George Gershwin
Just Another Rhumba
Works Info
Composer:George GershwinGenre:VocalStyle:Vocal MusicCompose Date:1937Average_duration:3:29"Just Another Rhumba" is a composition by George Gershwin, an American composer and pianist. The piece was composed in 1931 and premiered on December 1, 1931, at the Alvin Theatre in New York City. It was part of the musical "Of Thee I Sing," which was the first musical to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The piece is a rhumba, a dance style that originated in Cuba and became popular in the United States in the 1930s. The rhumba is characterized by its slow, sensual rhythm and its use of percussion instruments such as the conga drum and the maracas. "Just Another Rhumba" is a lively and upbeat piece that features a syncopated rhythm and a catchy melody. The piece is divided into three movements, each with its own distinct character. The first movement is marked "Allegro con brio" and features a fast-paced, syncopated rhythm. The melody is playful and upbeat, with a Latin-inspired feel. The movement is characterized by its use of percussion instruments, including the conga drum and the maracas. The second movement is marked "Andante con moto" and is slower and more lyrical than the first. The melody is more subdued, with a melancholy feel. The movement features a solo trumpet, which plays a haunting melody over a soft, rhythmic accompaniment. The third movement is marked "Allegro vivace" and is the most energetic of the three. The melody is lively and upbeat, with a strong Latin influence. The movement features a call-and-response between the brass and the percussion, with the brass playing a fanfare-like melody and the percussion responding with a syncopated rhythm. Overall, "Just Another Rhumba" is a lively and entertaining piece that showcases Gershwin's skill as a composer. Its use of Latin rhythms and percussion instruments was ahead of its time and helped to popularize the rhumba dance style in the United States.More....