The Golden Wedding

This article is about a piece of music. For the play from 1771, see Desfontaines-Lavallée.

"La Cinquantaine" (French "the fiftieth anniversary") is a piece of music which was composed by Jean Gabriel-Marie in 1887.^[1]

A swing arrangement of the work by James "Jiggs" Noble, recorded in New York City in late 1940 or early 1941 by Woody Herman and his orchestra as "Golden Wedding", became a 1941 hit and a jazz standard.^[2] The record is notable for its extended (34 bars) drum solo by Frankie Carlson.^[3]

Audio recordings

External audio
You may hear Golden Wedding performed by the Joe Biviano Accordion and Rhythm Sextette with John Serry and Tony Mottola in 1945 Here on Archive.org

Classical

1947 – John Serry Sr. with Joe Biviano's Accordion & Rhythm Sextette on the album Accordion Capers for Sonora records ^[4][5]

1954 – John Serry Sr. performed/arranged the composition for accordion & his ensemble for RCA Victor(See RCA Thesaurus).^[6]

Jazz

1941 – Woody Herman and his Orchestra, recorded NYC 13 February 1941. Personnel: John Owens, Steady Nelson, Cappy Lewis trumpets; Vic Hamman, Neil Reid, Bud Smith trombones; Woody Herman clarinet; Eddie Scalzi, Herb Tomkins alto saxes; Micky Folus, Saxie Mansfield tenor saxes; Tommy Linehan piano; Hy White guitar; Walter Yoder bass; Frank Carlson drums; re-released in UK on Brunswick LAT8092 (10" LP) 1955.^[7]

Herman and his orchestra featured in the 1942 film What's Cookin'?, playing "Golden Wedding", amongst other hits by them, as well as The Andrews Sisters and other contemporary musicians.^[8]

1948 – Adrian Rollini Trio, 1948 film by Video Varieties Corporation, New York, recorded as "The Girl with the Light Blue Hair," described as "Swinging 'La Cinquantaine,' by Jean Gabriel Prosper Marie." It's on YouTube.

References

1. Maurice Hinson, Wesley Roberts The Piano in Chamber Ensemble: An Annotated Guide 0253346967 2006 p631 "Jean Gabriel-Marie: La Cinquantaine."
2. Woody Herman, Stuart Troup (1990), The Woodchopper's Ball, E. P. Dutton, p. 20, ISBN 9780525248538
3. Jeremy Sibson. "Analysis of Drum Solos from Golden Wedding 1941 and 1976". Retrieved 15 January 2015.
4. "Accordion Capers". 1947.
5. The Billboard 27 April 1946 P. 124
6. Eastman School of Music - University of Rochester - Sibley Music Library: John J. Serry Sr. Collection "John Serry Sextette" audio recording for RCA Thesaurus of arrangements and performances by John Serry at the RCA Victor Sudios in 1954 p. 18 The John J. Serry Sr. Collection archived at the University of Rochester
7. Sinclair Traill; Gerald Lascelles, eds. (c. 1957). Just Jazz. Peter Davies, London.
8. "Amusements". Daily Mercury. Vol. 77, no. 49. Queensland, Australia. 26 February 1943. p. 6. Retrieved 21 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.