American Rhapsody
Encyclopedia
American Rhapsody was written for the accordion
by John Serry, Sr.
in 1955 and subsequently transcribed for the free bass accordion in 1963 and for the piano
in 2002. The composer was inspired by the classical
orchestral works of George Gershwin
along with various percussive rhythms utilized throughout South America while composing this opus.
By synthesizing compositional techniques typically associated with classical music
with those identified with jazz
, this piece serves as an example of the symphonic jazz
genre featuring the stradella bass system
accordion as a solo instrument. Its revised edition for free bass accordion is noteworthy in its attempt to illustrate the versatility of the instrument. In addition, it pays homage to the music of South America
by incorporating a clear Latin American beat in the Dance sequence. The work is also noteworthy in so far as it represents an effort on the part of a known musician to compose for an instrument for which relatively few classical works were completed at the start of the 20th century in America (See Accordion
Use in Classical music & Accordion music genres
).
The composition was published in its original version for the solo Stradella bass system piano accordion
by the Alpha Music Company in 1957 (See Published Compositions above). The work was premiered by the composer on the free bass accordion in a concert series hosted by the Orpheus Glee Club at Flushing, New York, in December, 1963. It was subsequently performed by a student of the composer (Joseph Nappi) for the first annual concert of the Accordion Association of Long Island during 1964 in New York. It was eventually transcribed by the composer for solo piano in 2002 and is described in its revised version for piano
. Copies of the work have been donated for the benefit of students at the Eastman School of Music
's Sibley Music Library within the Ruth T. Watanabe Special Collections Department .
); Part II - The Dance (Allegretto ben ritmato); Part III - The Dream (Andante Sostenuto) and Part IV - Finale: The Awakening (Vivace
).
The main theme is now developed (E Poco Robato) in both the bass and treble voices. The ensuing interleaving of both voices leads to a sustained trill
and arpeggio marked A Piacore by the composer and subsequently recapitulated alone in the bass voice. This is followed by a series of chromatic chord
modulations from the key of D Sharp leading back to B Flat. The section concludes with a cascade of eighth notes presented as an overlay to the echoes of the main theme repeated in the bass.
). The section opens with a melodic line in the bass which is syncopated with development in the treble voice. This culminates in a brief cadenza
in the key of F and the onset of a dissonance for the climax. A series of sixteenth note flourishes ensues in the treble voice. This is followed by a series of chord modulations marked Furioso which heralds the onset of the Dream sequence.
. The recapitulation is accompanied by a key change back to F major. It concludes with the theme expressed dominately in octaves and a recapitulation leading to the key of C Major which is marked Allegretti Scherzando.
. It is a section which opens with a series of sixteenth note flourishes leading back to the key of B Flat. Here the main theme of The Dance sequence is restated and culminates in a final arpeggio
rumbling though the bass.
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
by John Serry, Sr.
John Serry, Sr.
John Serry, Sr. was an accomplished concert accordionist virtuoso, arranger, composer, organist and educator who performed on the CBS Radio and CBS Television networks...
in 1955 and subsequently transcribed for the free bass accordion in 1963 and for the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
in 2002. The composer was inspired by the classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
orchestral works of George Gershwin
George Gershwin
George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
along with various percussive rhythms utilized throughout South America while composing this opus.
By synthesizing compositional techniques typically associated with classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
with those identified with jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, this piece serves as an example of the symphonic jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
genre featuring the stradella bass system
Stradella bass system
The Stradella Bass System is a buttonboard layout equipped on the bass side of many accordions, which uses columns of buttons arranged in a circle of fifths; this places the principal major chords of a key in three adjacent columns...
accordion as a solo instrument. Its revised edition for free bass accordion is noteworthy in its attempt to illustrate the versatility of the instrument. In addition, it pays homage to the music of South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
by incorporating a clear Latin American beat in the Dance sequence. The work is also noteworthy in so far as it represents an effort on the part of a known musician to compose for an instrument for which relatively few classical works were completed at the start of the 20th century in America (See Accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
Use in Classical music & Accordion music genres
Accordion music genres
The accordion has traditionally been used to perform folk or ethnic music, popular music, and transcriptions from the operatic and light-classical music repertoire...
).
The composition was published in its original version for the solo Stradella bass system piano accordion
Piano accordion
A piano accordion is an accordion equipped with a right-hand keyboard similar to a piano or organ. Its acoustic mechanism is more similar to that of an organ than a piano, as they are both wind instruments, but the term "piano accordion"—coined by Guido Deiro in 1910—has remained the popular...
by the Alpha Music Company in 1957 (See Published Compositions above). The work was premiered by the composer on the free bass accordion in a concert series hosted by the Orpheus Glee Club at Flushing, New York, in December, 1963. It was subsequently performed by a student of the composer (Joseph Nappi) for the first annual concert of the Accordion Association of Long Island during 1964 in New York. It was eventually transcribed by the composer for solo piano in 2002 and is described in its revised version for piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
. Copies of the work have been donated for the benefit of students at the Eastman School of Music
Eastman School of Music
The Eastman School of Music is a music conservatory located in Rochester, New York. The Eastman School is a professional school within the University of Rochester...
's Sibley Music Library within the Ruth T. Watanabe Special Collections Department .
Sections
The composition consists of four parts: Part I - Introduction and Blues (MaestosoMaestoso
Maestoso is an Italian musical term and is used to direct performers to play a certain passage of music in a stately, dignified and majestic fashion or, it is used to describe music as such. The term is commonly used in relatively slow pieces; however, there are numerous examples - such as the...
); Part II - The Dance (Allegretto ben ritmato); Part III - The Dream (Andante Sostenuto) and Part IV - Finale: The Awakening (Vivace
Vivace
Vivace is Italian for "lively" and "vivid". It is pronounced in the International Phonetic Alphabet.Vivace is used as an Italian musical term indicating a movement that is in a lively mood ....
).
Introduction and Blues
The opening Introduction and Blues is scored in 3/4 time in the key of B Flat and is marked Maestoso. The opening chord flourish is boldly presented as octaves within the treble voice and immediately echoed in the bass voice several times. This is followed by The Blues, which is scored in 2/4 time in the same key as the Introduction but is marked Andantino.The main theme is now developed (E Poco Robato) in both the bass and treble voices. The ensuing interleaving of both voices leads to a sustained trill
Trill (music)
The trill is a musical ornament consisting of a rapid alternation between two adjacent notes, usually a semitone or tone apart, which can be identified with the context of the trill....
and arpeggio marked A Piacore by the composer and subsequently recapitulated alone in the bass voice. This is followed by a series of chromatic chord
Chord (music)
A chord in music is any harmonic set of two–three or more notes that is heard as if sounding simultaneously. These need not actually be played together: arpeggios and broken chords may for many practical and theoretical purposes be understood as chords...
modulations from the key of D Sharp leading back to B Flat. The section concludes with a cascade of eighth notes presented as an overlay to the echoes of the main theme repeated in the bass.
The Dance
The second section of the composition is a Dance scored in 4/4 time in the key of D major and is marked Allegretto Ben Ritmato with Bougoes or MaracasMaracás
Maracás is a town and municipality in the state of Bahia in the North-East region of Brazil.-References:...
). The section opens with a melodic line in the bass which is syncopated with development in the treble voice. This culminates in a brief cadenza
Cadenza
In music, a cadenza is, generically, an improvised or written-out ornamental passage played or sung by a soloist or soloists, usually in a "free" rhythmic style, and often allowing for virtuosic display....
in the key of F and the onset of a dissonance for the climax. A series of sixteenth note flourishes ensues in the treble voice. This is followed by a series of chord modulations marked Furioso which heralds the onset of the Dream sequence.
The Dream
The third section is entitle The Dream and is scored in 4/4 time in the key of C Major marked Andante Sostenuto. It embodies a recapitulation of the main theme which is marker Molto LegatoLegato
In musical notation the Italian word legato indicates that musical notes are played or sung smoothly and connected. That is, in transitioning from note to note, there should be no intervening silence...
. The recapitulation is accompanied by a key change back to F major. It concludes with the theme expressed dominately in octaves and a recapitulation leading to the key of C Major which is marked Allegretti Scherzando.
Finale: The Awakening
The final section is entitled The Awakening and is initially scored in the key of C Major marked VivaceVivace
Vivace is Italian for "lively" and "vivid". It is pronounced in the International Phonetic Alphabet.Vivace is used as an Italian musical term indicating a movement that is in a lively mood ....
. It is a section which opens with a series of sixteenth note flourishes leading back to the key of B Flat. Here the main theme of The Dance sequence is restated and culminates in a final arpeggio
Arpeggio
An arpeggio is a musical technique where notes in a chord are played or sung in sequence, one after the other, rather than ringing out simultaneously...
rumbling though the bass.