Before becoming a composer, George Gershwin worked as a 'piano pounder' for a publisher, playing current melodies for customers for hours each day.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Irving Berlin, a successful songwriter, claimed in 1961 that George Gershwin was the only songwriter he knew who became a composer.
Composer Biography
George Gershwin's family acquired a piano when he was twelve, originally for his older brother Ira, but George immediately began playing it, surprising everyone.
Notable Performances
At the 1924 world premiere of Rhapsody in Blue, George Gershwin had to improvise parts of the solo piano section because he hadn't finished writing it in time.
Composition History
George Gershwin conceived the entire structure of Rhapsody in Blue during a railway journey, inspired by the rhythm of the train.
Composition History
George Gershwin's Songbook, a collection of 18 piano adaptations of his Broadway musicals, was published in 1932 and simplified for less advanced piano players.
Composition History
George Gershwin's most famous work, Rhapsody in Blue, was originally titled 'American Rhapsody,' but his brother Ira suggested the current name.
