Walking the Dog

Walking the Dog is one of the many songs George Gershwin wrote for the film "Shall We Dance." George Gershwin at the height of his powers. Instead of the bustling, complex symphonic scores he was now accustomed to writing, it is a simple, elegant little walk, as the title suggests.In the 1937 film, it accompanies a scene of (you guessed it) walking a little dog, aboard the luxurious deck of a cruise ship. Since it was heard in the film, however, the tune has taken on a life of its own and has become a popular piece for clarinetists around the world. In 1960, the song was published as "Promenade." Interestingly, it is also the only part of the film score of "Shall We Dance" that remains - the rest of the film's music unfortunately remains unpublished there are not even any recordings.