Max Fiest Mr.

Soldo

George Gershwin: The Great American Composer

Probably the best known American composer o all time! George Gershwin had tremendo"s in l"ence on classical m"sic! and the genera as a whole. #riginally! born $acob Gersh%in! Gershwin was gi ted as a m"sician since his childhood. As a composer he primarily wrote or &roadway prod"ctions! b"t is best known today or his orchestra and piano compos"res! s"ch as '(hapsody in &l"e.) Tho"gh Gershwin tragically died o at the yo"ng age o *+! his legacy and in l"ence remains today. Gershwin,s parents were $ewish ("ssian immigrants! who came to America in -.+-/ Gershwin was born se%en years later on September 01! -.+.. 2n his Manhattan neighborhood! Gershwin had little m"sical contact "ntil his amily bo"ght a piano so George,s brother 2ra co"ld learn to play. 2ra later worked closely with George! writing the lyrics to many o his songs. Soon George s"rprised his amily by playing a pop"lar song he had learned by himsel on the piano and his amily decided he sho"ld being to recei%e lessons. Fo"r years later when Gershwin was -3! he dropped o"t o school and began to make a li%ing playing at 4ew 5ork nightcl"bs! and later became known as one o the most talented pianists in the 4ew 5ork area! while still in his teens. 2n -+-1! when Gershwin was -. he composed his irst p"blished song! '6hen 5o" 6ant 78m 5o" Can,t Get 78m 96hen 5o",%e Got 78m 5o" :on,t 6ant 78m;.) Then in -+-+! Al $olson! an entertainer! pre ormed Gershwin,s song 'Swanee) in the m"sical Sinbad! making Gershwin an o%ernight s"ccess. <ater in -+-+! the irst &roadway prod"ction o which the entire score was written by Gershwin! <a! <a <"cille premiered.

Tho"gh Gershwin wrote m"ch m"sic or &roadway prod"ctions he had a strong desire to make =a>> main stream since! at the time! it was regarded as! 'degrading! pathological! ner%e? irritating! sex?exciting m"sic.) To aid this goal! Gershwin,s riend Pa"l 6hiteman asked him to compose a new piece or a concert called 'An 8xperiment in Modern M"sic.) 2t is said that Gershwin orgot abo"t the re@"est "ntil a ew weeks be ore and scrambled to write his best known work! '(hapsody in &l"e!) or the concert. Gershwin says that he recei%ed his inspiration or the piece rom the so"nds o the train he was riding on when he remembered he had to compose a piece or the concert. Gershwin! d"e to his press"re or time was largely "nprepared and impro%ised m"ch o the piano solo! b"t his work was still meet with world wide ame and respect. For the rest o his career! Gershwin de%oted himsel to pop"lar m"sic and other orchestral compositions. Some o his pop"lar m"sic incl"des many o his &roadway show t"nes! s"ch as! 'Strike Ap the &and!) 'Someone to 6atch #%er Me!) '# Thee 2 Sing!) and songs composed or mo%ies s"ch as! 'They Can,t Take That Away From Me!) and! '<o%e is Bere To Stay.) The lyrics or all his songs were written by his older brother 2ra! who,s witty choice o words were as well acclaimed as George,s m"sical talent. #ne o Gershwin,s most amo"s pop"lar songs! '2 Got (hythm!) was introd"ced in the m"sical Girl Cra>y in -+*C. Gershwin,s orchestra compositions are also well known and respected! along with his pop"lar pieces. Gershwin,s 'Concerto in F) is his longest composition and irst attempt at a symphony piece. 2t is di%ided into three mo%ements! the irst! similar to a sonata! the second! slow and bl"esy! with the third described by Gershwin as! 'an orgy o rhythms.) Gershwin,s 'An American in Paris) is another one o Gershwin,s tri"mphs! known or it,s excellent blend o classical and =a>> styles. Gershwin was inspired to compose the piece a ter spending time in

Paris d"ring the -+0C,s. 'C"ban #%ert"re) known as one o Gershwin,s more brash and wild pieces! incorporated rh"mba rhythms and "sed perc"ssion instr"ments largely "nknown in the A.S. at the time s"ch as maracas! bongos and go"rds. Tragically! Gershwin died as a yo"ng man o *D on $"ly --! -+*D. Gershwin had beg"n to experience se%ere headaches and brie memory blacko"ts earlier that year! howe%er medical tests showed him to be ine. &y $"ly! Gershwin had beg"n to experience impaired motor skills and drastic weight loss/ he lapsed into a coma on $"ly +! and died two days later o a brain t"mor. Gershwin died at the height o his career! with se%eral "n inished pro=ects ahead o him and who knows how many "t"re s"ccesses still "ndisco%ered. The p"blic was de%astated by his death! as was his brother 2ra! b"t Gershwin,s legacy still li%es on today! with his in l"ences in classical m"sic to be ore%er remembered and mar%eled. Gershwin was tr"ly one o America,s greatest composers and will ore%er be remembered or his m"sical geni"s.