Author : George Gershwin, Denes Agay
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Author : George Gershwin, Denes Agay
The music of George Gershwin (1898-1937) is widely recognized, encompassing works from his musicals, such as 'Porgy and Bess', as well as orchestral compositions like 'Rhapsody in Blue' and 'An American in Paris'. Gershwin's career commenced as a pianist at a music publishing company, where he promoted sheet music by performing it for potential buyers. His talent for composition soon attracted the attention of Broadway, launching his international career. Influenced by Frédéric Chopin's 24 Préludes, Gershwin began creating his own 'Preludes' for piano in the mid-1920s. Out of the five he composed, two were incorporated into the violin piece 'Short Story', while the remaining three were showcased at a concert on December 4, 1926. These 'Preludes' effectively blend classical and jazz elements, allowing them to be performed individually or as a compact jazz sonata (fast – slow – fast). The current arrangement has made these delightful pieces accessible in a format for solo instrument accompanied by piano.
Each collection comprises 11 songs tailored for instrumentalists who wish to perform in a jazz style -- without requiring the ability to improvise. All books are compatible, featuring only slight modifications in the "variation" section to suit the ranges and distinctive traits of the instruments.
n the years 1919-1920, George Gershwin was establishing his reputation through Broadway compositions and his inaugural show in New York. However, he was already drawn to the realm of classical music, a domain he would boldly enter in 1924 with the premiere of “Rhapsody in Blue.” To prepare for this transition, he undertook an intensive composition course, during which he composed a short piece titled “Lullaby” for string quartet, likely in 1919. He was so taken with its memorable melody that he later incorporated it into his one-act “jazz opera,” “Blue Monday Blues.” In 1968, his brother Ira remarked on the piece, describing it as charming and kind when the quartet movement was published for the first time. Consequently, this American composer gifted the world a second lullaby, one that stands proudly alongside his renowned “Summertime” from “Porgy and Bess.”
Tags : Piano Concerto for 2 pianos
Gershwin's Concerto, which premiered on December 3, 1925 at Carnegie Hall - the epicenter of New York's classical music scene - belongs to a group of self-imposed "experiments" through which the composer sought to integrate "serious" music with jazz. As Gershwin himself stated, "I have only written three 'opuses' so far – 'The Blue Monday Opera,' 'The Rhapsody in Blue' and the 'Concerto.' I have devoted much time to these works, but they are, of course, not my regular work. They are experiments – laboratory work in American music." For this new edition, editor Norbert Gertsch reviewed a multitude of autograph and printed sources in the USA and presents the first Urtext edition of this very popular piano concerto. Breitkopf & Härtel is also offering the full score and orchestral parts edited by Gertsch.