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As the musical arranger of George Gershwin's landmark
"Rhapsody in Blue," and as an integral part of the
introduction of a new era of symphonic jazz to the
world, through its 1924 premiere, the accompanying
stamp-image of American composer, arranger, and
pianist Ferde Grofé was commissioned as one-of-eight
designs for the Postal Service's 1997 "Classical
Composers and Conductors Issue."
As the ninth installment of its "Legends of American Music Series," eight distinguished musical artists were commemorated in the issue, including conductors Arthur Fiedler, Eugene Ormandy, Leopold Stokowski, and George Szell, and composers Samuel Barber, Louis Moreau Gottschalk, Ferde Grofé, and Charles Ives. As the most notably jazz-influenced artist featured in this issue, and beginning as early as 1919, Grofé first rose to prominence as the principal arranger for American orchestra leader Paul Whiteman and not only became a key figure in the creation of "Rhapsody In Blue," but would also go on to establish himself as a world-renowned composer of such defining, American works as the 1931 "Grand Canyon Suite."
The accompanying stamp-image of Grofé was also designed by art director Howard Paine and typographer Tom Mann (see previous
Gershwin image), with the addition of New York-based illustrator Burt Silverman. As a further tribute to renowned Cleveland
Orchestra conductor George Szell, featured as one of the eight designs, the "Classical Conductors and Composers Issue" was
officially dedicated by Cincinnati Pops Conductor Erich Kunzel and Deputy Postmaster General Michael Coughlin on
September 12, 1997, at ceremony in Cincinnati's downtown Fountain Square.
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Based upon a 1946, black-and-white photo by celebrated French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson, this 2002
stamp-image of renowned poet, playwright, and literary icon Langston Hughes was designed by artist Richard
Sheaff and was issued in commemoration of both the centennial of Hughes' birth and the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Postal Service's "Black Heritage Series."
Considered as one of the most important American writers of the twentieth-century, Langston Hughes became immersed
in the musical and cultural life of 1920s Harlem, and through his fusion of jazz and blues with traditional
verse would establish himself as a major force in the Harlem Renaissance. With 1946 New York as its backdrop,
this endearing photo of Hughes not only captures a period in his prolific career that produced such timeless
literary works as "Fields of Wonder" (1947), "One Way Ticket" (1947), and later "The First Book of Jazz"
(1955), but it also represents an important document of Cartier-Bresson's pioneering work in natural-light photojournalism.
In addition to his personal friendship with Hughes, Cartier-Bresson's photojournalistic style was widely respected for having elevated the "snapshot" to new levels of refinement and discipline. His works have been featured in museums throughout the U.S. and Europe, and his groundbreaking Paris exhibit entitled "The Decisive Moment" became the first exhibition of photographs ever hosted by the famed Louvre Museum. When once describing the spontaneity and intuition of his work, Cartier-Bresson stated, "to take a photograph means to recognize - simultaneously and within a fraction of a second - both the fact itself and the rigorous organization of visually perceived forms that give it meaning." If one were to replace the visual references of his statement with musical ones, there would clearly also be no more accurate description of the defining, creative spirit at the heart of American jazz.
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Earlier in this exhibition, we saw a 1998 design by artist Carl Herrman depicting the sophistication and glamour of 1920s America in his detailed rendering of "The Gatsby Style." As another of the Carl Herrman works featured in the Postal Service's "Celebrate the Century Series," the accompanying design, entitled "Jazz Flourishes," was creatively rendered from two previously existing photographs, as well as individual, live models.
As part of their commemoration of 1920s America, and combined with the extensive "Celebrate the Century" in-school programs launched, the U.S. Postal Service also made possible a national voting system allowing the public to select each stamp subject to be honored from the years 1950-1999. The ballots for each decade were divided into five categories, in which the public was invited to vote for as many as three of the nominated subjects covering: People and Events, Arts and Entertainment, Science and Technology, Sports, and Lifestyle. The top two in each subject category, as well as the next five top vote getters, overall, were commemorated in that decade's issue. Ballots for each decade were available online; in all Post Office lobbies; and at special "Celebrate the Century" events held throughout the country.
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