Early Life and Career (1898-1928)
George Gershwin was born on September 26th, 1898 in Brooklyn, New York. He was the second son of two Russian immigrants: Morris and Rose Gershovitz. Gershwin was a troublesome child who often skipped school, but he became a very talented pianist at the age of 12. In 1914 at the age of 15, Gershwin dropped out of high school to become a try-out pianist or “song plugger” for a music publisher named the Jerome H. Remick Music Co. in Tin Pan Alley. He published his first song in 1916 called “When You Want ‘Em, You Can’t Get ‘Em.” His first big hit came in 1919 with the song “Swanee” that was first performed by Al Jolson. Jolson’s recording sold millions and launched Gershwin into fame.
Gershwin became the master musician of the Jazz Age as a result of his many great compositions. In 1924, bandleader Paul Whiteman asked Gershwin to write an original jazz work for a concert at Aeolian Hall in New York. He barely finished the composition in time, but it was a huge success that turned him into a star. “Rhapsody in Blue” became a revolutionary piece in American music that used jazz rhythms and blues melodies within a classical framework successfully for the first time. Gershwin went on to compose other iconic orchestral works such as “Piano Concerto in F” (1925) for the New York Symphony, “Three Preludes for Piano” (1926), and “An American in Paris” (1928) for the New York Philharmonic.
In addition to his many great concert works, George Gershwin also became one of the greatest composers for musical theatre. He teamed up with his older brother Ira, andtogether “the Gershwins” became the dominant songwriters of Broadway. Together they created several great musical comedies such as “Lady, Be Good” (1924), “Tell Me More” (1925), “Tip-Toes” (1925), “Oh, Kay” (1926), and “Funny Face” (1927).
Socio-Economic & Cultural Context
Gershwin’s career took off amidst the start of the “Roaring ’20s” and the birth of the “Jazz Age.” It was an era of economic prosperity and new culture in the wake of the first World War. Gershwin was able to capture the free spirit and rebelliousness of the era through his new and revolutionary music. He incorporated newly popular jazz along with the more historic blues into the classical framework in many of his compositions such as “Rhapsody in Blue.” Gershwin was able to successfully merge old and new styles of music together into a single composition unlike any other composer had done before. In addition, Gershwin was able to rise to fame by publicizing his work using new forms of technology from the era such as radio, film, phonograph recordings and piano rolls.
Seminar Theme: What is Art and What is its Purpose?
George Gershwin’s musical compositions helped to express the mood and culture of his era. A cultural historian at the Smithsonian Institute said he “provided the voice for what he saw and heard around him every day. It’s this vitality this raw energy.” Gershwin’s work reflected the modern and rebellious culture of America in the 1920s, and he was able to capture its spirit and energy. He helped to popularize jazz and bring it to a wider audience, while also merging it with older forms of music to create an entirely new style. San Francisco Symphony Conductor Michael Tilson-Thomas said “He took the Jewish tradition, the African-American tradition and the symphonic tradition, and he made a language out of that which was accessible and understandable to all kinds of people.” Gershwin’s work influenced many other composers and groups that came after him including the Beatles, and his works are still popular today. He is one of the most celebrated composers of not just the Jazz Age, but of all American history.
Works Cited
“George Gershwin.” Gershwin, gershwin.com/george/.
Cowen, Ron. “George Gershwin: He Got Rhythm.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 1998, www.washingtonpost.com/wp- srv/national/horizon/nov98/gershwin.htm.
“George Gershwin.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, www.pbs.org/wnet/broadway/stars/george-gershwin/.
Boundless. “A Culture of Change.” A Culture of Change | Boundless US History, courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-ushistory/chapter/a-culture-of-change/.
December 18, 2017 at 5:19 pm
I enjoyed this presentation on George Gershwin, because I learned about the composer behind the famous “Rhapsody in Blue” tune that I recognize from numerous films to this day. I was interested to discover that Gershwin was not particularly successful in school as a child. I think his music genre which incorporate both jazz and historic blues genres was fitting for the time period – the start of the roaring 20s. I was impressed that the man produced such successful pieces at such a young age. His rebellious nature as a child was transferred to his work later on, as he essentially melded music forms together. He shaped the “Jazz Age” and revolutionized music to come after. As well, I loved listening to his famous Rhapsody in Blue as a class, because the song involves so much dimension and character as it progresses.