George Gershwin Biography

American composer and songwriter, as well as pianist

and conductor, George Gershwin was a sensitive and passionate musician, who synthesized his
musical creations between jazz and classical traditions. He is famous for the sophistication, swing
and rhythm in his music. He wrote most of his theatrical and vocal works, including more than a
dozen broadway shows in collaboration with Ira Gershwin, his brilliant lyricist brother.
His compositions have been used in numerous films and on television, and many became jazz
standards recorded in numerous variations. Countless singers and musicians have recorded
Gershwin songs.
Early Life of George Gershwin
He was born in Brooklyn, New York on September 26, 1898. As one of Americas greatest
songwriters, George Gershwin was part of the golden age of the New York musical theatre in the
1920s and 30s. Essentially self-taught, he started as a song plugger in Tin Pan Alley and an
accompanist. Perhaps not known to many, Gershwin also painted as a hobby.
With his love for jazz, his songwriting talent, and knowledge of established forms in concerto and
opera, he began to compose songs and produced succession of musicals from 1919 to 1933, with his
first show La Lucille, the song Swanee was made a hit by Al Jolson, on of the top singer during that
time.
Classical Music and Musicals
His concert works include the tone poems Rhapsody in Blue (1924) and An American in Paris (1928).
He composed other popular musicals and songs, many with lyrics by his brother Ira Gershwin,
including "I Got Rhythm," "S Wonderful," and "Embraceable You."
The success of Rhapsody in Blue led him to devote more to serious composition, resulting with The

Piano Concerto in F (1925) and An American in Paris (1928.) About this time, Gershwin met Igor
Stravinsky, Sergey Prokofiev and Maurice Ravel in Paris.
Theatre and Broadway Hits
He continued composing for the musical theatre, his music becoming some of the most successful in
Broadway including Strike up the Band, Funny Face, Girl Crazy, and Of Thee I Sing with lyrics by
Ira, his talented lyricist brother. Of Thee I Sing became the first stage musical to win a Pulitzer Prize
in 1932. Unfortunately, George Gershwin was not included in the citation since his was a musical
contribution and was not considered eligible for the literary-oriented Pulitzer award.
Final Years of George Gershwin
His American folk opera Porgy and Bess (1935) incorporated jazz rhythms and popular song styles in
an operatic format. In 1936, Gershwin went to Hollywood where his talent was much acknowledged.
He wrote numerous songs for films. He was working on music for The Goldwyn Follies when stricken
with a brain tumor that took his life on July 11, 1937, before reaching his 39th birthday.
flyer distribution
Addendum, 21 September 2015:
Australian Premiere of the Gershwin Hit!

In celebration of George Gershwin's birthday, the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs in collaboration with
Squabbalogic, is presenting an Australian premiere of George & Ira Gershwin's Pulitzer prize-

winning musical, the political satire "Of Thee I Sing!" for two days only, 26 & 27 September 2015,
1.30PM, Sydney Opera House, Concert Hall.
The concert performance will feature the SPC Festival Chorus, six-actor singers, and full SPC
orchestra playing the original orchestrations. Conductor: SPC's Musical Director Brett Weymark,
and Director: Jay James-Moody.
Video Credit:
Ella Fitzgerald - Embraceable You. (Gershwin & Gershwin). Youtube, uploaded by Darwinek.
Accessed April 17, 2015.
Of Thee I Sing (Ira & George Gershwin.) Youtube, uploaded March 2010, by Attila Keri. Accessed
April 17, 2015. Uploaded on 8 Mar 2010
Rhapsody in Blue: Gershwin. Youtube, uploaded by Royal Duke Jam. Accessed April 17, 2015.
Resources:
Kennedy, Michael, editor. The Oxford Dictionary of Music, 2nd Edition. Oxford: OUP, 1994
Latham, Alison, editor. The Oxford Companion to Music, Oxford: OUP, 2002
Sadie, Stanley, editor. The Grove Concise Dictionary of Music. London: Macmillan Press, 1994
Sydney Philharmonia Choirs.
Wade-Matthews, Max & Wendy Thompson. The Encyclopedia of Music. Hermes House, 2002
Updated: September 21, 21015.
http://suite101.com/the-music-of-george-gershwin-a83463