Porgy and Bess

Porgy and Bess is an opera with music by George Gershwin and libretto by Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward. It was based on Heyward's novel Porgy and the play of the same name that he co-wrote with his wife Dorothy. All three works deal with African American life in the fictitious Catfish Row in Charleston, South Carolina in the early 1930s.

Musical elements

In the summer of 1934, George Gershwin worked on the opera in Charleston, South Carolina. He drew inspiration from the James Island Gullah community, who he felt had traditions that were reminiscent of Africa. This research added to the authenticity of his work.

Related Topics:
Charleston, South Carolina - Gullah

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The music itself reflects his New York jazz roots, but also portrays southern black traditions. Gershwin modeled the pieces after each type of folk song that the composer knew about; jubilees, blues, praying songs, street cries, work songs, and spirituals are blended with traditional arias and recitatives.

Related Topics:
Folk song - Jubilee - Blues - Aria - Recitative

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The score made use of leitmotifs, which are introduced as the theme of a song. They themselves are not folk melodies, but draw inspiration from them in such a way that genuine folk music is recalled.

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Use of leitmotif

George Gershwin establishes leitmotifs early in the opera to establish characters musically, and uses an intertwining of these themes to show conflict between characters.

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Bess' idea of Porgy is expressed by snippets their duet "Bess, you is my woman now," in which they pledge their fidelity to one another:

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Her idea of Sportin' Life is shown through snippets of his aria "There's a boat that's leavin' soon for New York" in which the drug peddler tries to persuade Bess to leave Catfish Row with him:

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Bess's difficult decision to follow him is represented by a conflict of these two melodies. The first is heard in a sparse and distant orchestration:

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But when Sportin' Life is sure that Bess will follow him, his own song is heard in a dazzling, overblown orchestration, complete with swaggering rhythms:

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This contrast represents Sportin' Life's successful corruption of Bess's love for Porgy.

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