George Gershwin: His Life and WorkThis comprehensive biography of George Gershwin (1898-1937) unravels the myths surrounding one of America's most celebrated composers and establishes the enduring value of his music. Gershwin created some of the most beloved music of the twentieth century and, along with Jerome Kern, Irving Berlin, and Cole Porter, helped make the golden age of Broadway golden. Howard Pollack draws from a wealth of sketches, manuscripts, letters, interviews, books, articles, recordings, films, and other materials—including a large cache of Gershwin scores discovered in a Warner Brothers warehouse in 1982—to create an expansive chronicle of Gershwin’s meteoric rise to fame. He also traces Gershwin’s powerful presence that, even today, extends from Broadway, jazz clubs, and film scores to symphony halls and opera houses. Pollack’s lively narrative describes Gershwin’s family, childhood, and education; his early career as a pianist; his friendships and romantic life; his relation to various musical trends; his writings on music; his working methods; and his tragic death at the age of 38. Unlike Kern, Berlin, and Porter, who mostly worked within the confines of Broadway and Hollywood, Gershwin actively sought to cross the boundaries between high and low, and wrote works that crossed over into a realm where art music, jazz, and Broadway met and merged. The author surveys Gershwin’s entire oeuvre, from his first surviving compositions to the melodies that his brother and principal collaborator, Ira Gershwin, lyricized after his death. Pollack concludes with an exploration of the performances and critical reception of Gershwin's music over the years, from his time to ours. |
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American in Paris American music April ARM/GG Astaire audience ballet Band Berlin Boston Broadway cast chorus collaborated composer composer's concert Concerto in F critics dance December DeSylva early featured February film Fred GCLC George and Ira George Gershwin Gersh Gershwin songs Girl Crazy Hambitzer Herald-Tribune Heyward Hollywood Ira and Leonore Ira Gershwin Irving Irving Berlin Isaac Goldberg January jazz Jewish Jimmy John July Kaufman Kay Swift Kern KIM/G Lady later Leonore Gershwin Trusts Love lyricist March Meanwhile melody Michael Michael Feinstein musical comedy musicians Negro October opening opera operetta orchestra original Oscar Levant performance pianist piano piece played Porgy and Bess premiere production ragtime recalled recorded rehearsal revue Rhapsody in Blue Rhythm Robert Ryskind satire score show's singers stage star Swanee Symphony Theatre Thee I Sing theme thought tion tunes Vernon Duke Whiteman William Wodehouse work's write York Ziegfeld
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Page 22 - To this very day I can't hear the tune without picturing myself outside that arcade on One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Street, standing there barefoot and in overalls, drinking it all in avidly.