La Cinquantaine

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

"La Cinquantaine" (French, IPA: /la sɛ̃.kɑ̃.tɛn/, transl. The Fiftieth Anniversary) is a piece of light music composed by Jean Gabriel-Marie around 1887.[1][2] Described as an "air in the olden style" (French: Air dans le style ancien) in the original manuscript, it was originally written for cello with piano accompaniment,[3] but has since been arranged for many other instruments.

"La Cinquantaine" is included in the Suzuki method Cello School, Volume 3,[4] and is commonly performed by beginner Suzuki cello students.

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.[5] The record is notable for its extended (34-bar) drum solo by Frankie Carlson.[6] Other jazz versions, including those by Adrian Rollini, Barry Wood, and Raymond Scott, use the title "The Girl With The Light Blue Hair".

Audio recordings

External audio
Golden Wedding (1945), performed by John Serry Sr. and the Joe Biviano Accordion and Rhythm Sextette, on Archive.org
Classical
1947 – John Serry Sr. with Joe Biviano's Accordion & Rhythm Sextette on the album Accordion Capers for Sonora records.[7][8]
1954 – John Serry Sr. performed/arranged the composition for accordion & his ensemble for RCA Victor.[9][10]
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.[11]
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.[12]
1948 – Adrian Rollini Trio, 1948 film by Video Varieties Corporation, New York, recorded as "The Girl with the Light Blue Hair" and described as "Swinging La Cinquantaine".

References

  1. ^ Hinson, Maurice; Roberts, Wesley (2006). The Piano in Chamber Ensemble: An Annotated Guide. Indiana University Press. p. 631. ISBN 0253346967.
  2. ^ "2 Pieces for Cello and Piano (Marie, Gabriel Prosper)". IMSLP Petrucci Music Library. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  3. ^ Gabriel-Marie (n.d.), La Cinquantaine: Air dans le style ancien (Manuscript), p. 1, retrieved 6 September 2025
  4. ^ Suzuki, Shin'ichi (1991). Suzuki Cello School: Cello Part, Revised Edition. Vol. 3. Alfred Music Publishing. p. 20. ISBN 0874874831.
  5. ^ Woody Herman, Stuart Troup (1990), The Woodchopper's Ball, E. P. Dutton, p. 20, ISBN 9780525248538
  6. ^ Jeremy Sibson. "Analysis of Drum Solos from Golden Wedding 1941 and 1976". Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  7. ^ "Accordion Capers". 1947.
  8. ^ The Billboard 27 April 1946 P. 124
  9. ^ 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
  10. ^ "The John J. Serry Sr Collection archived at the Eastman School of Music on esm.rochester.edu" (PDF). Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  11. ^ Sinclair Traill; Gerald Lascelles, eds. (c. 1957). Just Jazz. Peter Davies, London.
  12. ^ "Amusements". Daily Mercury. Vol. 77, no. 49. Queensland, Australia. 26 February 1943. p. 6. Retrieved 21 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
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