Music Of Lecuona - Morton Gould

Laura

Music Of Lecuona
Spring Time
Morton Gould and His Orchestra
Columbia Masterworks
ML 4361
1950

From the back cover: Morton Gould, who made the orchestral arrangements for this four Lecuona pieces (Andaluica, Malaguena, La Compares and Jungle Drums) and who conducts them with such infectiousness, is among the most gifted of young American composers and conductors. He was born in 1914 in one of the suburbs of New York City. He made his bow as a composer at the age of six with a published composition appropriately entitled Just Six.

When he was eight years old, Morton Gould was awarded a scholarship at the New York Institute of Musical Art. When he was fifteen years old, he was giving piano recitals.

For a time, Mr. Gould played piano for vaudeville and movie houses and in dance bands. Then he became a member of the music staff of the Radio City Music Hall and then staff pianist and musical arranger for the National Broadcasting Company. Engaged by the Mutual Broadcasting System as an arranger, he soon became their conductor of a weekly radio program which fast developed into one of the most enormously successful of its kind. It later moved to the Columbia Broadcasting System where it attained an even greater popularity.

Meanwhile, Morton Gould continued to compose music, much of which (Spirituals for Orchestra, four American Symponettes, the American Concertette, A Lincoln Legend and other works) has been performed by leading American orchestra. He also has composed the scores for the successful musical comedy, Billion Dollar Baby, and for the much admired ballet, Fall River Legend.

From Billboard - September 24, 1949 (MX-318 2-10" Disc package review): Gould and Lecuona make a tasty combination here, as the young American composer-conductor-arranger set the fine melodies of the popular Cuban composer in light symphonic settings. There's every reason to believe this album can achieve a widespread sale, offering as it does four favorite melodies done in "classical," i.e., Radio City Music Hall fashion.

Music Of Lecuona

Audalucia
La Comparsa
Malaguena
Jungle Drums
Jessel: Parade of the Wooden Soldiers (Arranged by Morton Gould)
Polla: Dancing Tambourine (Arrange by Morton Gould)

Morton Gould conducting the Robin Hood Dell Orchestra Of Philadelphia

Spring Time

Body and Soul (From "Three's A Crowd)
Laura (From "Laura")
Holiday For Strings
Sophisticated Lady
Solitude
Over The Rainbow (From "The Wizard Of Oz")
The Surrey with the Fringe on Top (From "Oklahoma!")
Stormy Weather (From "Cotton Club Parade of 1933")

Morton Gould and His Orchestra