By
– August 25, 2011
Famous, revered, and wealthy as a consequence of his talent as a composer of popular songs, George Gershwin was still not satisfied. His desire was to achieve success as a composer of serious music. In the end he achieved his wish, partially, with his American opera, Porgy and Bess, and several other serious works. No doubt there was considerably more music within him, but his life ended on a sad note, cut short at the age of 37 by a brain tumor.
As a presentation of the basic facts about Gershwin, touching on the music he composed, his life and loves, his ambitions and achievements and failures, this book serves well. There are notes for each chapter, a section of photographs with captions, and an index, but no bibliography. Although the musicals and films for which he composed songs and music are mentioned in the text, there is no organized list, nor is there a list of his serious works.
Rimler touches on many aspects of Gershwin’s life, yet his impact on his times remains unexplored, as is the impact of the times upon him. That his brother Ira’s lyrics contributed to the success of his songs might also have been examined. Where does Gershwin’s work fit in the worlds of Broadway and Hollywood musicals? Much space in the book has been given to George’s urge to write an opera, which led to Porgy and Bess, and his accomplishment of its writing and production, but his songs and musicals are probably the primary source of interest in him, yet they are given short shrift in the book.
On balance, this book is a useful and well written source of basic information for the casually curious, but greater depth and more readers’ tools would have been even more welcome. Index.
As a presentation of the basic facts about Gershwin, touching on the music he composed, his life and loves, his ambitions and achievements and failures, this book serves well. There are notes for each chapter, a section of photographs with captions, and an index, but no bibliography. Although the musicals and films for which he composed songs and music are mentioned in the text, there is no organized list, nor is there a list of his serious works.
Rimler touches on many aspects of Gershwin’s life, yet his impact on his times remains unexplored, as is the impact of the times upon him. That his brother Ira’s lyrics contributed to the success of his songs might also have been examined. Where does Gershwin’s work fit in the worlds of Broadway and Hollywood musicals? Much space in the book has been given to George’s urge to write an opera, which led to Porgy and Bess, and his accomplishment of its writing and production, but his songs and musicals are probably the primary source of interest in him, yet they are given short shrift in the book.
On balance, this book is a useful and well written source of basic information for the casually curious, but greater depth and more readers’ tools would have been even more welcome. Index.
Excerpt
Read an excerpt here.Additional Reading
Claire Rudin is a retired director of the New York City school library system and former librarian at the Holocaust Resource Center and Archives in Queens, NY. She is the author of The School Librarian’s Sourcebook and Children’s Books About the Holocaust.
