Customer Reviews

Gershwin at the Keyboard : 18 Song Hits Arranged by The Composer for Piano

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As George Gershwin writes in the introduction, "Sheet music, as ordinarily printed for mass sales, is arranged with an eye to simplicity." In this collection of 18 Gershwin songs, which includes Fascinating Rhythm, Somebody Loves Me, Strike Up the Band, and I Got Rhythm, he presents his music in a way that reflects his "desire for complication and variety that every composer feels when he manipulates the same material over and over again."

Though not for the beginner, these pieces will reward the more advanced pianists who love the Gershwin style. He even supplies a hint about how to play them - keep your foot off the sustaining pedal. American popular music (in the early twentieth century, at least) "asks for staccato effects, for almost a stenciled style."

If you've been at the piano for a few years and love his music, you'll enjoy this collection. If you prefer simpler arrangements with lyrics, try "50 Gershwin Classics," also available through Amazon.

P.S. A note to sheet music publishers: Why not include a few sample pages so web users can judge for themselves whether the arrangements are appealing?

Will be a classic one day! Awesome arrangements by the master himself. This is a must have for an Gershwin lover who plays piano. All of the pieces are moderately advanced but short in length. Certainly worth adding to your music library.

These arrangements are good, even if they are often simple and very short. They are totally different from the Gershwin Piano Rolls that I know.
However these pieces are very good for young pianist.