Quentin Maclean plays Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue (Cinema Organ))

Quentin Maclean plays George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue on the Christie theatre organ of the Regal Cinema, Marble Arch.
He accomplishes the astonishing feat of managing the orchestral and piano part simultaneously.
Recorded 1930.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Marble Arch.

[hopeyjo]

I believe he holds down the the ACME siren button (you can hear it start up) and when it reaches the correct pitch, he holds the the final note on the clarinet. Very inventive.

[shorttim77]

A real classic!

[barneyboscoe]

@titanicpiano14 We all do !!.

[JonasClark]

That opening glissando with the siren is genius, and goes to show that even the junk board effects have their musical uses - especially if the performer gets inventive with them!

[TheGavelbasher]

@ghostlat

You must remember the constraints of the 78 rpm record- He was restricted to 8 minutes, which as you can see he used entirely. It is something that I have noticed on many older recordings, particularly in the field of light music.

[ghostlat]

Honestly, I think he took it a little too fast in places. But being a performer myself, I agree that everyone has their own interpretations of pieces. 2:28 - 2:50,and 4:02 - 5:43 = my favorite parts of this song.

[titanicpiano14]

check out my rendition of andantino moderato theme on church organ!

[titanicpiano14]

After hearing this, I want a theater organ!

[OrganCat]

How in the world did he get that opening gliiss? Monster chops!

[mrspivvy]

awesome. this never gets old