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 12 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 Loves You Porgy - B-flat Trumpet 1 — —— —— —
I Loves You Porgy - Trombone 3 — —— —— —
I Loves You Porgy - Score and Parts — —— —— —
Swanee Rose — —— —— —
It Ain't Necessarily So - Violin 1 — —— —— —
It Ain't Necessarily So - Viola — —— —— —
It Ain't Necessarily So - String Bass — —— —— —
Prelude No. 2 in C-sharp Minor — —C-sharp minor —— —
Fascinating Rhythm - Violin 1 — —— —— —
Rhapsody in Blue - Violin 2 — —— —— —
Prelude II - Cello — —— —— —
Second Rhapsody - Cello — —— —— —
I've Got a Crush on You - Cello — —— —— —
I've Got a Crush on You - Score and Parts — —— —— —
My Man's Gone Now - Piano Accompaniment — —— —— —
Rhapsody in Blue - Bari Sax — —— —— —
Rhapsody in Blue - Trombone 2 — —— —— —
Oh, Lady Be Good! - E-flat Alto Saxophone 2 — —— —— —
Oh, Lady Be Good! - B-flat Trumpet 3 — —— —— —
Oh, Lady Be Good! - Horn in F — —— —— —
Oh, Lady Be Good! - Bass — —— —— —
I Loves You Porgy - E-flat Alto Saxophone 1 — —— —— —
I Loves You Porgy - B-flat Trumpet 2 — —— —— —
I Loves You Porgy - Trombone 4 — —— —— —
There's a Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon for New York - Conductor's Score — —— —— —
Bess, You Is My Woman Now - Violin 1 — —— —— —
There's a Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon for New York - Violin 2 — —— —— —
Bess, You Is My Woman Now - Viola — —— —— —
There's a Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon for New York - Cello — —— —— —
Bess, You Is My Woman Now - String Bass — —— —— —
The Man I Love - Lead Sheet — —— —— —
The Man I Love - B-flat Clarinet Solo — —— —— —
Fascinating Rhythm - Violin 2 — —— —— —
I Got Rhythm - Violin 1 — —— —— —
Rhapsody in Blue - Viola — —— —— —
An American In Paris - Violin 1 — —— —— —
Strike Up the Band: Vocal Score — —— —— —
Someone to Watch Over Me - Violin 1 — —— —— —
My Man's Gone Now - C Lead Sheet - BC — —— —— —
Rhapsody in Blue - Trumpet 1 — —— —— —
Rhapsody in Blue - Trombone 3 — —— —— —
Oh, Lady Be Good! - B-flat Tenor Saxophone 1 — —— —— —
Oh, Lady Be Good! - B-flat Trumpet 4 — —— —— —
Oh, Lady Be Good! - Baritone 1 TC — —— —— —
Oh, Lady Be Good! - Drums — —— —— —
I Loves You Porgy - E-flat Alto Saxophone 2 — —— —— —
I Loves You Porgy - B-flat Trumpet 3 — —— —— —
I Loves You Porgy - Guitar — —— —— —

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.