List of compositions by George Gershwin
Contents
• 1 Classical works
• 2 Solo Works for Piano
• 3 Musical theater credits
o 3.1 Works featuring original Gershwin songs for shows by other composers
o 3.2 Works interpolating Gershwin songs posthumously
• 4 Miscellaneous songs
• 5 Musical films
1. Classical works
• Lullaby (1919), a meditative piece for string quartet. Originally, a class assignment from his music theory teacher.
• Blue Monday, a one-act opera featured in George White's Scandals of 1922 at the Globe Theatre, Paul Whiteman conducting, orchestrated by Will Vodery.
o A Suite from Blue Monday for two pianos was later arranged by Gershwin and has been recorded.
o Reorchestrated by Ferde Grofé and retitled 135th Street in 1925 for a performance at Carnegie Hall.
• Rhapsody in Blue, (1924), his most famous work, a symphonic jazz composition for Paul Whiteman's jazz band & piano, premiered at Aeolian Hall, better known in the form orchestrated for full symphonic orchestra. Both versions were orchestrated by Ferde Grofé. Featured in numerous films and commercials.
• Short Story, (1925), for violin and piano, an arrangement of two other short pieces originally intended to be included with the Three Preludes. Premiered by Samuel Dushkin at The University Club of New York in New York City.
• Concerto in F, (1925), three movements, for piano and orchestra, premiered in Carnegie Hall by the New York Symphony Orchestra, Walter Damrosch conducting.
o I. Allegro
o II. Adagio - Andante con moto - Adagio
o III. Allegro agitato
• An American in Paris (1928), a symphonic tone poem with elements of jazz and realistic Parisian sound effects, premiered in Carnegie Hall by the New York Philharmonic, Walter Damrosch conducting.
• Dream Sequence (1929) A five minute instrumental interlude, meant to portray a mind reeling into the dream state. Different music than the "Rhapsody in Rivets" sequence, which later was expanded and rescored into the Second Rhapsody. Other musical sequences went unused that Gershwin created for Delicious (film), Fox Film Corporation declined to use the rest of his score.
• Second Rhapsody (1931), for piano and orchestra, based on the score for a musical sequence from Delicious (film). Working title for the work was Rhapsody in Rivets. Premiered at the Boston Symphony Hall by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Serge Koussevitzky conducting.
• Cuban Overture (1932), originally titled Rumba, a tone poem featuring elements of native Cuban dance and folk music; score specifies usage of native Cuban instruments, premiered at the Lewisohn Stadium of the City University of New York, Gershwin conducting.
Contents
• 1 Classical works
• 2 Solo Works for Piano
• 3 Musical theater credits
o 3.1 Works featuring original Gershwin songs for shows by other composers
o 3.2 Works interpolating Gershwin songs posthumously
• 4 Miscellaneous songs
• 5 Musical films
1. Classical works
• Lullaby (1919), a meditative piece for string quartet. Originally, a class assignment from his music theory teacher.
• Blue Monday, a one-act opera featured in George White's Scandals of 1922 at the Globe Theatre, Paul Whiteman conducting, orchestrated by Will Vodery.
o A Suite from Blue Monday for two pianos was later arranged by Gershwin and has been recorded.
o Reorchestrated by Ferde Grofé and retitled 135th Street in 1925 for a performance at Carnegie Hall.
• Rhapsody in Blue, (1924), his most famous work, a symphonic jazz composition for Paul Whiteman's jazz band & piano, premiered at Aeolian Hall, better known in the form orchestrated for full symphonic orchestra. Both versions were orchestrated by Ferde Grofé. Featured in numerous films and commercials.
• Short Story, (1925), for violin and piano, an arrangement of two other short pieces originally intended to be included with the Three Preludes. Premiered by Samuel Dushkin at The University Club of New York in New York City.
• Concerto in F, (1925), three movements, for piano and orchestra, premiered in Carnegie Hall by the New York Symphony Orchestra, Walter Damrosch conducting.
o I. Allegro
o II. Adagio - Andante con moto - Adagio
o III. Allegro agitato
• An American in Paris (1928), a symphonic tone poem with elements of jazz and realistic Parisian sound effects, premiered in Carnegie Hall by the New York Philharmonic, Walter Damrosch conducting.
• Dream Sequence (1929) A five minute instrumental interlude, meant to portray a mind reeling into the dream state. Different music than the "Rhapsody in Rivets" sequence, which later was expanded and rescored into the Second Rhapsody. Other musical sequences went unused that Gershwin created for Delicious (film), Fox Film Corporation declined to use the rest of his score.
• Second Rhapsody (1931), for piano and orchestra, based on the score for a musical sequence from Delicious (film). Working title for the work was Rhapsody in Rivets. Premiered at the Boston Symphony Hall by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Serge Koussevitzky conducting.
• Cuban Overture (1932), originally titled Rumba, a tone poem featuring elements of native Cuban dance and folk music; score specifies usage of native Cuban instruments, premiered at the Lewisohn Stadium of the City University of New York, Gershwin conducting.
