JustSheetMusic
Portrait of George Gershwin

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 11 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
WorkYear composedCatalogue / opusKey in titleListed instrumentsGenreEditions
I Got Rhythm - Cello — —— —— —
An American In Paris - Score — —— —— —
Prelude II - Violin 2 — —— —— —
An American In Paris - Cello — —— —— —
Second Rhapsody - Violin 2 — —— —— —
Someone to Watch Over Me - Cello — —— —— —
I've Got a Crush on You - Violin 2 — —— —— —
Someone to Watch Over Me - Score and Parts — —— —— —
Embraceable You - Bass — —— —— —
The Man I Love - Bass - Bass — —— —— —
Rhapsody in Blue - Clarinet/Tenor Sax 1 — —— —— —
Rhapsody in Blue - Trumpet 4 — —— —— —
Rhapsody in Blue - Drums — —— —— —
Oh, Lady Be Good! - C Flute — —— —— —
Oh, Lady Be Good! - B-flat Trumpet 1 — —— —— —
Oh, Lady Be Good! - Trombone 3 — —— —— —
Oh, Lady Be Good! - Guitar — —— —— —
I Loves You Porgy - E-flat Baritone Saxophone — —— —— —
I Loves You Porgy - Trombone 2 — —— —— —
I Loves You Porgy - Drums — —— —— —
I Got Plenty o' Nuttin' - Conductor's Score — —— —— —
Summertime - Violin 1 — —— —— —
My Man's Gone Now - Violin 1 — —— —— —
I Got Plenty o' Nuttin' - Violin 2 — —— —— —
Summertime - Viola — —— —— —
My Man's Gone Now - Viola — —— —— —
I Got Plenty o' Nuttin' - Cello — —— —— —
Summertime - String Bass — —— —— —
My Man's Gone Now - String Bass — —— —— —
Finaletto: Act 1 — —— —— —
I Got Rhythm / Fascinating Rhythm — —— —— —
Fascinating Rhythm - Score and Parts — —— —— —
I Got Rhythm - Score and Parts — —— —— —
Rhapsody in Blue - Violin 1 — —— —— —
Prelude II - Viola — —— —— —
Second Rhapsody - Viola — —— —— —
Second Rhapsody - Score and Parts — —— —— —
I've Got a Crush on You - Viola — —— —— —
Nice Work If You Can Get It - Bass — —— —— —
My Man's Gone Now - B-flat Lead Sheet — —— —— —
Rhapsody in Blue - Tenor Sax 2 — —— —— —
Rhapsody in Blue - Trombone 1 — —— —— —
Rhapsody in Blue - Score and Parts — —— —— —
Oh, Lady Be Good! - E-flat Alto Saxophone 1 — —— —— —
Oh, Lady Be Good! - B-flat Trumpet 2 — —— —— —
Oh, Lady Be Good! - Trombone 4 — —— —— —
Oh, Lady Be Good! - Piano — —— —— —
I Loves You Porgy - Score — —— —— —

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.