In their latest show, GERSHWIN '29, singers Joan Ellison and Mark Flanders and pianist Jennifer Heemstra bring vibrant authenticity to the greatest songs of a Golden Age - the songs of George and Ira Gershwin. Working from original recordings (circa 1922-1943), they bring back the songs as they sounded during the Gershwins' heyday, from "Fascinating Rhythm" and "'SWonderful" to "Love Is Here to Stay" - and even throw in some four-hand piano fireworks.
In order to get the "Fourth Dimension" effect in performing golden-age songs, Flanders & Ellison have been doing ongoing research for over 12 years. A lot of 21st-century science, as well as decades of study, goes into the process. They start by searching through vintage recordings, radio shows and the roughly 600 movie musicals Hollywood produced before 1942 (and later) to find classic performances — especially those with piano accompaniments. Joan then sets to work transcribing the piano part note-for-note, or reducing the orchestration into a period-style piano accompaniment. She then enters her handwritten manuscript into a computer and hands it off to Jennifer Heemstra, along with a copy of the original recording, to bring to life. Mark & Joan practice "getting into the throats" of the original singers and then they assemble the pieces in front of their 1930s RCA-44 ribbon microphone. Gradually, they add radio advertisements and jingles, which they find by listening to hundreds of hours of old-time radio programs recently made available on MP3's. It's a lot of effort, but travelling in time and bringing an audience along for the musical ride is worth every second of it.