Gershwin, George (1898-1937), an American composer, became famous for his musical comedies, popular songs, symphonic works, and the opera Porgy and Bess. His Rhapsody in Blue is probably the best-known orchestral piece by an American.
Gershwin was born on Sept. 26, 1898, in the Brooklyn section of New York City, of Russian immigrant parents. He began writing popular songs at 15, but he studied composition and orchestration all his life. He wanted to be a successful popular composer and to follow in the footsteps of the great masters.
In 1919, Gershwin wrote his first successful popular song, “Swanee.” This was a tremendous hit as sung by Al Jolson. In the same year, Gershwin worked on a string quartet with a blues theme called Lullaby.
Gershwin rose to fame on Broadway in the 1920’s. His sparkling musical comedies include Lady, Be Good (1924), Tip-Toes (1925), Oh, Kay! (1926), Funny Face (1927), and Girl Crazy (1930). He then turned to political satire with the musical comedies Strike Up the Band (1930); Of Thee I Sing (1931), a spoof on presidential elections; and Let ‘Em Eat Cake (1933). Of Thee I Sing was the first musical comedy to win a Pulitzer Prize. All of Gershwin’s musicals had tunes of lasting fame. Examples include “Embraceable You,” “I Got Rhythm,” “Soon,” and ” ‘S Wonderful.” The words for most of his songs were written by his brother Ira.
Near the end of his life, Gershwin and his brother moved to Hollywood, where they wrote several motion-picture scores that contained some of their biggest hits. Those hits included “They Can’t Take That Away from Me” from Shall We Dance? (1937), “Nice Work if You Can Get It” from A Damsel in Distress (1937), and “Love Walked In” from The Goldwyn Follies (1938).
Meanwhile, Gershwin was writing successful concert hall music, beginning with Rhapsody in Blue (1924). This piece was written for piano and jazz band and arranged by American composer Ferde Grofe. Grofe later arranged the piece for symphony orchestra. It combined jazz elements with the romantic tradition in classical music. The Concerto in F for piano and orchestra (1925), a larger work in three movements, also used blues and jazzlike effects. Gershwin, an excellent pianist, was the soloist in the first performance of both works.
Gershwin continued to display his varied talents with An American in Paris (1928). This symphonic poem is tuneful, rhythmically exciting, effectively orchestrated, and thoroughly American. Gershwin’s last symphonic work consists of variations on “I Got Rhythm” for piano and orchestra. In 1935, Gershwin completed the black “folk opera” Porgy and Bess, the most popular opera ever written by an American. He died on July 11, 1937.
