When he was young he said, "I have so many tunes in my head it will take a hundred years to write them down." He died at 37 yrs.

@dropwizerorders501

3 жыл бұрын

Such a loss. I just finished a short book called, "George Gershwin: An intimate portrait", that is fascinating. He was a remarkable talent.

@classicaldeb

3 жыл бұрын

So sad.

@Kimllg88

3 жыл бұрын

Sad.

@lucaberardi4557

3 жыл бұрын

Almost 39 YO, 1898-1937

@paolo6219

3 жыл бұрын

I thought he died at 39

We can only imagine the marvelous songs we never heard because he passed on too young. RIP.

@JohnWilson01

4 жыл бұрын

Exactly. I rencently worked up his Prelude 1 for piano and it was definitely one of the hardest pieces Ive ever played.

@0restes

4 жыл бұрын

We wuz ROBBED! 🎵 😭

@ianaspinall3234

3 жыл бұрын

And not just songs.Im convinced that had Gershwin lived a long full life he would have been America's leading composer of Songs, Symphonies,Operas, Concertos and Chamber Music.No question about that.

@maestroclassico5801

3 жыл бұрын

@@ianaspinall3234 Absolutely. There really is NO TELLING how much we could have gotten from GG had he lived....even just 10 more years. Another Opera......more Broadway...or movies....AT some point....a Symphony would have HAD to happen.

@ianaspinall3234

3 жыл бұрын

@@maestroclassico5801 I'm sure it would have done.I did read in a book that not long before Gershwin became ill in Hollywood he was talking about returning to New York to work on a possible Opera of The Great Gatsby.Now that would have been something had he lived to write it.

Note the percussive attack. Classical pianists usually don't have that when they play GG's music - it needs it.

@quinnlewis2003

3 жыл бұрын

Agreeeeeeddddd

@interglossa

3 жыл бұрын

In one of Bartok's Mikrokosmos pieces his notes say play one of them "like Gershwin" - so he knew this also.

@konigstephan

3 жыл бұрын

You are absolutely RIGHT!

@Bulbophile

3 жыл бұрын

so funny to hear how many pianists play in BLUE note perfect; all they had to do was thump the notes out

@rafaelcostadesouza5064

3 жыл бұрын

@@interglossa which one?

A man of rare talent who died tragically young. Through his music he will never be forgotten.

@heaven7360

3 жыл бұрын

life isn't fair...he died of a malignant brain tumor. So goes to show....even young people die

@cielobuio

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, his untimely death was/is so sad

He plays much more percussively and in a ‘honkey-tonk ’ style than we have become used to in his music.

@Magnetron33

3 жыл бұрын

I think a tin-pan alley sound

@jongoldman3868

3 жыл бұрын

That's Stride, man!

@chalkychoochoo2304

3 жыл бұрын

They take the soul out of everything these days.

@jpaul251

3 жыл бұрын

Yes now only if the piano was just slightly out of tune we would get the real bar room effect.

@Magnetron33

3 жыл бұрын

@@jpaul251 With technique like that, it would be epic. Gershwin and Roosevelt Sykes

50 people who disliked this don't have rhythm.

@cliffhughes6010

3 жыл бұрын

They are the "thumbs down to everything club". Members compete with each other to diss as many videos in 24 hours as possible. They get everywhere - like cockroaches. Of course, this means they never have time to actually listen to anything, but that's not the point. Best to ignore them.

@tabbywarrior

3 жыл бұрын

@@cliffhughes6010 yeah

@tabbywarrior

3 жыл бұрын

@@cliffhughes6010 or maybe they just hate ragtime or the way that he got up in the end? Idk I personally liked it but tryna think about anything ppl might not like

@erezsolomon3838

3 жыл бұрын

60

@Magnetron33

3 жыл бұрын

or any understanding of artistry

He rocks the piano like no one else in classical or pop music. Genius composer and musician. This has jazz elements from 20’s , which was wild and furious. Amazing.

@silverstuff182

Жыл бұрын

Plays everything just a tad faster than anyone else.

@tvscribe

Жыл бұрын

You should listen to early Ben Folds! He smashed the piano like he had a vendetta against it.

His left hand is fantastiq.

@emperor1e

3 жыл бұрын

That was an era where if you wanted to be considered a great pianist, you needed a strong left hand for the popular stride style back then.

I just love the shot from 01:32. You just KNOW that the awesome hat on the piano was Mr. G’s. Just imagine strolling along 5th avenue on the 5th August 1931 and seeing Gershwin in that suit and hat...

Lol at the end he just pops up and walks off like a boss

I have loved Gershwin and his fabulous music my whole life and now I find I was born on the day of this recording August 5th 1931

Phenomenal. The man played as if he had an extra pair of hands.

I truly wonder how much he improvised...what an angelic soul...

My mother was born in 1931. One of my all time favorite songs in Rhapsody in Blue. My two year old grandson knows it now.

@mlaux72

Жыл бұрын

I agree but don't call it a "song" please :)

@mel-dv5jx

4 ай бұрын

Rhapsody In Blue is not a song.

It's July 4th, 2018. George Gershwin at the piano, playing "I Got Rhythm." Even the piano was smiling.;)

The most wonderful thing is the musician close to him smiling at Gershwin playing

Thank God sound motion picture technology had advanced sufficiently by 1931 to permit a credible record of this amazing musician and composer. His pianistic gifts are staggering, matched only by the richness of harmonic tapestry that he could create in so many songs and, of course, within his opera, Porgy and Bess. As others have commented, the tragedy of his early death denied us of what additional musical marvels may have come from his fertile musical mind. As an amateur musician, I find endless delight in playing his music, as I am sure so many others do, as well.

It is amazing to watch him play. His talent was quite unique.

Authentic American genius.

Gershwin: "Rhythm changes!" Orchestra: "Nope. You're on your own."

@steveslagle1859

3 жыл бұрын

HA!

The crazy thing is, this is a jazz classic, but the composer himself (Gershwin) played the most astonishing remix of his own piece that we've seen to date!

This is unique. We’re lucky enough to have this recording and footage.

Boy I wish they had film back in the day when Bach was performing, or Beethoven but watchin Gershwin ain't bad

Such strength, such force, such energy unique to a true musician. Love for life.

That fella in the back with the knowing smile is so adorable

He is such a musical genius & his music soothes my mind!

His music is magic. I wonder if he'd lived a normal life span how many more beautiful compositions he would have come up with. Our loss.

I have always heard he had amazing technique. First clip I have ever seen and it's true

Just the intro, before he even starts the song... he sets the mood perfectly

Handsome, talented man. I think I really am in love with him.

A pure genius, no doubt about it. His music will live forever.

Only the good die young, and this musical genius certainly proved that.

He just puts a smile on my face.

Just so amazing to see him perform! Thank you for this little gem.

Glad to see that this venue is still in existence as of 1-2022 (Manhattan Theatre Club). -mikenotpaula.

What an amazing musical genius who died way too young at the age of 39 in 1937..😇

@matthewvwuk

7 ай бұрын

He was 38 when he died to be correct about it.

Brilliant pianist! How wonderful to hear him play (as only he can .....) his thrilling music

He pounded those keys

Oh my god, how many times I've listened to the audio recording of this. And now I get to see the performance in all its glory, superb!

Great composer and fantastic pianist

This is an exemplary view of masterful talent! I am thrilled to have such a privilege to see the Great George Gershwin striking those keys in "fascinating rhythm"! My thanks for posting this treasured piece of music history!😉😁😚

I'm so amazed, and sad, because I could never play this in a host of lifetimes. Hats off to this wonderful man.

His talent was God -given!!!

@jamesspackman9819

3 жыл бұрын

Talent and skill are different things. Everyone has talent, the skill is to develop it through practice. If you don't practice, then you waste your talent. 'God' is the excuse given by those who're too lazy, dishonest and ill-disciplined to practice.

@dicty2

3 жыл бұрын

Nope. Genes plus dedication.

@jamesspackman9819

3 жыл бұрын

@@dicty2 which obviously explains your genius.

This is so cool!! I have never seen footage of Gershwin performing. I have audio, but this is relevatory since it’s clearly meant to be an encore. He really goes for it! I would love to see footage of Gershwin and Oscar Levant. They worked out hours of music and arrangements together. It would be something to hear and a little of them together.

@jimcrawford5039

3 жыл бұрын

He appeared in a few movies.

@russells5923

Жыл бұрын

O

@mel-dv5jx

4 ай бұрын

@@jimcrawford5039 Levant did but Gershwin didn't.

Gershwin is my favorite composer and pianist ......thank you so much for loading this Love it ....what a treasure....

This rendition is what we could caĺl Gershwin by Gershwin.

Art Tatum loved his music; often inserting quotes from George G

Amazing composer and musician!

According to the digitally re-recorded piano rolls, he took Rhspsody in Blue faster than other pianists DARED

@jonathanm.9801

3 жыл бұрын

I mean it’s his piece haha. He can do whatever he wants with it. Also, piano rolls probably had very limited space, so it might have needed to be recorded quicker just to make sure everything gets on it.

@maestroclassico5801

3 жыл бұрын

@@jonathanm.9801 Hey...Agreed! He can leave out notes however he wants but yes the digitally remastered piano roll recordings....which can be found here on YT, are quite a listen!

@KawhackitaRag

3 жыл бұрын

@@jonathanm.9801 You are actually right about at least one of the two Duo-Art rolls (it was in two parts) of the "Rhapsody". There was so much music required to be crammed on that roll, that editor/arranger Frank Milne had quite a task, working from Gershwin's original performance. Several roll collectors / enthusiasts have actually complained that the level of rhythmic detail in one of those two rolls is lacking, due to this kind of "cramming" requiring a slower roll tempo / paper speed. IMO Aeolian should have instead made this a three-roll or four-roll set, instead of two rolls. But the piece was brand-new at the time and no one was yet sure if it would be a success, when the first roll was released. After a few years it was apparent that it was indeed a success, so they brought out the second roll (I think that was the 'crammed' one). If you want to hear Gershwin's real tempo and touch, check out the two recordings of the 'Rhapsody' (the 1924 acoustic recording, and I think the 1927 electric recording) with Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra, featuring Gershwin himself at the piano. IMO those are the best document of this piece. The rolls are very nice however.

@KawhackitaRag

3 жыл бұрын

One good thing about the "Rhapsody" being on the Duo-Art reproducing piano system is that it's more or less a binary-type expression system that works very quickly with (to my knowledge) no "crescendo" effect in the system. So it is fairly faithful with a wider range of chosen tempos for the roll playback. This is to contrast with the Welte system, which is all crescendos and decrescendos, and the Ampico system which has a mix of both elements. In the systems with crescendo functions in the expression, the roll has to be set at JUST the right speed (and the piano in good shape / timing checked by a technician before a serious recording is made), since when the roll tells the piano to get louder or softer (slowly or quickly), it has to do so at a predictable speed. If the tempo of the roll is set too fast or slow for a Welte or Ampico (or certain other systems), the expression (whose timing happens at a couple of fixed speeds), will "land" on the correct dynamic at the WRONG time, so that the WRONG notes will be too loud or too soft due to the roll timing (notes) being off from the expression timing. With Duo-Art, within reason, the roll can be sped up or slowed down and as long as everything is in good working order and working rapidly, the expression can still keep up with the timing of the notes so that the correct notes get the correct dynamics. This is actually why the early Red Welte system has NO tempo lever... all rolls play at a fixed factory-determined paper speed to ensure that the timing of the expression doesn't get away from the timing of the notes. So, different tempos chosen by the artist show up MORE as different note lengths / spacings in the Welte rolls than in many later systems where they will ask the user to set a particular roll tempo (paper speed) and then have the timing of the expression adjusted by the person arranging the expression tracks (on the master roll at the factory), to match that paper speed. By contrast, the Duo-Art system has the most extensive hand-controls for hand expression of any major reproducing system, so you can turn off the Duo-Art expression and also put your own interpretation into the roll, like a regular 88-note piano.

@iamhorny4542

3 жыл бұрын

the poor clarinetist!

Quel félin...Quelle vivacité, quelle souplesse, quel dynamisme...On aurait aimé que ça dure des heures.

Absolutely amazing!! Thanks for posting---i shared on my FB page---astounding film of a true American genius--Gershwin Lives!!!!

What a privilege to hear and see this. Had the notated sheet music of this for over 50 years and at last know what the maestro intended. Thanks so much! Wish you well.

We watched this in music class last year, it feels so nostalgic revisiting.

There are not enough superlatives to describe George Gershwin!

bro this MADLAD made 10 GRAND with *ONE MINUTE* of music BACK in the 30S!

I mean... I'm 37. Gershwin DIED at 37... :( This recording in particular is an absolutely astonishing record of how ahead of his time he was. This music is so damn fresh in 2023 as it was in 1931. My grandmother just died and she was born the same year this was recorded!!!

@matthewvwuk

7 ай бұрын

Gershwin was 38 when he died to be precise. No I am not splitting hairs on the issue, just a correction to be fair about it.

Awesome to see one of the Masters in American music it’s kind of a blind blowing what he could have achieve.

Thank you for uploading this!

Incroyable de ouf merci beaucoup pour ces images 🔥

0/zero dislikes! Thank Goodness for sensibility! This guy is probably the best composer of all time. Him and his brother were beyond their time. You can just tell by their beautifully written compositions. I listen to Loose Ends, T-Rex, Chicago House and all sorts of music and I know they trace their roots back here...

@KristianWolfe

5 жыл бұрын

Best composer of all time? I don't mean to get into an argument, but maybe try listening to the works of Mozart, Bach, Chopin, and Ravel...

@Magnetron33

3 жыл бұрын

@@KristianWolfe or Beethoven?

Gershwin one my all time fav American composer and pianist

Wonderful!

Gershwin, Chopin, Satie and Debussy inspired me to get back into playing piano again. Currently practicing the Gymnopedies

Insanely talented artist. 🙏

I never knew one my favorite songs from the Happenings in the 60's was a Gershwin song of the 30's

Wow. Breathtaking! What a treat. Thank you for posting this. Such a major talent.

Thanks also for the upload! Love watching how the band members are so charmed by that.

This is a really great performance! Thank you for uploading the rare movie!

🎹 Gershwin lives on through his music.

such a beautiful melody!! Thanks for uploading! =D

Absolutely legend mr. George Gershwin

Merci pour cette merveilleuse vidéo! Un document historique!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love this beautiful man what may have been had he lived a longer life!

@yanislahocine4729

4 жыл бұрын

Me too, so can I say that he's the man I love ?

@yanislahocine4729

4 жыл бұрын

Me too, so can I say he's the man I love ?

He loved to entertain. Those who knew George said he would perform as enthusiastically for a small child as he would before an audience.

Absolutely breathtaking!

Love it! Thank you!

Wow! This is so cool! Thanks for posting!

Wonderful ! Thank you so much :)

LOVE THIS! Im a Gershwin fan!

He's got huge hands!

Rare performances like this need to be remastered into 4K :-)

Happy birthday George.

The master at work.

His music must have blown away the people of the time!

Love him! Such fine musician!!!

Vad kul att höra!

First time seeing this...wonderful, mesmerizing. One of the greats: Bess You Is My Woman might be the greatest song ever written.

@kathleencoleman6125

3 жыл бұрын

Also my first time and Wow!!!!

@donaldsaigh8785

3 жыл бұрын

Yes. It is the most gut-wrenching, soul-stirring, life-affirming song ever written. And number two is probably "I Loves You, Porgy".

That was the day my late mother was born - 8/5/31.

He hammered that keyboard. His rhythm sped up and he missed some notes but he wrote the dang classic. 😄

@emrot

Жыл бұрын

Well-said, Kelly! I will bow to NO one in my admiration for the great genius, but he clearly had an off day. Oh my. But Mr Gershwin lived an extraordinarily full life - I imagine he had somewhere to go.

@richardwhitehouse8762

11 ай бұрын

Given how rare such footage it, it's always a bit annoying when the artists involved aren't at their absolute best. On the other hand the sheer aliveness of it all is something to treasure.

That was awesome!!

Amazing! He was golden! Long Live Gershwin!

Love the chord voicing in the melody. First time I've heard him play the piece.

C'est tellement émouvant de le voir !

Muchas gracias por compartirlo, una verdadera joya.

gifted, talented - would like to meet him if i had a time machine

That little thing at 0:41 is so sick

Amazing.

Very good musician I'm looking in to play rhapsody in blue in the next 3 years Is definitely one of my favorites theme's...very beautiful music from this guy.

Joyful ❤🎉✨🎶🎧

A real treasure, this!