger Bill Thorp to mark this, one of his pet arrangements, "with an enquiring mind", and to musically explore possible solutions, considering Maria, Liza and Susie along the way before settling on his faithful boyhood friend (and dedicatee) 'my old dog', whose name you are invited to discover.
Gershwin, George
This wistful song first appeared in George White's Scandals of 1924 and has been deservedly popular ever since. The chorus begins with the query "Somebody loves me, I wonder who?", which prompted the arranger Bill Thorp to mark this, one of his pet arrangements, "with an enquiring mind", and to musically explore possible solutions, considering Maria, Liza and Susie along the way before settling on his faithful boyhood friend (and dedicatee) 'my old dog', whose name you are invited to discover.
Gershwin, George
Gershwin arr. Thorp – I’ll Build A Stairway To Paradise (String Quartet) – Digital Download
Here with an introduction that looks like a (slightly rickety) staircase, this song was included in George White's Scandals of 1922 at the Globe Theatre, New York, conducted by Paul Whiteman, for whom Gershwin was two years later to write Rhapsody in Blue. The song's dancing theme prompted the arranger Bill Thorp to dedicate his version to Fred Astaire; he also originally marked it to be played "horticulturally", an exotic instruction whose only justification seems to be a line from the song's second verse, wherein appears the exhortation "Get busy .... Lizzy", though it has been suggested that the chorus lyric "I've got the blues" originally read "I've got the pinks". The "fair" mentioned in the following line is thought to be the celebrated one held at the Paradise Gardens, Berghald, Switzerland.
Here with an introduction that looks like a (slightly rickety) staircase, this song was included in George White's Scandals of 1922 at the Globe Theatre, New York, conducted by Paul Whiteman, for whom Gershwin was two years later to write Rhapsody in Blue. The song's dancing theme prompted the arranger Bill Thorp to dedicate his version to Fred Astaire; he also originally marked it to be played "horticulturally", an exotic instruction whose only justification seems to be a line from the song's second verse, wherein appears the exhortation "Get busy .... Lizzy", though it has been suggested that the chorus lyric "I've got the blues" originally read "I've got the pinks". The "fair" mentioned in the following line is thought to be the celebrated one held at the Paradise Gardens, Berghald, Switzerland.
The irresistible 'S Wonderful' featured in the 1927 Broadway show Funny Face, starring Fred Astaire and his sister Adele. (Astonishingly, Fred also starred in the Paramount film of Funny Face, made 30 years later, though this time with a young Audrey Hepburn). The arranger Bill Thorp originally marked his version "natalitially", a piece of whimsy suggested by the song's opening line "Life has just begun", which seems to have induced in him a somewhat Messianic train of thought.
Gershwin, George
The irresistible 'S Wonderful' featured in the 1927 Broadway show Funny Face, starring Fred Astaire and his sister Adele. (Astonishingly, Fred also starred in the Paramount film of Funny Face, made 30 years later, though this time with a young Audrey Hepburn). The arranger Bill Thorp originally marked his version "natalitially", a piece of whimsy suggested by the song's opening line "Life has just begun", which seems to have induced in him a somewhat Messianic train of thought.
One of Gershwin's lesser well known songs, Carlo Martelli has arranged Hang On To Me in a mid-1920's dance style and has incorporated a much better known song by the composer. The skilful use of the string quartet medium achieves a richness and complexity unequalled by other arrangers in this genre.
Gershwin, George
One of Gershwin's lesser well known songs, Carlo Martelli has arranged Hang On To Me in a mid-1920's dance style and has incorporated a much better known song by the composer. The skilful use of the string quartet medium achieves a richness and complexity unequalled by other arrangers in this genre.
This piece, arranged by Bill Thorp, forms part of a group of Edward Elgar's much-loved salon pieces, that are as fresh and exquisite as when first conceived over a century ago. The more sprightly Beau Brummel nostalgically evokes the (appropriately) Edwardian golden age, and will be ever-popular because it is so beautifully written.
Elgar, Edward
This piece, arranged by Bill Thorp, forms part of a group of Edward Elgar's much-loved salon pieces, that are as fresh and exquisite as when first conceived over a century ago. The more sprightly Beau Brummel nostalgically evokes the (appropriately) Edwardian golden age, and will be ever-popular because it is so beautifully written.
Elgar, Edward
At the height of his maturity as a composer, Elgar made two suites for orchestra by expanding and developing some incidental music he had composed at the age of twelve for some private theatricals. This arrangement by Carlo Martelli is the penultimate number from the second suite and is ideal for colleges.
At the height of his maturity as a composer, Elgar made two suites for orchestra by expanding and developing some incidental music he had composed at the age of twelve for some private theatricals. This arrangement by Carlo Martelli is the penultimate number from the second suite and is ideal for colleges.
Elgar, Edward
Elgar arr. Martelli – The Marksmen from Three Bavarian Dances (String Quartet) – Digital Download
Arranged for string quartet by Carlo Martelli, this lively piece, better known in its orchestral arrangement, is the final movement of a suite of choral songs Elgar composed while on holiday in Bavaria. For conservatories and professionals.
Arranged for string quartet by Carlo Martelli, this lively piece, better known in its orchestral arrangement, is the final movement of a suite of choral songs Elgar composed while on holiday in Bavaria. For conservatories and professionals.
Elgar, Edward
At the height of his maturity as a composer Elgar composed two suites for orchestra by expanding and developing some incidental music he had composed at the age of twelve for some private theatricals. This arrangement by Carlo Martelli is from the second suite and is ideal for colleges.
Elgar, Edward
Elgar arr. Martelli – Moths and Butterflies from Wand of Youth Suite No. 2 (String Quartet)
At the height of his maturity as a composer Elgar composed two suites for orchestra by expanding and developing some incidental music he had composed at the age of twelve for some private theatricals. This arrangement by Carlo Martelli is from the second suite and is ideal for colleges.