Essential Gershwin
Born in Brooklyn, New York to Russian immigrant parents, George Gershwin (1898–1937) enjoyed a vibrant musical career that took him from Tin Pan Alley to Broadway and Hollywood, composing music that spans both classical and popular genres.
Read more…"True music," said Gershwin, "must reflect the thought and aspirations of the people and time. My people are Americans. My time is today." From the captivating clarinet glissando which begins 'Rhapsody in Blue' – as recognizable as the opening theme of Beethoven’s Fifth – to the sensuous intimacy of 'That Certain Feeling', his music is widely known and much loved. But it is a mistake to think of Gershwin purely as a composer of "jazz" (a term he in fact disliked, preferring the term "swing" to describe his jazz-inspired music). His musical tastes and influences were wide. He was particularly influenced by the French composers of the early 20th-century, notably Maurice Ravel, who in turn was intrigued by Gershwin's work and whose two piano concertos show the influence of Gershwin and jazz idioms. Gershwin's great skill was his ability to manipulate different forms of music – from the classical concerto to toe-tapping Ragtime – into his own distinct musical voice. Many of his songs have become jazz standards, enhanced by lyrics written by his brother Ira, while such orchestral works as 'An American in Paris' and his French-inspired Piano Concerto are concert-hall favourites.