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Harold Arlen: "rainbows and Blues" at Oregon Festival of American Music at John G Shedd Institute for the Arts
Courtesy of Saleah | Posted on June 3, 2014
Where
John G Shedd Institute for the Arts
Oregon Festival of American Music
868 High St
Eugene, OR
Map
(541) 434-7000
When
Wed, August 6, 2014
12:30 pm
Save the date
Musicians
Harold Arlen
composer / conductorAbout
Although never a household name like Irving Berlin or George Gershwin, Harold Arlen is up in the pantheon of great American writers. His 400 songs range from the torchy earthiness of the Cotton Club revues (“Minnie The Moocher’s Wedding Day” and “Stormy Weather”) through merry tinklers like “Paper Moon” to the majestic sweep of “Over the Rainbow’ and the midnight lamentation of “Blues in The Night”. Supported by top-hole lyricists like Yip Harburg and Johnny Mercer his often bluesy melodies twist and turn, frequently breaking out of the 42 bar pop prison. He was a good singer too, influenced by exposure to liturgical music in his cantor father’s synagogue...