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American Rhapsody
''American Rhapsody'' was written for the accordion by John Serry Sr. in 1955 and subsequently transcribed for the free-bass accordion in 1963 and for the piano in 2002. The composer was inspired by the classical music, classical orchestral works of George Gershwin along with various Latin jazz percussive rhythms utilized throughout South America while composing this opus (see ''Rhapsody in Blue''). Composition By synthesizing compositional techniques typically associated with classical music with those identified with jazz, this piece serves as an example of the symphonic jazz genre featuring the stradella bass system accordion as a solo instrument. Its revised edition for free-bass accordion is noteworthy in its attempt to illustrate the versatility of the instrument. In addition, it pays homage to the music of South America by incorporating a clear Latin American beat in the ''Dance'' sequence. During the "Golden Age of the Accordion" (1910-1960), the accordion was rarely see ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Serry Sr
John Serry Sr. (born John Serrapica; January 29, 1915 – September 14, 2003) was an American concert accordionist, arranger, composer, organist, and educator. He performed on the CBS Radio and Television networks and contributed to Voice of America's cultural diplomacy initiatives during the Golden Age of Radio. He also concertized on the accordion as a member of several orchestras and jazz ensembles for nearly forty years between the 1930s and 1960s. Biography Serry's career spanned over seven decades. As a proponent of Latin American music and the free-bass accordion, he performed as the piano accordionist on the radio music program ''Viva América'', which was broadcast live to South America under the United States Department of State's Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs' cultural diplomacy initiative for Voice of America during World War II. Broadcasts of this show have been cited as helping to introduce Latin American music and the Mexican bolero ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
