Word: grofe
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Dates: during 1930-1939
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King of Jazz at this time was fat, jovial Paul Whiteman. But the power behind King Whiteman's throne was a bland, easy-spoken, Manhattan-born Californian named Ferdinand Rudolph von Grofe. As Whiteman's arranger. Ferde Grofe dressed up many a sleazy Tin Pan Alley Cinderella and made it the belle of the ball. Even the late George Gershwin's renowned Rhapsody in Blue was a mere sketch until Grofe got hold...
Cyrano von Grofe was kept so busy writing out other people's music that he seldom got a chance to write any of his own. But from time to time he did turn out an orchestral piece in conservative jazz style. Most were more notable for their expert workmanship than for sizzling licks or hip-wrenching tunes...
Last week, Grofe's latest composition, a ballet called Cafe Society, was given its first hearing in Chicago's skyscraper Opera House. Choreography by Philadelphia's Catherine Littlefield, capers by Chicago's newly imported Littlefield Ballet, helped make it agreeable to ballet fans and tired businessmen alike. A good-natured, showy satire on night-club life, its scene recalled Manhattan's El Morocco; its main characters were thickly disguised as Heavyweight Max Baer, "Chain-store Nymph" Barbara Hutton, Columnist Lucius Beebe...
...this, his second ballet (Hollywood Ballet, produced in the Hollywood Bowl in 1935, was his first), Grofe had written catchy, adept, U. S.-style music, had added a persuasive point in his lifelong argument for "symphonic" jazz...
...Flag of Victory"Blon *Overture to "The Marriage of Figaro" Mozart *Largo from "Xerxes" Handel *Ouverture Solennelle, "1812" Tchaikovsky *French Military March, from the "Algerian" Suite Saint-Saens *Overture to "Benvenuto Cellini" Berlioz *"Where the Citrons Bloom," Waltzes Strauss *Divertissement Ibert *"On the Trail," from the "Grand Canyon" Suite Grofe "Turkey in the Straw" Arranged by Guion Torch Dance from "Henry VIII" German *Selections checked (*) are available on records at Briggs & Briggs Music Store, Harvard Square...