George Gershwin

George Gershwin (September 26, 1898 – July 11, 1937) was an American composer. He was born Jacob Gershowitz in Brooklyn, New York to Russian Jewish immigrant parents. George wrote most of his works together with his elder brother lyricist Ira Gershwin. Gershwin composed both for Broadway and for the classical concert hall. He also wrote popular songs with success.

Music

Musical style and influence

Gershwin was influenced very much by French composers of the early twentieth century. Upon meeting composer Maurice Ravel, Gershwin asked him of the possibility of becoming a student of composition under the master. Ravel is said to have replied, "Why should you be a second-rate Ravel when you can be a first-rate Gershwin?" Ravel was already quite impressed with the ability of Gershwin, commenting, "Personally I find jazz most interesting: the rhythms, the way the melodies are handled, the melodies themselves. I have heard of George Gershwin's works and I find them intriguing." (Mawer 42) The orchestrations in Gershwin's symphonic works often seem similar to those of Ravel; likewise, Ravel's two piano concertos evince an influence of Gershwin. He also asked Igor Stravinsky for lessons; when Stravinsky heard how much Gershwin earned, he replied "How about you give me some lessons?"

Related Topics:
Maurice Ravel - Igor Stravinsky

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Gershwin's own Concerto in F was criticised as being strongly rooted in the work of Claude Debussy, more so than in the jazz style which was expected. The comparison didn't deter Gershwin from continuing to explore French styles. The title of An American in Paris reflects the very journey that he had consciously taken as a composer: "The opening part will be developed in typical French style, in the manner of Debussy and the Six, though the tunes are original." (Hyland 126)

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Gershwin was intrigued by the works of Alban Berg, Dmitri Shostakovich, Igor Stravinsky, Darius Milhaud and Arnold Schoenberg. Russian Joseph Schillinger's influence as his teacher of composition was substantial in providing him with a method to his composition. After the posthumous success of Porgy and Bess, Schillinger claimed he had a large and direct influence in overseeing the creation of the opera; Ira completely denied that his brother had any such assistance for this work. In analysis, Schillinger's student Vernon Duke found that while many of Gershwin's works certainly were reviewed by Schillinger, Porgy does not seem to be one of them. The indirect influence of his study with the teacher was apparent in the opera's even more clear orchestrations but it is characteristically Gershwin in ways that Schillinger would not have approved of. (Hyland 167)

Related Topics:
Alban Berg - Dmitri Shostakovich - Igor Stravinsky - Darius Milhaud - Arnold Schoenberg - Joseph Schillinger - Vernon Duke

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Partial list of classical works

Gershwin's works in the classical field include:

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• Rhapsody in Blue, (1924), his most famous work, a symphonic jazz composition for jazz band & piano, better known in the form orchestrated by Ferde Grofe. Featured in numerous films and commercials.
• Concerto in F, (1925), three movements, for piano and orchestra
• Three Preludes, (1926), for piano
• Short Story, (1927), for violin and piano, an arrangement of two other short pieces originally intended to be included with the Three Preludes.
• An American In Paris (1928), a symphonic tone poem with elements of jazz and realistic Parisian sound effects
• Lullaby (1929), a meditative piece for string quartet
• Second Rhapsody (1932), for Piano and Orchestra, based on the score for a musical sequence from Delicious. Working title for the work was Rhapsody in Rivets.
• The form most commonly heard today is a re-orchestrated version by Robert McBride; most of Gershwin's orchestrations have been simplified. Also, eight measures not by the composer were added to the recapitulation. Michael Tilson Thomas has been a promulgator of Gershwin's original version.
• Cuban Overture (1933), originally titled Rumba, a tone poem featuring elements of native Cuban dance and folk music; score specifies usage of native Cuban instruments
• I Got Rhythm Variations (1934), a set of interesting variations on his famous song, for piano and orchestra
• Includes a waltz, an atonal fugue, and experimentation with Asian and jazz influences
• Porgy And Bess, a folk opera (1935) (from the book by DuBose Heyward) about African-American life, now considered a definitive work of the American theater.
• Contains the famous aria "Summertime", in addition to hits like "I Got Plenty of Nothin'" and "It Ain't Necessarily So".
• Porgy and Bess has also been heard in the concert hall, mostly in two orchestral suites, one by Gershwin himself entitled Catfish Row; another suite by Robert Russell Bennett, is also relatively popular.
• Walking the Dog, (1937), a humorous piece for orchestra featuring the clarinet. Originally a musical sequence from the movie Shall We Dance.
• Many other incidental sequences from Shall We Dance were written and (for the most part) orchestrated by Gershwin, among them: Waltz of the Red Balloons and a final extended 8-minute orchestral passage based on the title song with an intruiging coda hinting at Gershwin forging a new musical path. It is unknown why any of these compositions have not seen the light of day in the concert hall.
• Most of the musicals Gershwin wrote are also known for their intrumental music, among them the March from Strike Up The Band and overtures to many of his later shows.
• Impromptu in Two Keys, published posthumously in (1973), for piano
• Two Waltzes in C, published posthumously in (1975), for piano

Musical theater credits

• 1919 - La La Lucille (lyrics by Arthur Jackson and B. G. DeSylva)
• 1920 - George White's Scandals of 1920 (lyrics by Arthur Jackson)
• 1921 - George White's Scandals of 1921 (lyrics by Arthur Jackson)
• 1922 - George White's Scandals of 1922 (lyrics by E. Ray Goetz and B. G. DeSylva)
• 1922 - Our Nell (lyrics by Brian Hooker)
• 1923 - The Rainbow (lyrics by Clifford Grey). Premiered in London.
• 1923 - George White's Scandals of 1923 (lyrics by E. Ray Goetz and B. G. DeSylva)
• 1924 - Sweet Little Devil (lyrics by B. G. DeSylva)
• 1924 - George White's Scandals of 1924 (lyrics by B. G. DeSylva)
• 1924 - Primrose (lyrics by Desmond Carter). Premiered in London.
• 1924 - Lady, Be Good! (lyrics by Ira Gershwin)
• 1925 - Tell Me More! (lyrics by Ira Gershwin and B. G. DeSylva)
• 1925 - Tip-Toes (lyrics by Ira Gershwin)
• 1925 - Song of the Flame (lyrics by Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein II, and musical collaboration by Herbert Stothart)
• 1926 - Oh, Kay! (lyrics by Ira Gershwin)
• Includes the famous song, "Someone to Watch Over Me"
• 1927 - Funny Face (lyrics by Ira Gershwin)
• 1927 - Strike Up The Band (lyrics by Ira Gershwin)
• Revised 1930
• 1928 - Rosalie (lyrics by Ira Gershwin)
• 1928 - Treasure Girl (lyrics by Ira Gershwin)
• 1929 - Show Girl (lyrics by Ira Gershwin and Gus Kahn)
• 1930 - Girl Crazy (lyrics by Ira Gershwin)
• 1931 - Of Thee I Sing (lyrics by Ira Gershwin)
• 1933 - Pardon My English (lyrics by Ira Gershwin)
• 1933 - Let 'Em Eat Cake (lyrics by Ira Gershwin)
• 1935 - Porgy and Bess (lyrics by Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward)

Musical films

• 1931 - Delicious (lyrics by Ira Gershwin)
• 1937 - Shall We Dance (lyrics by Ira Gershwin)
• 1937 - A Damsel in Distress (lyrics by Ira Gershwin)
• 1938 - Goldwyn Follies (lyrics by Ira Gershwin)
• 1947 - The Shocking Miss Pilgrim (Kay Swift adapted a number of unpublished Gershwin melodies and Ira Gershwin wrote the lyrics.)