Host Ana Smith and Dr. Tammy Kernodle continue to discuss Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin, which has five distinct themes. In Classical Music, a theme is a short, recurring musical idea. Gershwin’s five themes are unique because they each reflect a different part of Gershwin’s life in New York City. In this episode, Ana Smith and Dr. Tammy Kernodle of Miami University explore music from Black communities, like Carolina Shout (1921), a classic Stride tune by James. P. Johnson, and The Entertainer (1902) by Scott Joplin, as well as Jewish Klezmer music by the Naftule Brandwein Orchestra. 

In order of their appearance, the five themes are:

The Ritornello, which means “little return” in Italian and appears many times throughout the piece, most notably by a solo clarinetist at the beginning and in the full orchestra in the piece’s dramatic conclusion.

Stride, which is played first by the trombones and later by the piano and full orchestra.

Train, which is the only theme not played by the piano at some point in the piece.

Ragtime, which appears several times in small fragments in the middle of the piece, especially in transitions.

And Love, which is featured prominently in the slowest part of the piece, but appears again much faster in the ending.

Take a listen to Rhapsody in Blue, played by the New York Philharmonic in 1976. See if you can count the number of times each of the themes shows up.

Key Vocabulary

• Theme: A recurring musical melody or idea which is repeated several times throughout a musical work.
• Harlem Renaissance (1920s and 1930s): A period of great growth of Black American literature, art, and music which centered around the neighborhood of Harlem in northern Manhattan, New York City.
• Syncopation: A rhythm which has strong notes which don’t occur on a beat. Most modern music uses a form of syncopation at some point.
• Ragtime: A style of piano music known for its syncopated rhythm, which originated with Black American communities in the 1800s. Scott Joplin (1868-1917) has been called the “King of Ragtime” for his influence within the genre.
• Klezmer: A style of folk music which originated in Eastern European Jewish communities and was brought by immigrants to the United States. 
• William Grant Still (1895-1978): A leader of 20th century American music, known as the “Dean of Afro-American Composers.” His Afro-American Symphony was the first complete work by a Black American to be performed by a major orchestra. 

Dr. Tammy Kernodle is a professor of musicology at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She specializes in Black American music, gender studies, and their intersection.