George GershwinGeorge Gershwin (1898–1937), during his short but prolific career, produced a varied body of work that combined symphonic composition with the musical styles popular in his era, including jazz and Negro spirituals. Known primarily for his jazz-tinged orchestral work Rhapsody in Blue, his folk opera Porgy and Bess, and his many wonderful songs featured in the films of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Gershwin and his lyricist brother Ira were key figures in the songwriting circles of pre-war America. Rodney Greenberg’s lively biography paints a vivid picture of this exciting era in the development of American music, and places Gershwin’s life and career within the social and cultural contexts in which he flourished. |
Contents
Brooklyn to Tin Pan Alley | 11 |
Chapter 2 | 118 |
Hollywood and Final Curtain | 199 |
Copyright | |
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American in Paris American music Astaire audience band became Bernstein Blue Monday blue notes Broadway Catfish Row Charleston chords chorus classical composer concert music Concerto in F conductor Copland critics Daly dance Fascinating Rhythm film fp New York Fred friends George Gershwin George's Gershwin after book Gershwin brothers Gershwin's music Girl Goldwyn Grofé Hambitzer harmonies Heyward Hollywood Ira Gershwin Ira's Irving Caesar Isaac Goldberg jazz Jewish Jolson Kay Swift Kern keyboard Lady later London Love lyricist lyrics by Ira manuscript melody Michael Tilson Thomas Musical numbers musicians Negro never opera Orchestra conducted original Oscar Levant pentatonic performance pianist piano concerto piece play popular music Porgy and Bess prelude première production published ragtime recording rehearsals Remick's revue Rhapsody in Blue rhythmic Schoenberg score Second Rhapsody singing sketch solo songs songwriter studio Swanee Symphony Orchestra theatre theme Tin Pan Alley tunes Whiteman words write wrote Yiddish