Composer

George Gershwin

American composer and pianist (1898–1937)

1898–1937

764 works in the index

Born: 1898
Died: 1937
Birthplace: Brooklyn
Citizenship / historical state: United States
Period (estimated from birth year): Modern

Biography

Gershwin left school at 15 to get into the music business. His first job in that business was to play newly composed scores on the piano to interested singers or performers, helping the composers find their market. As he developed his own skill as a composer, he asked Maurice Ravel for lessons. Ravel refused, saying that he feared damaging Gershwin’s own unique style. Arnold Schoenberg, similarly, told him: “I would only make you a second-rate Schoenberg, and you are such a good Gershwin already.” Gershwin’s legacy includes the opera “Porgy and Bess,” with songs such as “Summertime” and “It Ain’t Necessarily So,” as well as “Rhapsody in Blue,” a jazz pianist’s concert work, and “An American in Paris,” a more fully orchestrated piece that inspired the 1951 movie musical of the same name. Gershwin, who had become the wealthiest composer of his time, died suddenly of a brain tumor in 1937. He was interred in Hudson, New York.

In this catalogue

Common listed instruments: Piano, Vocal, Voice, Guitar, Choir
Genres represented: Jazz, Classical, Pop, Broadway, pop
Works with composition dates: 13 of 764

These details describe the indexed sheet music, including arrangements.

Catalogue

Works page 1 of 16

Years are composition dates where known. Instruments describe editions in our catalogue and may include arrangements. A dash means the detail is not recorded.

Works and available sheet music details
Work	Year composed	Catalogue / opus	Key in title	Listed instruments	Genre	Editions
Summertime	1934-35IMSLP	—	—	Piano, Organ, Guitar, Cello, Flute, Oboe, violin, Voice, Bassoon, Double Bass, Horn, Clarinet, Trombone, Trumpet	Jazz, Classical, Pop	162
Oh, Lady Be Good	—	—	—	Piano, Organ, Guitar, Cello, Flute, violin, Voice, Vocal, Double Bass, Choir, Horn, Clarinet, Trombone, Tuba, Keyb	Blues, Jazz, Classical, Pop	114
I Got Rhythm	1933-34IMSLP	—	—	Piano, Organ, Guitar, Cello, Flute, Oboe, violin, Voice, Bassoon, Vocal, Choir, Horn, Clarinet, Trombone, Trumpet	Jazz, Classical, Pop, Musicals	120
Someone To Watch Over Me	—	—	—	Piano, Guitar, Flute, Oboe, violin, Voice, Bassoon, Vocal, Choir, Horn, Clarinet, Trombone, Trumpet, String Quart	Jazz, Classical, Pop, Musicals	111
Rhapsody in Blue	1924Wikidata	—	—	Piano, Organ, Guitar, Cello, Flute, Oboe, violin, Voice, Bassoon, Orchestra, Choir, Clarinet, Trombone, String Qu	Blues, Jazz, Classical, Pop	86
It Ain't Necessarily So	—	—	—	Piano, Organ, Guitar, Cello, Flute, violin, Voice, Vocal, Double Bass, Choir, Horn, Clarinet, Trombone, Trumpet, T	Jazz, Classical, Pop	65
Nice Work If You Can Get It	—	—	—	Piano, Guitar, Flute, Oboe, violin, Voice, Bassoon, Vocal, Choir, Horn, Clarinet, Trumpet, Keyboard, Saxophone, Te	Blues, Jazz, Classical, Pop	81
The Man I Love	1924Wikidata	—	—	Piano, Organ, Guitar, Cello, Flute, Oboe, violin, Voice, Bassoon, Vocal, Double Bass, Choir, Horn, Clarinet, Tromb	Jazz, Classical, Pop, Musicals	89
Embraceable You	—	—	—	Piano, Guitar, Cello, Flute, Oboe, violin, Voice, Bassoon, Vocal, Choir, Horn, Clarinet, Trombone, Trumpet, Keyboa	Jazz, Classical, Pop, Musicals	88
Fascinatin' Rhythm	—	—	—	Piano, Guitar, Flute, Oboe, Voice, Trombone, String Quartet	Blues, Jazz, Classical, Pop	91
But Not For Me	—	—	—	Piano, Guitar, Flute, Oboe, violin, Voice, Bassoon, Vocal, Choir, Horn, Clarinet, Trumpet, Keyboard, Alto, Saxopho	Jazz, Classical, Pop, Musicals	70
I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'	—	—	—	Piano, Organ, Guitar, Cello, violin, Voice, Double Bass, Horn, Trombone, Trumpet, Tuba	Jazz, Classical	42
They Can't Take That Away From Me	—	—	—	Piano, Guitar, Flute, violin, Voice, Vocal, Choir, Clarinet, Trumpet, Keyboard, Low Voice, Tenor Saxophone	Jazz, Rock, Classical, Pop	61
I'll Build A Stairway To Paradise	—	—	—	Piano, Guitar, Voice, Vocal, Horn, Trombone, Trumpet, Tuba	Blues, Jazz, Classical	51
I've Got A Crush On You	—	—	—	Piano, Guitar, Flute, Oboe, Voice, Bassoon, Vocal, Choir, Horn, Clarinet, Trumpet, String Quartet, Saxophone, Ten	Jazz, Classical, Pop	56
Love Walked In	—	—	—	Piano, Guitar, Flute, Voice, Choir, Clarinet, Keyboard	Jazz, Classical	43
A Foggy Day (in London Town)	—	—	—	Piano, Guitar, Cello, Flute, Oboe, violin, Voice, Vocal, Horn, Clarinet, Trumpet, Keyboard, Alto, Tenor Saxophone	Jazz, Classical, Pop	54
Let's Call The Whole Thing Off	—	—	—	Piano, Guitar, Cello, Voice, Vocal, Choir, Clarinet, String Quartet, Keyboard	Jazz, Classical, Pop	46
Soon	—	—	—	Piano, Guitar, Voice, Vocal	Jazz, Classical, Pop	37
I Loves You Porgy	—	—	—	Piano, Organ, Guitar, Voice, Vocal, Horn, Trombone, Trumpet, Tuba	Jazz, Classical	43
How Long Has This Been Going On?	—	—	—	Piano, Guitar, Flute, Oboe, Voice, Bassoon, Vocal, Horn, Clarinet, Trombone, Trumpet, Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone	Jazz, Classical, Pop	49
Love Is Here To Stay	—	—	—	Piano, Guitar, Flute, Voice, Vocal, Choir, Keyboard, Low Voice	Jazz, Classical, Pop	49
Somebody Loves Me	—	—	—	Piano, Guitar, Voice, Vocal, Choir, String Quartet, Keyboard	Jazz, Classical	48
Strike Up The Band!	—	—	—	Piano, Guitar, Flute, Oboe, Voice, Bassoon, Vocal, Choir, Horn, Clarinet, Trombone, Trumpet, Tuba, Keyboard, percu	Jazz, Classical, Pop	48
My Mans Gone Now	—	—	—	Piano, Organ, Guitar, Cello, violin, Voice, Vocal, Double Bass, Choir, Clarinet	Jazz, Classical	33
's Wonderful	—	—	—	Piano, Organ, Guitar, Cello, Flute, Oboe, violin, Voice, Bassoon, Vocal, Choir, Horn, Clarinet, Trombone, Trumpet	Jazz, Classical, Pop	64
An American in Paris	1928Wikidata	—	—	Piano, Organ, Guitar, Cello, violin, Voice, Orchestra, Choir, String Quartet, Viola	Jazz, Classical	39
Three Preludes: No. 2. Andante con moto e poco rubato	—	—	—	Piano, Guitar, Cello, violin, Voice, String Quartet, Saxophone, Viola	Jazz, Classical, Pop	39
By Strauss	—	—	—	Piano, Voice, Vocal	Jazz, Classical	20
Concerto In F (Second Movement)	—	—	—	Piano, Organ, Guitar, Cello, violin, Voice, String Quartet, Viola	Jazz, Classical	18
Bess, You Is My Woman Now	—	—	—	Piano, Organ, Guitar, Cello, violin, Voice, Vocal, Horn, Clarinet, Trombone, Tuba	Jazz, Classical, Musicals	25
Prelude (Melody No. 17)	—	—	—	Piano	Jazz, Classical	15
Do, Do, Do	—	—	—	Piano, Guitar, Flute, Voice, Vocal, Clarinet	Jazz, Classical, Pop	23
Second Rhapsody For Piano And Orchestra	—	—	—	Piano	Jazz, Classical	19
They All Laughed	—	—	—	Piano, Guitar, Flute, Voice, Vocal, Choir, String Quartet, Keyboard	Jazz, Classical	31
Liza All The Clouds'll Roll Away	—	—	—	Piano, Guitar, Voice	Jazz, Country, Classical	34
He Loves And She Loves	—	—	—	Piano, Guitar, violin, Voice, Vocal, Choir	Jazz, Classical	21
Bidin' My Time	—	—	—	Piano, Guitar, Voice, Vocal, Choir	Jazz, Classical	29
Swanee	—	—	—	Piano, Guitar, Flute, violin, Voice, Vocal, Choir, Horn, Clarinet, Trombone, Trumpet, Tuba, Keyboard	Jazz, Country, Classical, Pop, Religious, Musicals	41
Sweet And Low Down	—	—	—	Piano, Guitar, Flute, Voice, Vocal, Clarinet	Jazz, Classical	30
Of Thee I Sing	1931IMSLP	—	—	Piano, Guitar, Flute, Voice, Vocal, Choir	Jazz, Classical	25
Slap That Bass	—	—	—	Piano, Guitar, Flute, Voice, String Quartet, Alto	Jazz, Classical, pop	14
Do It Again!	—	—	—	Piano, Guitar, Voice, Vocal	Jazz, Classical	26
Clap Yo' Hands	—	—	—	Piano, Guitar, Voice, Vocal, Choir, Low Voice	Jazz, Classical	30
Funny Face	—	—	—	Piano, Guitar, Flute, Voice, Vocal, Clarinet	Jazz, Classical	15
High Hat	—	—	—	Piano, Guitar, Voice	Jazz, Classical	9
Isn't It A Pity	—	—	—	Piano, Guitar, Voice, Vocal	Jazz, Classical	16
That Certain Feeling	—	—	—	Piano, Vocal	Jazz, Classical	18

Biographical record: Wikidata, matched on name and checked against dates held in the catalogue. The period label is an estimate from birth year. Authority record: VIAF 61554329. Portrait: Carl Van Vechten, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.