I refer to the late, and absolutely and positively great, George Gershwin, who probably more than anyone cemented my affection for America which is odd given that he was of Ukrainian and Lithuanian Jewish descent - but, hey, that's America!
It is not often that you will see the 'WaPo' quoted in these august columns but I came across a review by Laurence Maslon of a biography of George Gershwin - not, mind you, that he praises the book fulsomely! Even so, you 'just gotta lurve' a man who produced so much brilliant and moving music - his Rhapsody in Blue is superb and his 1st Piano Concerto even better. Of course, it was his popular music that first caught me, especially the score for the film "An American in Paris" and the opera 'Porgy and Bess'. An absolute genius and, dear God, why did have to die so young?
Gershwin, with his mixed ethnic background and disregard for convention, is essentially American. Other modern American composers of note are Samuel Barber, Aaron Copeland, Alan Hovhaness and Philip Glass, just to name the most popular.
Posted by: Bob | Thursday, 12 September 2019 at 20:54
Where would world music be without the Gershwin brothers? Beautiful music for all to enjoy. It will survive.
Posted by: Andra | Thursday, 12 September 2019 at 23:22
David, calm down, dear. Take a break from fretting about stupid pols and Britain not being a pure democracy, plug some headphones into your computer and drift away to the following American music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izQsgE0L450
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbrkYDvogaY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ol9PJJN4zE
Then to cheer you up:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=422-yb8TXj8
Posted by: Bob | Saturday, 14 September 2019 at 16:23
Thank you, Bob, you are in danger of bringing my blog to a halt - waddya mean that's what you intended!
Posted by: David Duff | Saturday, 14 September 2019 at 17:32