George Gershwin

George Gershwin (September 26, 1898 - July 11, 1937) was an American composer. He was born Jacob GershowitzBrooklyn, New YorkRussian Jewish immigrant parents.

Gershwin composed bothBroadwayforclassical concert hall,his music contains elementsboth. He also wrote popular songssuccess. Manyhis compositions have been usedcinema,perhaps many morefamous jazz standards: songbooks have been recorded by Ella Fitzgerald (memorable 3 discs recordingVerve,Nelson Riddle's orchestra), Herbie Hancockseveral other singers or players.

His most famous works inclassical field include:

• RhapsodyBlue, (1924),symphonic jazz compositionjazz band, piano,orchestra
• Piano ConcertoF (1925)
• An American In Paris,tone poemelementsjazzrealistic sound effects
• Porgy And Bess,folk opera (1935) (frombook by Dubose Heyward) about African-American life, which containsfamous aria "Summertime",additionhits like "I Got PlentyNothin""Tain't Necessarily So".
• Three Preludes, (1936),piano

George made mosthis workshis brother Ira Gershwin,lyricist. In 1910,Gershwins had acquiredpianoIra's music lessons, but George took over, successfully playing by ear. He tried out various piano teachers2 years, then was introducedCharles Hambitzer - who became his mentor (and would remain so until Hambitzer's death1918). Hambitzer taught George conventional piano technique, introduced him toEuropean masters,encouraged himattend orchestral concerts (at home following such concerts, young George would attemptreproduce atkeyboardmusic he had heard). His 1916 novelty rag "Rialto Ripples" wascommercial success,in 1918 he scored his first big national hithis song "Swanee".

In 1924, GeorgeIra collaborated onmusical comedy, "Lady Be Good". It included standards as "Fascinating Rhythm""The Man I Love." This was followed by "Oh, Kay!" (1926); "Funny Face"(1927); "Strike UpBand" (1927 & 1930); "Girl Crazy" (1930), which introducedstandard "I Got Rhythm";"Of Thee I Sing" (1931),first musical comedywinPulitzer Prize.

It wasHollywood, while working onscoreThe Goldwyn Follies, that George Gershwin collapsed and, on July 11, 1937, died ofbrain tumour. He was interred inWestchester Hills Cemetery, Hastings-on-Hudson, New York.

The Gershwin estate continuesbringsignificant royalties from licensingcopyrights on Gershwin's work. The estate supportedSonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act because its 1923 cutoff date was shortly before Gershwin had beguncreate his most popular works.

The copyrights on those works expire2007 inEuropean Unionbetween 20192027 inUnited StatesAmerica.

External links

• http://www.gershwinfan.com/biogeorge.html
• http://www.classical.net/music/comp.lst/gershwin.html