Gershwin’s “Summertime” — A Continual Time Capsule of Innovation
The original song that is of subject is “Summertime,” written by the great American composer, George Gershwin and performed by Abbie Mitchell and Gershwin himself. It was recorded in 1935 at a rehearsal of Gershwin’s opera, Porgy and Bess. This piece is important because it is the first recording of the song. It serves as a time capsule of the first production of Porgy and Bess and gives audiences a glimpse into the musical style of the 1930s. The recording itself features an orchestration typical of the time period as well as Mitchell, who was a Black American soprano opera singer. It is significant that the first recording of one of the most iconic songs of all time was recorded by a Black opera singer in 1935 when the Black American community faced much oppression. At the time, Mitchell’s performance would have aided in breaking racial barriers in the world of opera.
The second version of “Summertime” is a recording by Herbie Mann. It is from the 1962 live album, At The Village Gate. The Village Gate was a nightclub in Greenwich Village, New York. This interpretation of Gershwin’s “Summertime” is significant because it was recorded by the iconic jazz flute player, Herbie Mann, and featured on one of his most famous albums. This recording also serves as a time capsule of Mann’s performance at the Village Gate as well as of the jazz scene in the early 1960s. The style of jazz that is featured can be described as being African and Latin influenced. This recording is a great example of Mann’s exploration of world music as a use of musical expression that broke away from traditional American music and innovated jazz.
The third song that is of subject is “Doin’ Time,” by the iconic Long Beach, California based band, Sublime. It was featured on Sublime’s self-titled 1996 album, Sublime. This song is of significance because it famously sampled Herbie Mann’s recording of “Summertime” from his album, At The Village Gate. The use of this sample throughout the song makes George Gershwin’s “Summertime” the basis of the song. This recording serves as a time capsule of Sublime’s innovative sound which included hip hop, rock, and ska. This sound along with original lyrics reflects the urban attitude of 1990s Southern California.
Looking into the distant future, audiences who listen to these recordings may find difficulty in understanding the various styles of the recordings. This is because they may be missing the context of the musical styles of the 1930s, 1960s, and 1990s. Although these recordings may present new styles to future audiences, it is important to tell future audiences about this music because each one of these recordings is an example of significant innovation in style and culture in American music. All through Gershwin’s “Summertime,” these songs made innovations in breaking race barriers, exploring world music, and elevating musical fusion and urban American music.
Links to The Recordings
Abbie Mitchell (1935) FIRST RECORDING [SUMMERTIME]
