George Gershwin

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George Gershwin Life

His compositions are still used today as tool of teachers everywhere as examples of the American entrance to the serious musical world of Stravinsky, Debussy, Bartok, etc.

Gershwin's first experiences came as a piano was rolled into the house for Ira, the brother.

But it was George who took the immediate interest in the piano and immediately began to successfully play by ear.

His parents invested some piano lessons in him and George began to play for a profession in his late teens.

Gershwin spent the first years of his professional life as a piano player in "Tin Pan Alley," a place where musical songs were pitched to music executives in hopes of selling the rights to them for a modest amount of cash.

These songs were later to be introduced to the American public as those sung on the silver screen and on the Vaudeville stage.

Gershwin wrote his first largely successful musical piece for the Paul Whiteman Orchestra: the composition was Rhapsody in Blue.

George wrote the piece in less than three weeks; his musical composition was not for a large orchestra, it was written for more like a swing band.

George followed his success of Rhapsody in Blue with a few more pieces for piano and orchestra, including Concerto in F, but George also engaged himself in the writing of a symphonic dance, one that was inspired by a trip to Europe.

An American in Paris is a tone poem that takes the listener to the streets of Paris during the 1920's.

Gershwin's compositions were a huge success that brought him to be considered within the same rank as other great composers of the day.

One composition, however, met very little success when it opened.
The piece, which was the first true American opera, "Porgy and Bess" was dealt with the poor of the ghettos and their daily lives and loves.

Since that time, a respect for Porgy and Bess grew; today, it has been made into a motion picture adaptation and is one of the most successful operas in the United States.

Bess You Is My Woman Now, Summertime, and I Got Plenty of Nuttin are just three of the great songs from what has become an American masterpiece.

George moved to Hollywood for the next era of his life; he and Ira wrote songs which were performed by Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, and the leading men and ladies of the silver screen.

Gershwin's flirtation with Hollywood brought us some of his most famous writings, including Someone to Watch Over Me, S'wonderful, I Got Rhythm, and Our Love Is Here To Stay.

Songs written by George are still very popular today and have been featured on award winning recordings by artists such as Harry Connick, Peter Nero, the Canadian Brass, and Dave Grusin.

George's life met a short and tragic end in 1937: George suffered from a brain tumor that took his life way soon.

George's brother and partner-lyrist Ira Gershwin, salvaged a great deal of George's work and shared it with younger people.

George Gershwin Catalogue