The Music of Don Gillis II; Rhapsody for Harp and Orchestra

You're listening to music by Don Gillis and this is done give us saying Welcome to the program of the same name which the national educational radio network brings to you over your favorite radio station each week on this show we're going to hear two scores my Rhapsody for harp and orchestra and symphonic poem called Tulsa. And altogether they consume 24 minutes and 10 seconds of our program time. The rest of the half hour will be spent in telling you all sorts of facts and information which will enable you here with to proclaim that you are an authority on the music done give us just in case there's ever a demand for it I mean the first work is a rhapsody for harp and orchestra. And since we're being analytically informative Let's take up the word Rhapsody for a moment. Up to now the word is generally heard only in connection with the added adjective hung Garion or the appended phrase in blue with names like Franz Liszt and George Gershwin thrown in for clarification. Well my own Rhapsody doesn't have an hung Garion in it or blues but it does have a harp and like most rhapsodies it is a loosely frame series of musical thoughts which fits only a form such as the Rhapsody. Now how my own Rhapsody will probably

never be adulated to the intensity of either lists hungry and or Gershwin's in blue. I am glad I wrote it but then I generally am glad I did write whatever it is that I did write especially when it has such a fine performance as the one which it would be to in the NBC symphony orchestra gave it. As I look at my notes about my harp Rhapsody I see that I have told you almost everything you need to know about it. So mentally garbed in the armor of academic achievement on this subject. We're ready to start a tape. You listen and I'll conduct while Edward veto plays the Rhapsody for hype and Orchestra and its world premiere performance by the NBC symphony orchestra. Why.

Oh.

The Rhapsody for harp and orchestra with it would be to a soloist with the NBC Symphony

Orchestra under the baton of its composer Don Gill was next also or to give you its full title tall so some public portrait in oil. There is one interesting story about the recording you're about to hear that I think might amuse you. Arthur Brown the conductor was in Vienna to do the recording at the time the city was still occupied with the military. And the hall in which he was to do the recording Brahms Aulus was directly across the street from the Russian military headquarters. There as you may remember if you're familiar with this work the sound of gunshots which Herald the opening of the land rush in the days of Oklahoma land boom and of course Mr. Brown needed to use a gun during the recording session. He applied to the American provost marshal and secured a couple of 45 caliber revolvers and some blank cartridges to use but when he arrived at the hall he was met by a delegation of musicians who begged him not to fire any shots during that morning session pointing toward the Russian zone anxiously as they explained that it might be the very excuse to start an incident. Mr. Brown looked at the array of tanks and howitzers drawn up in front

of the Russian headquarters. And agreed with the musicians that there was no point in helping to start world war three over Tulsa. It was a sigh of relief from the musicians and so the gunshots were left out. And then when the tapes were brought back to this country. I'm glad they did it that way. I wouldn't have wanted World War 3 on my conscience either. The score I'm happy to report you has had thousands of performances both by orchestra and band. Somehow it turned out to be along with my symphony five and a half. One of my most popular works. And if I were an expert musicologist I would analyze just what I did so that I could repeat such a formula for instance success. However I'm not and so I was wondering what it was that made toso so popular. Whatever it is I hope you like it in this performance done by the Vienna Philharmonic conducted by H Arthur Brown told a symphonic portrait in oil. The earth.

Ooh so.

At least. It was. Absolutely. Thank you. Please. Please. Please. Was folks. The air. Was. Clean. Please. Please. Yes.

Us. To

think. Eh. Elaine. I am. Ill. He.

Was. I am. I. I. I. I am. I. The only way I. Am The Only. Way I. Am. Can. I.

Can. I. Can. I. Do X. Or am. I. Will this performance of Tulsa symphonic portrait in oil we've come to the end of another broadcast of music by

Don give us a darker brown was a conductor of the performing organization the Vienna Philharmonic earlier through permission of the American Federation of Musicians we were able to bring you the world premiere performance of the Rhapsody for harp and orchestra with Edward Vito a soloist with the NBC symphony orchestra. Next week we'll be back to bring your program of choral music including the world premiere performance of a new work which I have just recently written and titled Seven Golden texts and a song of praise from the Psalms of David. Music by Don get was brought you each week. The national educational radio network Donaldson is your vector and this is done below saying thanks for listening and sonar from next week. This is the national educational radio network.