Difference between revisions of "George Gershwin"
((an African-American version of the Carmen story) No, no, no! That was "Carmen Jones." See Talk.) |
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He started as an employee of a music-publishing company where he began to write songs and later a series of musical comedies. He also wrote a series of concert works, ''[[Rhapsody in Blue]]'' (1924) for piano and jazz orchestra, Piano Concerto in F major (1925) ''[[An American in Paris]]'' (1928), ''[[Second Rhapsody]]'' (1932) and ''[[Cuban Overture]]'' (1934). | He started as an employee of a music-publishing company where he began to write songs and later a series of musical comedies. He also wrote a series of concert works, ''[[Rhapsody in Blue]]'' (1924) for piano and jazz orchestra, Piano Concerto in F major (1925) ''[[An American in Paris]]'' (1928), ''[[Second Rhapsody]]'' (1932) and ''[[Cuban Overture]]'' (1934). | ||
| − | In 1935 his [[opera]] ''[[Porgy and Bess]]'' was | + | In 1935 his [[opera]] ''[[Porgy and Bess]]'' was tried out in [[Boston]] before its Broadway run. It has since been performed all over the world. |
Many of Gershwin songs have become standards in what musicians call the "Great American Songbook" and have become [[jazz]] classics. | Many of Gershwin songs have become standards in what musicians call the "Great American Songbook" and have become [[jazz]] classics. | ||
Revision as of 00:40, May 22, 2007
George Gershwin (1898-1937) was an American composer and pianist of the 1920s and 1930s. He often collaborated with his brother Ira who wrote most of the lyrics.
He started as an employee of a music-publishing company where he began to write songs and later a series of musical comedies. He also wrote a series of concert works, Rhapsody in Blue (1924) for piano and jazz orchestra, Piano Concerto in F major (1925) An American in Paris (1928), Second Rhapsody (1932) and Cuban Overture (1934).
In 1935 his opera Porgy and Bess was tried out in Boston before its Broadway run. It has since been performed all over the world.
Many of Gershwin songs have become standards in what musicians call the "Great American Songbook" and have become jazz classics.
Famous songs by Gershwin include "Summertime" (from Porgy and Bess ), "The Man I Love", and "It Ain't Necessarily So".