George Gershwin
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About George Gershwin
George Gershwin was born in Brooklyn, New York, the second of four children from a close-knit Russian Jewish immigrant family. At the age of 16, the young George quit school and began his musical career as a song-plugger on New York's Tin Pan Alley. He was soon writing his own songs and his first published work When You Want ‘Em, You Can't Get ‘Em, demonstrated innovative new songwriting techniques and earned him all of five dollars. Soon after, however, he met a young lyricist named Irving Ceaser and together they would compose a long list of popular songs including Swanee, which scored Gershwin his first big national hit.
Swanee would be followed in short order by a series of nearly forty-five more songs; among them Somebody Loves Me and Stairway to Paradise, as well as the twenty-five-minute opera, Blue Monday. Composed in five days, Blue Monday, though a work of Gershwin juvenilia, offered hints of great musical development to come.
Gershwin's first collaboration with his brother, lyricist Ira Gershwin, produced the Broadway hit Lady Be Good which included such standards as Fascinating Rhythm and The Man I Love. It was the beginning of a partnership that would continue for the rest of the composer's life and would elevate the musical comedy to an American art form. Musicals including Oh, Kay! and Funny Face, starring Fred Astaire and his sister Adele, were created increasingly alongside more serious symphonic works as Gershwin aimed to make his mark in the concert world.
Gershwin's jazz-influenced Rhapsody in Blue for piano and orchestra premiered in New York's Aeolian Hall at a concert entitled "An Experiment in Music" when the composer was still in his twenties. It would prove to be his most popular symphonic work. Among those in attendance at the premiere were Jascha Heifitz, Fritz Kreisler, Leopold Stokowski and Serge Rachmaninov. Gershwin followed this success with his Piano Concerto in F and the now legendary tone poem An American in Paris which he wrote during an extended stay in Paris. French music, in particular the composers Debussy and Ravel, would prove to have a lasting influence on Gershwin's classical music. Critics were often at a loss as to where to place Gershwin's classical music in the standard repertoire and some simply dismissed him, but the music always found favor with the general public. He was very soon widely acclaimed in the concert world as piano virtuoso, conductor, and composer.
Back on Broadway, George and Ira Gershwin continued to experiment with novel ideas and their hit show Of Thee I Sing dealt pointedly with social issues of the time, becoming the first musical comedy to win the Pulitzer Prize. This feat was soon followed by the premiere of Gershwin's folk opera and most ambitious work to date Porgy and Bess which had only moderate success. Now recognized as one of the seminal works of American opera, it includes such timeless favorites as It Ain't Necessarily So, I Loves You, Porgy, and Summertime.
Shortly after the premiere of Porgy and Bess, Gershwin moved to Hollywood to score a series of successful films but while there became ill. At the time of his premature death at the age of 38, Gershwin had plans to return to New York and was contemplating work on a new symphony, opera, and ballet. These compositions were not to be. Today he remains one of America's, indeed one of the world's, most beloved composers.
2023 marks the start of the the first scholarly critical edition of his works as part of the George and Ira Gershwin Critical Edition. It is the result of the Gershwin Initiative of the School of Music, Theatre & Dance at the University of Michigan in collaboration with the Gershwin Heirs Association and with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, and published by Schott Music. Mark Clague is the editor-in-chief.
Worklist
Gallery
Products
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for two vocal soloists (male and female) and orchestraComposer: George GershwinMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: 2 voices and orchestraLanguage: English
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Composer: George GershwinArranger: Wolfgang BirtelSeries: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: cello and pianoProduct number: ED 21485Product TypeIn stockAs low as €10.99Incl. Tax -
Composer: George GershwinEditor: Monika TwelsiekSeries: Edition Schott - Single Edition
Instrumentation: pianoProduct number: ED0 9809Product TypeIn stockAs low as €5.99Incl. Tax -
Boy WantedComposer: George GershwinMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: vocalist and orchestraLanguage: English
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Composer: George GershwinMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Score and partsInstrumentation: brass quintetLanguage: EnglishProduct number: HLS 50488462Out of stock€31.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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A tone poem for orchestraComposer: George GershwinEditor: Mark ClagueMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: orchestra
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for orchestraComposer: George GershwinArranger: Frank Campbell-WatsonMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: Orchestra
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Composer: George GershwinEditor: Frank Campbell-WatsonMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Study scoreInstrumentation: orchestraProduct number: ETP 1398In stock€17.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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A tone poem for orchestraComposer: George GershwinEditor: Mark ClagueMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: orchestra
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from "Nice Work if You Can Get It"Composer: George GershwinMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: voices and orchestra
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An American in ParisComposer: George GershwinArranger: Hans-Guenter HeumannMedia Type: E-score PDFInstrumentation: pianoProduct number: ED 23567 Q559954In stock€2.99Incl. Tax
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from Girl CrazyComposer: George GershwinArranger: W. Scott RagsdaleMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Score and partsInstrumentation: big band and voiceLanguage: EnglishProduct number: 00-45083In stock€63.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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for soprano and orchestraComposer: George GershwinArranger: Russell WarnerMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: soprano and orchestraLanguage: English
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for piano and orchestraComposer: George GershwinEditor: Frank Campbell-WatsonMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: piano and orchestra
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for orchestraComposer: George GershwinMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: orchestra
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for orchestraComposer: George GershwinMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: Orchestra
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from Nice Work if You Can Get ItComposer: George GershwinArranger: Robert Russell BennettMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: vocal soloist and orchestraLanguage: English
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Composer: George GershwinMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Tune bookInstrumentation: PianoProduct number: ML 13330-11Out of stock€18.99Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Composer: George GershwinMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: SongbookInstrumentation: Klavier und GesangProduct number: ML 589-06Out of stock€20.99Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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for symphonic bandComposer: George GershwinMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: symphonic band
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In London TownComposer: George GershwinArranger: Mark TaylorMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Score and partsSeries: Hal Leonard Easy Jazz Ensemble
Instrumentation: big band; flute, 2 clarinets, horn in F, tuba ad libLanguage: EnglishProduct number: HLA 7012533Out of stock€54.99Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
for soprano and orchestraComposer: George GershwinMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: soprano and orchestraLanguage: English
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He Loves and She LovesComposer: George GershwinMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: soprano and orchestraLanguage: English
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20 Favorite StandardsComposer: George GershwinMedia Type: Sheet music with CDEdition: Tune book, 2-CD PackSeries: Jazz Play Along, 45
Instrumentation: c/bflat/eflat instrumentsLanguage: EnglishProduct number: HLE 103643Out of stock€34.99Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Play 20 All-Time Favorites With Sound-Alike CD TracksComposer: George GershwinMedia Type: Sheet music with CDEdition: SongbookSeries: Piano Play Along, 71
Instrumentation: piano and vocalsLanguage: EnglishProduct number: HLE 102687Out of stock€26.99Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Someone To Watch Over Me / Embraceable YouComposer: George GershwinArranger: Norman LeydenMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: soprano and orchestraLanguage: English
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Love Walked In / Somebody Loves Me / The Man I LoveComposer: George GershwinArranger: Norman LeydenMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: voice and orchestraLanguage: English
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I Got Rhythm Variations (original version)Composer: George GershwinMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: piano and orchestra
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I Got RhythmComposer: George GershwinArranger: Robert Russell BennettMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: voice, male voices and orchestraLanguage: English
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I Got RhythmComposer: George GershwinArranger: Hershy KayMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: orchestra
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OvertureComposer: George GershwinArranger: Don RoseMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: orchestra
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Embraceable YouComposer: George GershwinArranger: Robert Russell BennettMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: soprano and orchestraLanguage: English
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Embraceable YouComposer: George GershwinMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: violin and orchestra
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But Not for MeComposer: George GershwinArranger: Robert Russell BennettMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: male or female vocalist and orchestraLanguage: English
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The Gershwin Concert ExperienceComposer: George GershwinMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialLanguage: English
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for soprano and orchestraComposer: George GershwinArranger: Hershy KayMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: soprano and orchestraLanguage: English
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Composer: George GershwinMedia Type: Sheet music with CDInstrumentation: pianoProduct number: ZO 191066In stock€36.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Fascinatin' RhythmComposer: George GershwinArranger: Russell WarnerMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: soprano and orchestraLanguage: English
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Fascinatin' RhythmComposer: George GershwinArranger: Bruce Coughlin | Michael Tilson ThomasMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: soprano and orchestraLanguage: English
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Composer: George GershwinArranger: Mark TaylorMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Score and partsInstrumentation: big bandLanguage: EnglishProduct number: HLA 7012441Out of stock€69.99Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Mod. Slow SwingComposer: George GershwinArranger: Rick StitzelMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Score and partsSeries: Hal Leonard Easy Jazz Ensemble
Instrumentation: big band; flute, 2 clarinets, horn in F, tuba, vibraphone ad libProduct number: HLA7012475Out of stock€49.99Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Tenor Sax FeatureComposer: George GershwinArranger: Sammy NesticoMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Score and partsSeries: Young Jazz Ensemble
Instrumentation: big bandLanguage: EnglishProduct number: HLA 32423019In stock€54.99Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
for string orchestraComposer: George GershwinMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: string orchestra
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for piano and orchestraComposer: George GershwinMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: piano and orchestra
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OvertureComposer: George GershwinMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: orchestra
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Someone to Watch Over MeComposer: George GershwinMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: soprano and orchestraLanguage: English
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Do, Do, DoComposer: George GershwinArranger: Russell WarnerMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: soprano and orchestraLanguage: English
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Someone to Watch Over MeComposer: George GershwinArranger: Hilding AndersonMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: mezzo soprano and orchestraLanguage: English
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My Cousin In MilwaukeeComposer: George GershwinMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: vocalist and orchestraLanguage: English
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Introduction and Summertime (opera version)Composer: George GershwinMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: soprano, mixed chorus and orchestraLanguage: English