George Gershwin

Cuban Overture

Cuban Overture is a symphonic overture or tone poem for orchestra composed by American composer George Gershwin. Originally titled Rumba (named for the Cuban rumba musical genre), it was a result of

Première#

The work under the title Rumba received its première at New York’s now-demolished Lewisohn Stadium on 16 August 1932, as part of an all-Gershwin programme held by New York Philharmonic, conducted by Albert Coates. The concert was a huge success. As Gershwin wrote: :It was, I really believe, the most exciting night I have ever had…17,845 people paid to get in and just about 5,000 were at the closed gates trying to fight their way in—unsuccessfully. The work was greeted favorably by critics. It was renamed Cuban Overture three months later at a benefit concert conducted by Gershwin at the Metropolitan Opera to avoid giving audience the idea that it was simply a novelty item. The new title provided, as the composer stated, “a more just idea of the character and intent of the music.”

Scoring#

The overture is scored for three flutes (third doubling piccolo), two oboes, English Horn, two clarinets in B, bass clarinet, two bassoons, contrabassoon, four French horns, three B trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion and strings. A composer’s note in the score instructs specific placement of the Latin American percussion instruments including bongo, claves, gourd, and maracas “right in front of the conductor’s stand”, with pictures. F. Campbell Watson, who was in charge of Gershwin’s scores after his death, had the score tweaked and changed somewhat. This may account for a rhythm piano that appears in some audio recordings.

Preservation status#

On September 22, 2013, it was announced that a musicological critical edition of the full orchestral score will be eventually released. The Gershwin family, working in conjunction with the Library of Congress and the University of Michigan, are working to make scores available to the public that represent Gershwin’s true intent. .

Composer: George Gershwin