George Gershwin was an American composer. He is primarily remembered for his Rhapsody in Blue. He died on July 11 in a Hollywood hospital. Gershwin had been operated on for brain cancer. He was 39. Despite having died young, he left an enormous musical legacy. Read more about his life on i-brooklyn.
Born in Brooklyn
G. Gershwin was born in Brooklyn on September 26, 1898. The man was a respected American composer. Brooklyn had merged with other boroughs to become an independent city and form Greater New York just nine months earlier before he was born. G. Gershwin’s songs were lyricized by his brother Ira. They created a unique sound that captured the pulse and beat of urban life by fusing diverse American musical styles such as jazz, blues, folk and ragtime. Gershwin’s journey from humble beginnings in Brownsville to the highest circles of his city’s cultural life was swift. It culminated in the composer’s premature death due to a brain tumor on July 11, 1937. He was 39 years old. After his death, the novelist John O’Hara gave us his famous line: “George Gershwin died on July 11, 1937, but I don’t have to believe it if I don’t want to.”
As enticing as it is to marvel “what joys un-tasted” (quoting his classic Isn’t It a Pity), G. Gershwin’s rich oeuvre eases this remorse.
The guy is a genius
No one knew that G. Gershwin had outstanding musical ability until the Gershwin family acquired a used piano for Ira in 1910. The child prodigy immediately demonstrated his talent for the instrument. When he turned 14, Gershwin commenced his studies with the renowned piano teacher C. Hambitzer. It was clear to Hambitzer that he had a new disciple who would be a force in the world of music.
In his early twenties, the young maestro kept his promise. He joined an elite group of gifted musicians, incl. R. Rodgers, C. Porter, J. Kern, I. Berlin and other Brooklyn natives. They elevated the craft of writing popular music. The composers allowed the finest form to reflect the tempo and beat of urban life. Love Is Here to Stay, Nice Work if You Can Get It, They Can’t Take That Away From Me, Of Thee I Sing, I Got Rhythm, But Not for Me, The Man I Love, Somebody Loves Me and Embraceable You are just some of many hits written for Hollywood or Broadway. They sound as refreshing, exhilarating and heartfelt as they did years ago. These melodic filigrees achieved unusual harmonies. George’s Manhattan-born older brother, Ira, provided lyrics so precise that their hearts seemed to beat in unison.
Rhapsody in blue
G. Gershwin was influenced by the masters M. Ravel and I. Stravinsky. Thus, with a broadened horizon, he took up the classical forms of prelude, march, overture, concerto and tone poem. Among them is the cherished An American in Paris. In the case of Porgy and Bess, it’s a grand opera. He imbued these existing structures with a thrilling rhythm. At its core, the music of G. Gershwin was a representation of his favorite city. Admittedly, Manhattan’s skyline seems to emanate from his Rhapsody in Blue’s jagged patterns. It had its premiere many years ago, on February 12, 1924. Virtuosos J. Hofmann and S. Rachmaninoff hailed his piano mastery. Gershwin’s works influenced generations of composers. Among them are S. Sondheim and L. Bernstein. Remarkably, Gershwin found time to excel in painting. His self-portraits were as lively and evocative as his music.