Summertime: George Gershwin's Life in Music by Richard Crawford (English) Paperb

Description: Summertime by Richard Crawford The life of a beloved American composer reflected through his music, writings and letters. FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description New York City native and gifted pianist George Gershwin blossomed as an accompanist before his talent as a songwriter opened the way to Broadway, where he fashioned his own brand of American music. He composed a long run of musical comedies, many with his brother Ira as lyricist, but his aspirations reached beyond commercial success. A lifetime learner, Gershwin was able to appeal to listeners on both sides of the purported popular-classical divide. In 1924?when he was just twenty-five?he bridged that gap with his first instrumental composition, Rhapsody in Blue, an instant classic premiered by Paul Whitemans jazz orchestra, as the anchor of a concert entitled ?An Experiment in Modern Music.? From that time forward his work as a composer, pianist, and citizen of the Jazz Age made him in some circles a leader on Americas musical scene. The late1920s found him extending the range of the shows he scored to include the United Kingdom, and he published several articles to reveal his thinking about a range of musical matters. Moreover, having polished his skills as an orchestrator, he pushed boundaries again in 1935 with the groundbreaking folk opera, Porgy and Bess?his magnum opus. Gershwins talent and warmth made him a presence in New Yorks musical and social circles (and linked him romantically with pianist-composer Kay Swift). In 1936 he and Ira moved west to write songs for Hollywood. Their work was cut short, however, when George developed a brain tumor and died at thirty-eight, a beloved American artist. Drawing extensively from letters and contemporaneous accounts, acclaimed music historian Richard Crawford traces the arc of Gershwins remarkable life, seamlessly blending colorful anecdotes with a discussion of Gershwins unforgettable oeuvre. His days on earth were limited to the summertime of life. But the spirit and inventive vitality of the music he left behind lives on. Author Biography Richard Crawford (1935—2024), a longtime professor at the University of Michigan, member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and served as president of the American Musicological Society, published ten books on American music. Review "The author offers many such evocative descriptions in his scholarly account of Gershwins tragically short life. The works are covered in exhaustive detail, with in-depth analysis, plots and character summaries…" -- The Economist"Summertime is a genial and enthusiastic book..." -- Times Literary Supplement Review Quote Richard Crawfords book on Gershwins life and music, elegant and authoritative, is an irresistible match: one of the great historians of American music writing about one of the greatest American composers. Every chapter is filled with deep knowledge and insight, written with charm and captivating prose.--Thomas Brothers, author of Help! The Beatles, Duke Ellington, and the Magic of Collaboration The in in Summertime s subtitle promises both a context and a method: to place Gershwins life in the wider world of music-making, and to reveal that life in terms of the very music Gershwin made. Balancing massively rich research with detailed yet always lucid analysis and a masters knack for storytelling, Crawford superbly fulfills these promises, and then some. With Summertime he makes both Gershwin and his music come alive afresh.--Larry Stempel, author of Showtime: A History of the Broadway Musical Theater, professor of music and American Studies, Fordham University An engaging focus on the music, scrupulously covering all the musical comedies in detail as well as the classical compositions and film work. [Crawford] effectively interweaves what was happening in Gershwins personal life into the story of the songs and shows, rather than the other way around....A worthy tribute to Gershwins phenomenal creativity over only two decades.--Booklist An engaging chronicle of a brilliant musician....A warm homage to a central figure in American music and theater.--Kirkus Details ISBN0393358356 Author Richard Crawford Year 2020 ISBN-10 0393358356 ISBN-13 9780393358353 Format Paperback Imprint WW Norton & Co Subtitle George Gershwins Life in Music Place of Publication New York Country of Publication United States Affiliation University of Michigan Pages 640 Short Title Summertime Language English Publication Date 2020-07-31 UK Release Date 2020-07-31 AU Release Date 2020-07-31 NZ Release Date 2020-07-31 US Release Date 2020-07-31 Publisher WW Norton & Co Alternative 9780393052152 DEWEY 780.92 Audience General We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:137358811;

Price: 49.04 AUD

Location: Melbourne

End Time: 2024-12-05T02:14:57.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 AUD