Essay about Rhapsody in Blue - 661 Words

George Gershwin was one of the most prolific American composers of the 20th century. He was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1898 to Ukrainian immigrants, Morris and Rosa Gershowitz. He began to study piano at a young age and was instructed by noted piano teacher Charles Hambitzer. After dropping out of high school at the young age of 15, he began his career as a song-plugger. A song-plugger was somebody who demonstrated new sheet music to be sold in a music store. He did this for three years and by that time had turned into a highly skilled pianist. In 1916 he composed his first published song entitled â€Å"When You Want ’Em You Can’t Get ’Em†. From 1920 to 1924, he composed for an annual production put on by George White. Legend has it†¦show more content†¦What those critics didn’t know is that Gershwin’s composition would become an internationally recognized piece of American music. When you listen to Gershwin’s work it’s hard to not be amazed in what you are hearing. It is difficult to describe parts of the music that you like because there are so many. Several critics claimed the piece was not fluid and seemed to be just put together. One critic said you â€Å"can remove any of these stuck-together sections and the piece still goes on as bravely as before.† (Gershwin, 2012). We believed that this made the piece unique. The beginning of the piece briefly introduces all the different themes in short solos before expounding on all of them later which is something that was not common during this time either. We also enjoyed the â€Å"American† feeling that was on display throughout the piece. It is a melting pot of themes and ideas that all seem to fit together perfectly. â€Å"Rhapsody in Blue† is a difficult piece to dislike. The only critical comment that we could make about this wonderful piece is that it was hard to follow. Even though the sporadic tempos and themes make this an iconic piece of American music history, it had a sense of not being organized. For the most part, we had nothing but good comments for Gershwin’s work and enjoyed being able to research such a wonderful piece ofShow MoreRelatedRhapsody In Blue Essay1252 Words   |  6 Pages Rhapsody In Blue George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue is one of those timeless classics that is instantly recognizable to many people’s ears today, even ninety years after it was first introduced to the world. It is a piece that has found its way into contemporary movies and advertisements, making it likely as recognizable as Chopin’s Funeral March or Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. But unlike these two pieces of iconic classical music, Rhapsody in Blue â€Å"resists classificationRead MoreGeorge Gershwins Rhapsody in Blue Essay examples780 Words   |  4 PagesBroadway shows and opera. He composed â€Å"Swanne,† which is the first nationally successful piece and â€Å"Blue Monday†, which is a jazz opera piece in 1919 and he became really popular. In 1924, George Gershwin and his older brother Ira worked together and made the musical comedy â€Å"Lady Be Good† and it was performed on Broadway. He also composed his first classical and most famous piece â€Å"Rhapsody in Blue† in the same year. It is his most famous piece and the piece made him a celebrity and appeared on TimeRead MoreA tribute to Patsy Cline700 Words   |  3 Pageseyes shining bright with passion for the music and doing what he loves. Mr. Shram conducted as the symphony began to play their first number written by George Enesco when he was only nineteen years old, Rumanian Rhapsody in A major, Op. eleven, No. One. Written in 1901, this rhapsody is one of Enescos best known compositions. 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Its power, grandeur, as well as elements of surprise fit very well in several scenes in the movie. â€Å"Young and Beautiful† by Lana Del Rey, a modern day song, was best chosen for the love scenes and can be a song that tellsRead More George Gershwin Essay1643 Words   |  7 PagesAmerican composers of the 1920’s. In this paper I will discuss Gershwin’s life as a child and his upbringing and how his music expressed the dreams of every American Citizen by mixing different styles of music like Jewish, black, jazz, classical, blues and put them into one genre and created absolute music. George Gershwin was born in Brooklyn, New York on September 26, 1898. As the son of immigrant parents, Georges father had many jobs, so they were forced to live in many locations. GeorgeRead MoreEssay about The Ultimate Collection by George Gershwin635 Words   |  3 Pagesout of two CDs; the first cd is Gershwins pieces sung by different jazz singers such as Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby and more#8230; The second cd, is Gerswhins famous pieces taken from musical shows such as Porgy and Bess, Rhapsody in Blue, Cuban overture, Funny face and more. First Cd: The cd starts with the song Strike up the Band performed by Oscar Peterson. The piece consists of a piano, cello. This song in my opinion setsRead MoreGeorge Gershwin Essay examples970 Words   |  4 Pagesthis time, Gershwin composed his first operetta, Blue Monday. It impressed Paul Whiteman, a famous bandleader, so much that he asked Gershwin to compose a symphonic jazz piece. At this time, however, Gershwin was still busy composing for White and forgot to compose for Whiteman until only one month before the scheduled performance. During this rushed creation, Gershwin found inspiration to create his most famous individual piece, Rhapsody in Blue. At its first performance, the piece was loved byRead MoreEssay on George Gershwin (1898-1937)1254 Words   |  6 Pagesdeal of improvising. Interesting enough, Gershwins musical interest in jazz and blues has created a new style of American music known by all today. Gershwin wrote many great works of art. A few of his most popular works, which gained a lot of their popularity after his death, would include: When you want em you cant get em, when you got em, you dont want em; Swanee; Porgy and Bess; Rhapsody in Blue; and Blue Monday. In 1916, Gershwin published his first song called When you want