George Gershwin -- Playing His Preludes and Rhapsody In Blue

George Gershwin (1898-1937) at the piano, playing his own part-classical, part-pop, part-jazz compositions-- the three Preludes (No. 1 in B-flat; No. 2 in C-sharp minor; No. 3 in E-flat) and an excerpt (the andante) from 'Rhapsody In Blue'.
The performance may possibly have been recorded in 1928, but this Columbia twelve-inch 78-RPM disc, 7192-M, probably was issued in the late 1930s.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Gershwin
• Preludes
• Rhapsody
• piano
• 78-RPM

[defigi]

I think Gershwin was the most amazing musician in history. I love lots of music and have great respect for all the greats, but Gershwin is unique even now after 70 plus years

[listarraam]

Holly Crap. I can't believe what I am reading though I think Gershwin himself would be amused. His music is and was widely interpreted, even in his lifetime. That is what he expected and wanted from his music, for musicians to make it their own. Levant, Bernstein or Feinstein, Classical or Jazz who cares, it's among the best music every written in any genre. And I bet that Gershwin himself never played it the same way twice. Just a hunch. So stop the ridiculous arguments and enjoy the music.

[claynpendleton]

Is this actually Gershwin playing on piano? How many recordings of him actually exist?

[irina65popov]

How interesting! Absolutely no pedal in No.3 Prelude! Thank you for posting it!



[MusikPiratCH]

It's Gershin's own composition. So take him always as the original!

@danorq I agree. Even Bernstein at the Rapsodie in Blue I adore a lot.

[danorq]

@tierzuchtZentral why comparing? both versions are great. Plus one is dedicated 100% to performance and the other is the one who actually wrote this so a comparison doesn't apply. Not trying to be mean, basically.. I love Both :)

[tierzuchtZentral]

@unclejuniorsoprano Compare Krystian Zimerman.

[JettRink50]

I wish there were more clips of him playing. I can't even describe his music, I used to have piano rolls, wish I had them now.

[illidnarg]

@sbutler0727 I think it is possible that Gershwin played the 2 nd prelude a bit fast so it would fit on the record--which had limited space-in those days-another possibility that he was either a little drunk or hung over--or just plain sick the day he recorded this--Composers are ONLY human !!!

[sbutler0727]

I remember hearing this for the first time several years ago and being disappointed. I know the sound quality is not great, but that is not my complaint. The famous Prelude No. 2 is played way too fast in my opinion. At this tempo, the Prelude loses all the simple charm that I associate with the piece. It is played way too fast. This just goes to show that sometimes the composer is not necessarily the best interpreter of his own music.

[unclejuniorsoprano]

Not even Gershwin himself could play Gershwin as well as Oscar Levant. Of today's Gershwin pianists, check out Richard Glazier.