George Gershwin - biographical sketch

Gershwin, George Jacob [Gershvin] (composer, pianist); 1898-1937.
Born 26 Sept. in Brooklyn, New York, 3rd of 4 children, to Moshe
Gershovitz and Rose Bruskin.  Died 11 July, in Beverly Hills,
California.  Piano studies with Charles Hambitzer began in 1912
Studied harmony, theory and orchestration from Edward Kinenyi
1917-21.  Recipient of Pulitzer Prize (the musical comedy, "Of
Thee I Sing"),1931; David Bispham Medal for Opera ("Porgy and
Bess"), 1937; elected to Royal Academy of St. Celia in Rome,
1937.  Careers as a "song-plugger" for Remick, publishers of
popular music, 1914-19; Broadway composer, 1917-35; concert and
film music composer, 1924-19.
     Beginning his career as a Tin Pan Alley composer, Gershwin
captured the sprit of the 1920's New York in catchy American folk
songs such as "Swannee" (1919). "La La Lucille" (1919) introduced
him to the world of Broadway and was followed by "A Dangerous
Maid" (1921) and "Our Nell" (1922).  With the musical "Lady Be
Good" (1924), which includes the hit "Fascinating Rhythm", he and
his brother Ira began a lifetime of collaborations.  Together
they created "Sweet Little Devil" (1924), "Strike Up the Band"
(1927; revised 1930), and "Girl Crazy" (1930).  For the London
stage Gershwin composed "The Rainbow" (1923) and "Primrose"
(1924).  Film scores began with "Delicious" (1931), and continued
with "Shall We Dance" (1937) and "A Damsel in Distress"
(1937).   
     Popular music was not the only interest of Gershwin. His
piano skills allowed him to accompany recitals of Canadian
soprano Eva Gauthier (1923) and Marguerite d'Alvarez (1925).  The
study of orchestration and theory continued with Wallingford
Riegger (late 1920's), Rubin Goldmark (1923), Henry Cowell
(1927-29) and Joseph Schillinger (1932-36) and led to an interest
in concert music.  The "Rhapsody in Blue" (1924) combines
elements of jazz and Lisztian Romanticism.  The piano "Concerto
in F" (1925), and the folk opera "Porgy and Bess" (1935) fuse
American elements--ragtime, blues, and jazz--with traditional
European forms.     

TS
29 March, 1995