Presentation on the theme Rhapsody in Blues. George Gershwin is the first American composer whose music became known throughout the world

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George Gershwin (1899-1937) was born on September 26, 1898 in Brooklyn, New York, into a family of Jewish emigrants from Russia.

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His father was from St. Petersburg. The composer's real name is Yankel Gershovitz. Having absorbed jazz culture since childhood (it is said that Gershwin first heard jazz music at the age of 6), he was a fan of jazz concerts and at the age of 12 began to independently learn to play the piano.

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Much later, having become a famous composer, Gershwin never stopped studying and improving his technique. During such classes, he met unique American composers of those years - Henry Cowell, Wallingford Rigger and Russian professor Joseph Schillinger (the latter is notable for approaching the process of composing music from a mathematical perspective, trying to develop a universal algorithm).

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In 1914, Gershwin began to study music professionally, working as an accompanist in the company of Jerome Remick. Two years later, the first original work of the young Gershwin was released - “When You Want "Em You Can't Get "Em".

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Although it was not particularly popular with the public, Gershwin attracted the attention of some famous Broadway producers and directors. In those years, Gershwin, studying piano, harmony and orchestration, worked as a pianist in restaurants. Sigmund Romberg happily included Gershwin's music in his operetta The Passing Show of 1916.

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From 1918 to 1919, many of Gershwin's works appeared on Broadway: "Swanee" was included in the musical Sinbad and was a stunning success performed by Al Jolson. And the 1919 production of La, La Lucille was based entirely on Gershwin's writings.

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In 1920-1924, George Gershwin created several dozen works for “George White's Scandals”, and in 1922 he even wrote a real opera - “Blue Monday” (known as “135th Street”), after the premiere of which he was invited to join the jazz band Paul Whiteman as composer. It was for Whiteman that George composed the real pearl of his work - “Rhapsody in Blue”.

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In 1924, Gershwin created the musical Lady, Be Good!, which became the composer's first real success on Broadway. This production was the first time Gershwin worked with his brother Ira Gershwin, who wrote all the lyrics. The next decade, this creative union was the most productive and in demand on Broadway.

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Biography Gershwin was born on September 26, 1898 in Brooklyn, New York, in a family of Jewish emigrants from Russia. His father was from St. Petersburg. The composer's real name is Yankel Gershovitz. Having absorbed jazz culture since childhood (it is said that Gershwin first heard jazz music at the age of 6), he was a fan of jazz concerts and at the age of 12 began to independently learn to play the piano. Much later, having become a famous composer, Gershwin never stopped studying and improving his technique.

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In 1914, Gershwin began to study music professionally, working as an accompanist in the company of Jerome Remick. Two years later, the first original work of the young Gershwin was released - “When You Want "Em You Can't Get "Em". Although it was not particularly popular with the public, Gershwin attracted the attention of some famous Broadway producers and directors. For example, Sigmund Romberg happily included Gershwin's music in his operetta The Passing Show of 1916. In those years, Gershwin, studying piano, harmony and orchestration, worked as a pianist in restaurants.

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In 1918-1919, many of Gershwin's works appeared on Broadway: "Swanee" was included in the musical "Sinbad" and was a stunning success performed by Al Jolson. And the 1919 production of La, La Lucille was based entirely on Gershwin's writings. In 1920-1924, George Gershwin created several dozen works for “George White's Scandals”, and in 1922 he even wrote a real opera - “Blue Monday” (known as “135th Street”), after the premiere of which he was invited to join the jazz band Paul Whiteman as composer. It was for Whiteman that George composed the real pearl of his work - “Rhapsody in Blue”.

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In 1924, Gershwin created the musical Lady, Be Good!, which became the composer's first real success on Broadway. This production was the first time Gershwin worked with his brother Ira Gershwin, who wrote all the lyrics. The next decade, this creative union was the most productive and in demand on Broadway. Their most successful show was "Of Thee I Sing", 1931; for it they received the Pulitzer Prize, the first time awarded to a musical production. The most ambitious and ambitious work in Gershwin’s biography was the “folklore” opera “Porgy and Bess”, 1935, based on the novel by DuBose Hayward, who also took part in writing the libretto for the opera. In early 1937, he developed symptoms of a brain tumor. Gershwin was placed in the Lebenen Clinic, where he died on the morning of July 11, 1937, without regaining consciousness after surgery to remove the tumor.

BIOGRAPHY George Gershwin was born under the name Yankl Gershovitz on September 26, 1898 in the New York district of Brooklyn, in a family of Jewish emigrants from Odessa. At the age of 12 he began to independently learn to play the piano. Much later, having become a famous composer, Gershwin never stopped studying and improving his technique. September 26, 1898, New York, Brooklyn, Jewish Odessa


One of the most interesting chapters in the history of music in the United States of America is associated with the name of George Gershwin. Most of his life was spent in New York. The musical life of the New York street was the only breeding ground for the aesthetic impressions of childhood.


Gershwin's musical education was accidental. From one teacher he learned the initial skills of playing the piano. Composition classes gave young Gershwin basic knowledge in the field of harmony and form. Gershwin was one of the first truly talented musicians to understand the richness of African-American black music.


CREATIVITY In 1914, Gershwin began to study music professionally, working as an accompanist in the music publishing house of Jerome Remick. Two years later, the first original work of the young Gershwin, “When You Want Em, You Cant Get Em,” was released. Although it was not particularly popular with the public, Gershwin attracted the attention of some famous Broadway producers and directors: Jerome Remick.


BROADWAY Over the years, many of Gershwin's works appeared on Broadway: the song Swanee was included in Al Jolson's show "Sinbad" and was a stunning success. Jolson recorded it on records many times and performed it in several films. And the 1919 production of La La Lucille was based entirely on the writings of Gershwin. Broadway's Swanee show Al Jolson's La La Lucille


CREATIVE UNION In 1924, Gershwin created the musical Lady, Be Good, which became the composer's first real success on Broadway. This production was the first time Gershwin worked with his brother Ira Gershwin, who wrote all the lyrics. The next decade, this creative union was the most productive and in demand on Broadway. Their most successful show was Of Thee I Sing, 1931; for it they received the Pulitzer Prize (1932), the first time awarded to a musical production. Lady, Be Good by Ira Gershwin Of Thee I Sing Pulitzer Prize




In early 1937, Gershwin developed symptoms of a brain tumor. Gershwin was placed in the Cedars Sinai clinic, where he died on the morning of July 11, 1937, without regaining consciousness after surgery to remove a tumor. 1937 July 11, 1937


Interesting facts One of Gershwin's hobbies was drawing. Gershwin was in love with Alexandra Blednykh, his best student. In 1985, the Gershwin brothers were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. In 1945, the film “Rhapsody in Blue (English) Russian” was released, dedicated to the composer. Rhapsody in Blue Russian. The image of the composer was also created in the adventure television series “The Chronicles of Young Indiana Jones” (played by Tom Beckett) in the episode “The Scandal of 1920.” The Chronicles of Young Indiana Jones


Rhapsody The Greek word rhapsodia means an epic folk song. This is what the ancient Greeks called the tales sung by folk rhapsodic singers. The chapters of the rhapsodies were chanted, accompanying themselves on the cithara or lyre. In the 19th century, the name rhapsody came into professional music and began to mean a large one-movement work, usually for piano or orchestra, in which various folk melodies are heard.


PREMIERE OF RHAPSODY Rhapsody was first performed by the author on February 12, 1924 in New York, accompanied by Paul Whiteman's orchestra. George played the solo piano part. The evening of the Rhapsody's premiere became the most significant date in Gershwin's biography. The play was commissioned by Whiteman to the then aspiring composer and musician Gershwin on January 5, 1923, as an experiment in creating a new musical style combining jazz and classical music - symphonic jazz. Rhapsody February 12, 1924 New York jazz classical music


In the front row were famous musicians: Rachmaninov, Stravinsky, Heifetz, Zimbalist, Stokowski. The reception of Rhapsody was literally unprecedented. The soloist, the orchestra, and the conductor received endless applause. The most perspicacious and subtle connoisseurs understood that Blue Rhapsody synthesizes the most characteristic features of the music of an entire era.




The work was to be called “American Rhapsody”; the well-known name “Rhapsody in Blue” was suggested by the composer’s brother Ira Gershwin, after he visited the art exhibition of James McNeil Whistler James McNeil Whistler’s “Rhapsody in Blue” became Gershwin’s calling card. Nowadays it is performed with equal success by musicians of both academic and jazz styles.


The Russian title of this work, “Blue Rhapsody,” arose under the influence of the primary meaning of the English word blue, which means not only “blue, blue,” but also “sad, sorrowful.” Therefore, the word blues itself literally means “sad melody,” “longing,” “sadness.” blues

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Birthday: 09/26/1898 Age: 38 years old Place of birth: Brooklyn, USA Date of death: 07/11/1937 Place of death: Hollywood, USA Original name: Yakov Gershovitz

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The greatest American composer Gershwin George, whose biography is full of unprecedented ups and sudden turns, embodies the American dream with his life. He achieved everything himself, finding his own path, reaching incredible heights and world fame.

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Family and childhood On September 26, 1898, a boy, Yakov Gershovitz, was born into a family of Russian emigrants of Jewish origin in Brooklyn. The family was not rich; besides Yakov, there were three children; they lived in a small apartment in a wooden house. He was an obnoxious child, constantly playing pranks, and did poorly at school. His mother at first hoped that he could become a teacher, but later enrolled him in a commerce school, although George didn’t do any good there either.

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Discovering Music The boy was fascinated by music since childhood. Even while skating, he could freeze in place when he heard a beautiful melody. Most of all he was attracted by jazz, but he also liked classical music. Once Max Rosenzweig performed at school: he played “Humoresque” by A. Dvorak on the violin. Music captivated the future composer. He waited a long time for the violinist after the concert, and without waiting, he went to his home. Later they became friends, and it was Max who opened the world of music to George. At Rosenzweig's house, he listened to music and learned to play the piano by ear. The parents were very happy to learn that their son had a strong interest in life and obvious abilities. They enrolled him in a music school, but George categorically did not like systematic classes, solfeggio and scales. He never received a musical education. But still, a new original musician appeared in the world - Gershwin George. Only Charles Hambitzer managed to find a common language with the young man. He gave him piano lessons and recommended specialists in harmony and orchestration.

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Stages of a musical career By the age of 17, Gershwin had mastered the basics of musical literacy, learned to play the piano decently, and began composing his own works. He studied classical works quite diligently, but was attracted to popular music. Since 1915, he begins to earn money through creativity: he plays in restaurants, accompanies and little by little writes his own music, mostly small compositions and songs. Later he becomes the author of music for musicals, in which he reaches real heights. The dawn of his work coincided with the growing popularity of jazz, and Gershwin's influence on this direction was very great. He creates a large number of compositions that require the performer to be able to improvise.

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The opera "Porgy and Bess": the pinnacle of creativity Gershwin's most famous and significant work is the opera "Porgy and Bess". The famous work was written in 1935 based on D. Hayward's play about the black Romeo and Juliet. The composer worked on the opera for 20 months, the work was intense. The work was worth it: Gershwin managed to compose a real masterpiece. The work showed the world Gershwin the innovator. He originally weaves folklore motifs with jazz improvisations and symphonic melodies. The premiere took place in 1935 and was a stunning success, but the true fame of the work came after the death of the author.

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Personal life of a genius Gershwin George, whose biography is full of meetings with women and freedom, became the embodiment of ideas about a bohemian lifestyle. He was a real Casanova. His novels with the most beautiful women cannot be counted. The wild life and hard work on the opera broke the composer’s health. He died of a brain tumor in 1937 at the age of 39.

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