Jazz: America's Gift

Jazz From Its Birth to George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue and Beyond

Jazz: America's Gift Named to Kirkus Reviews' Best Books of 2015

Lovers of Art

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Lovers of Art*

*George White Scandals of 1924 

I am a modern romantic

—George Gershwin1

Dear Lovers of Art:

You are cordially invited to the gala grand opening of the George Gershwin Museum of Modern Art. The new museum is home to George Gershwin’s modern art collection—considered one of the finest of its kind in the world. Located in a luxurious limestone mansion on Manhattan’s Upper West Side just off of Amsterdam Avenue. Black tie. RSVP

The above invitation never went out because a George Gershwin Museum of Modern Art was never contemplated, but the size and quality of his art collection easily warranted a museum. Gershwin’s personal art collection was beyond extraordinary—in fact you could easily say it was world class.Continue Reading

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Dreaming of Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas”

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Irving Berlin Aboard the USS Arkansas 1944

I’m dreaming of a white . . . Hanukkah? No, that’s not how the most popular song ever written goes. Thanks to a Russian Jewish immigrant, we’re all dreaming of a white Christmas. So why was this Yiddish-speaking fellow not dreaming of a light Hanukkah instead?

Irving Berlin—the man we have to thank for the nostalgic sentiment and imagery invoked by this beloved song—came to the United States as a child before the turn of the 20th century. He went on to become one of the most prolific composers of his time, writing close to a thousand songs and memorable hits that became a centerpiece of our American culture. Catchy songs like “Blue Skies” and “There’s No Business Like Show Business” are tunes that most of us can belt out for at least a line or two. And “God Bless America,” who doesn’t know that one?

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University of Michigan Gershwin Initiative Blog by Richie Gerber

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Richie Gerber’s latest blog post “George Gershwin the Painter” has been published by the University of Michigan Gershwin Initiative, an ongoing scholarly examination of the music of George and Ira Gershwin. This prestigious honor reflects Richie Gerber’s knowledge and passion for the life and talents of George Gershwin.

 

 

.George-Gershwin-Self-Portrait

Self Portrait by George Gershwin (1936): image courtesy of the Library of Congress, published with permission of the Gershwin Estates

Read the full article: http://www.music.umich.edu/ami/gershwin/?p=870

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Music & The Brain

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Albert Einstein-Berlin, 1929

“If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music.” ~Albert Einstein

SPOILER ALERT: People who are left-brainers are better at math, and people who are right-brainers are the creatives. To these left-brain/right-brain “thinkers” I say, “Poppycock!”

Now that we got that out of the way, let’s start having a real discussion. But first, let’s take out the rubbish. Old-school thinking told us that music is processed in the right hemisphere of the brain, the so-called creative side, while math and language, on the left side. Fuhgeddaboudit!Continue Reading

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