George Gershwin
American composer and pianist, 1898-1937
Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known. Among his best-known works are the orchestral compositions Rhapsody in Blue (1924) and An American in Paris (1928) as well as the opera Porgy and Bess (1935). Initially a commercial failure, Porgy and Bess is now considered one of the most important American operas of the twentieth century. Gershwin's compositions have been adapted for use in many films and for television, and several became jazz standards recorded in many variations. Many celebrated singers and musicians have covered his songs.
Source: Wikipedia
Komponist, Pianist und Dirigent (1898-1937). Masch. Brief mit eigenh. Unterschrift „George Gershwin“. New York. 4to. 1 p. Gedr. Briefkopf.
$ 2,635 / 2.500 €
(81432)
An Percy A. Danielson, dem er mitteilt, dass „my new show will be coming to New York in early July [Show Girl]“ und sich gerne mit ihm treffen wird. - Beiliegt: Original-Photographie Gershwins im Halbprofil nach rechts. Photographie: Van Vechten.
American composer, pianist and painter whose compositions spanned both popular and classical genres (1898-1937). Autograph musical quotation, signed and inscribed "With Best wishes/ from your Composer/ George Gershwin". [Winter Garden Theatre, Drury Lane, London, Autumn 1924]. 60 : 92mm.
$ 6,850 / 6.500 €
(81618)
Autograph musical quotation, signed and inscribed "With Best wishes/ from your Composer/ George Gershwin", of two bars in E flat Major [the opening of 'Isn't it Wonderful', the chorus concluding the first act of his musical Primrose], on card, very light browning but overall in good and attractive condition. Together with a newspaper clipping and two postcards (small collection). 'BEST WISHES FROM YOUR COMPOSER' - the young George Gershwin doffs his cap to one of his leading ladies, quoting his song 'Isn't it Wonderful', dating from the same year as Rhapsody in Blue and Lady, Be Good. With this card is a newspaper cutting, datable to 1929, reporting the secret romance and wedding of 'West End leading lady' Margery Hicklin to Leon Heron, artist son of an Australian financier (two of whose postcards are also included).
In 1924 Miss Hicklin had starred as Joan in Gershwin's musical Primrose, opening at the Winter Garden Theatre, Drury Lane, on 11 September 1924 and running for 255 performances. Our card must date before the end of the year, prior to Gershwin's return to America for the Broadway premier of Lady, Be Good on 1 December 1924. (Recordings of several numbers sung by Miss Hicklin as Joan are extant.).
Komponist, Pianist und Dirigent (1898–1937). Ms. Brief mit eigenh. Unterschrift New York. 4to. 1 p. Gedr. Briefkopf. Leicht gebräunt.
$ 2,951 / 2.800 €
(88012)
An Harry Braun in New York: „Please excuse the lateness of this reply as I have been out of town so much that I’ve had no chance to look after my mail. I am sorry that I missed hearing you at Community Center but sometimes I should like to hear you play. I will keep your address and perhaps some evening you will come to my house and play for me. […]“
composer, pianist and conductor (1898-1937). Autograph Musical Manuscript Signed and Inscribed „George Gershwin“. no place, no date [Atlantic City, October 1927]. Oblong-4to. 1 p. (Gershwin’s autograph). 6 3/4x10 1/2 inches, faint marginal discoloration from prior matting, remnants of cello tape mounting at all edges verso.
$ 36,887 / 35.000 €
(91127)
Autograph Musical Manuscript Signed and Inscribed, "Sincerely," sketch of the opening 30 bars of "Funny Face" from the musical of the same name, in pencil. The music, notated on 5 printed staves. Title and description written in upper margin are in unknown hand. On verso are 17 bars from draft of a work entitled "3rd St and Sardinia[?]" for violin and viola notated in unknown hand. Autograph manuscripts signed by Gershwin are extremely rare.
composer, pianist and conductor (1898-1937). George Gershwin's Song-Book. New York, 1932. Small folio, publisher's morocco, joints starting, minor fading to spine, minor rubbing to all edges; minor scattered soiling to printed music for Gershwin's "Mischa, Yascha, Toscha, Sascha" as issued in pocket on rear pastedown; marked wear to original s.
$ 5,796 / 5.500 €
(91128)
First signed limited edition. Number 155 of 300 copies Signed by Gershwin and Alajalov.
composer, pianist and conductor (1898-1937). Autograph Musical Manuscript titled "Says You,". no place, c. 1931. 1 p., folio (330 x 268 mm). Pencil. Back side contains a ms. in a third hand.
$ 30,036 / 28.500 €
(91225)
Autograph Musical Manuscript titled "Says You,". With "G. Shirmer Inc., New York" imprint at lower right and "Style No. 2—12 staves" at lower left, toning at extremities, chips and closed tears at upper, right and lower margins, thumbsoiling. This leaf features sketches for two separate tunes. The first two staves feature a melody line for an unknown tune that may not have been realized further. The second tune, beginning on stave IV, is in 3/4 time, and is the melody line for "I'm About To Be A Mother" which was used in Of Thee I Sing.
It is also known as "Who Could Ask For Anything More (I'm About To Be A Mother)." It was not published as a stand-alone song, but can be found in the published vocal score for Of Thee I Sing, Act Two, Scene Three: "The Senate," starting on page 161. Of Thee I Sing debuted on Broadway in December of 1931 with a score by George and Ira Gershwin and a book by George Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind. The show satirizes American politics and was the first musical to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama..
composer, pianist and conductor (1898-1937). Typed Letter Signed ("George Gershwin") to Mr. Chidsey. New York. 4to (275 x 215 mm), 1 p., on George Gershwin 33 Riverside Drive letterhead.
$ 2,635 / 2.500 €
(91226)
Gershwin writes to Mr. Chidsey thanking him for a profile he compiled, and sending a check for 5 dollars for his trouble.
sold
Ms. Brief (Durchschlag) mit eigenh. U.
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar
To the US consulate in Rotterdam, vouching for the painter Arthur Kaufmann (1888-1971), who had to flee from Germany: „My friend, Mr. Arthur Kaufman, is anxious to obtain a permanent visa for the United States. I consider him a first rate artist and would like to see him come to America to stay. I will be glad to assume financial responsibility in case of need [...]“. – Arthur Kaufmann emigrated to the USA the same year. – On stationary with printed letterhead; with certification note and receipt stamp of the consulate. – Slightly browned and stained.
Ms. Brief mit eigenh. U.
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar
To Irving E. Meshel, sending thanks for a birthday greeting and apologizing for the delay due to having been busy with a new production: „[...] For the past two months I have been in and out of New York working on a new production [probably „Cuban Overture or Pardon My English“] which is to have its premiere in two weeks [...]“. – On stationery with printed letterhead; in perfect condition.
Portraitphotographie m. e. U. u. Notenzitat
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar
George Gershwin (1898–1937), American composer. Portrait photograph with autogr. dedication and musical quotation signed. N. p., 25 Nov. 1931. 20 x 25 cm. Head-and-shoulders photograph of the young composer. With three bars from “Rhapsody in Blue”. Dedication: “For Marian – Wishing her everything nice. With admiration. George Gershwin”. Matted. Insignificant traces of wear. Very rare thus.