Gershwin: The bridge between classical music and jazz

New york, 1915

A seventeen year old boy is on his way to the Jerome H. Remick and Company, carrying some sheets of paper under his arm. The young George is song plugger for the music firm: He performs newly released songs on the piano to promote the new sheet music.

He has a very good technique and his exceptional sense of rhythm made him popular with the regular costumers. Some of them come to the shop only to listen to him. They all agree that George will become a great musician!

But today he has brought his first own composition to play, the song When You've Got 'Em, You Don't Want 'Em... Will they be pleased with it?

Gershwin

George Gershwin (born Jacob Gershowitz), son of Russian immigrants was born on September 26th, 1898. He was initially a composer of "light" music: an easy listening genre which was quite different from the Western classical music in the 19th and early 20th century. Popular songs and musicals were a part of his earliest works. His brother Ira wrote lyrics for the songs.

Despite of his national success, Gershwin wasn't satisfied with his popular image and decided to use traditional classical elements in next compositions.

The combination between classical elements and jazz manifested itself in the Rhapsody in Blue for piano and orchestra. The Concerto in F, and Three preludes for piano were also the result of Gershwin's attempts to get a more serious reputation as a classical composer.

Many consider the opera Porgy & Bess to be his absolute masterwork.

George Gershwin died at the age of 38, because of a brain tumor.

Trademark: jazzy harmonies, playfulness, tender and moving melodies.

Concerto in F & Rhapsody in Blue

This concerto is a potpourri of jazz, Latin-American rhythms, emotional parts, explosions and so on. Gershwin takes you on a journey through happy and sad moments in life. It has great similarities to Ravel's concerto.

I suggest listening to the performance with soloist Werner Haas, director Edo de Waart and the Monte Carlo Opera Orchestra.

The Rhapsody in Blue is a phenomenal virtuoso piece for piano and orchestra. Everything is included: fast passages, boogie woogie elements and a slow, very romantic theme. The description I give may appear to be the same as the description of the Concerto. Although there are similarities between the two, the Rhapsody is suitable for a larger audience because of it's more accessible and less complex structure.

The amazing composer

Think of America in the Roaring Twenties, Broadway on the eve of it's golden age, black and white pictures. Happiness, sorrow, depression, love, bitterness... Gershwin knew how to capture the story of your life in his music!

If you are not well acquainted with Gershwin, I recommend that you should listen to:

- 'I've got Rhythm' (rhythmic, fast, fun)

- 'Three preludes' for piano (1st & 3d: fast, rhytmic, 2nd: slow, relaxed)

- 'Summertime' from the opera Porgy & Bess (emotional, slow)

- 'The man I love' (romantic)

- 'Liza' (romantic, nostalgia)

- 'Swanee' (rhythmic, romantic)

- 'Rhapsody in blue'

(* pictures are taken from: ecupress.edu, culture24.org.uk, didyouseethatone.files.wordpress.com, Brassaï; music: 'Rhapsody in Blue' from Gershwin. Performed by Leonard Bernstein in the London Royal Albert Hall)