Essential Repertoire,
Piano Sheet Music Essentials: George Gershwin
In our Piano Sheet Music Essentials series, we aim to offer recommendations for some of the most popular piano pieces by a selection of celebrated composers, broken up into general difficulty level, so pianists of all ages and abilities can begin to explore the works of great classical composers. This article focuses on the work of George Gershwin, American composer and pianist, whose compositions spanned both popular and classical genres.
George Gershwin
George Gershwin was born in Brooklyn in 1898. By the age of fifteen he had a job as a ‘song plugger’, which involved playing the latest sheet music for potential customers. His compositions focused as much on classical traditions as jazz, and he composed a number of Broadway theatre works with his brother Ira Gershwin and with Buddy DeSylva.
Easy - Intermediate Pieces
The pieces listed below are suitable for beginner to early intermediate pianists. As with all sheet music, some basic music theory, and an understanding of how to read and interpret sheet music is required. Including arrangements of more difficult pieces, this collection provides accessible choices for beginners and offers an introduction into the world of George Gershwin.
Twenty-one classic Gershwin songs complete with song background notes and playing hints and tips, all arranged for easy Piano.
Available Format: Sheet Music
Over twenty Gershwin favourites arranged at an easier level, including Embraceable You, Let's Call the Whole Thing Off, 'S Wonderful, Someone to Watch over Me, Summertime, They Can't Take That Away from Me, and more.
Available Format: Sheet Music
Fourteen classic Gershwin melodies have been arranged in traditional five-finger style, with the melody split between the hands. Starting hand positions are illustrated above each arrangement, and fingerings that are outside the noted positions are circled for easy identification. All of the melodic arrangements have optional duet accompaniments created to achieve a fuller, richer musical experience.
Available Format: Sheet Music
Simplified piano solo arrangements of sixteen great Gershwin songs. Includes I Got Rhythm, Swanee and Let's Call The Whole Thing Off. With chord symbols.
Available Format: Sheet Music
Twenty-four unforgettable classic George Gershwin melodies, including Rhapsody In Blue, Summertime and The Man I Love, arranged for piano with chord symbols.
Available Format: Sheet Music
Easy-play piano with chord symbol arrangements of twenty-two hit Gershwin songs, including S' wonderful, Swanee, Embraceable You, I Got Rhythm and They Can't Take That Away From Me.
Available Format: Sheet Music
Eighteen timeless classics carefully arranged for easy piano including By Strauss, Embraceable You , Oh, Lady Be Good!, and many more.
Available Format: Sheet Music
A keepsake collection of twenty-six timeless Gershwin tunes, all arranged for easy piano and presented with beautiful full-colour illustrations! Also includes a bio of the Gershwin brothers and vintage photos of them in action.
Available Format: Sheet Music
Intermediate – Early Advanced Pieces
The following pieces are suitable for intermediate to early advanced pianists. Some publications will include pieces that are easier to master, and some that are much more advanced. Our selections below include arrangements of popular pieces such as Rhapsody in Blue, Summertime, I Got Rhythm, and more.
An essential addition to your piano library, this collection includes some of the greatest masterpieces by Hollywood and Broadway composer George Gershwin, arranged for solo Piano. The Essential Collection: Gershwin Gold includes songs from the much-loved musicals Porgy And Bess, Girl Crazy, The Goldwyn Follies, A Damsel In Distress and more.
Available Format: Sheet Music/Downloads
George Gershwin's all-time great masterpiece, Rhapsody In Blue, arranged for solo piano. Now you can play one of the most popular and famous songs of all-time without the need for a full jazz band, just you, the piano, and Rhapsody In Blue.
Available Format: Sheet Music
This collection of songs by George and Ira Gershwin brings together some of their most beautiful melodies. The arrangements made by Darren Fellows are faithful to Gershwin's original intentions.
Available Format: Sheet Music
Popular Gershwin solos arranged for intermediate pianist including: Bess You Is My Woman Now, By Strauss, A Foggy Day, For You For Me For Everymore, It Ain't Necessarily So, I Got Plenty Of Nuttin', Let's Call The Hole, Thing Off, Love Walked In, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Summertime, They All Laughed, and They Can't Take That Away From Me.
Available Format: Sheet Music
Advanced – Professional Level Pieces
Lastly, these selections are most suited for advanced to professional level musicians and contain some of the most challenging Gershwin compositions. The publications below include complete works, and collections of popular pieces.
The extremely busy darling of Broadway published the famous three Preludes for Piano in 1927. They are presented here in a state-of-the-art Urtext edition.
Available Format: Sheet Music
The complete Gershwin keyboard works. Includes the Complete Preludes, Concerto in F, and An American in Paris for solo piano, and Rhapsody in Blue, I Got Rhythm Variations, 2nd Rhapsody, and Cuban Overture for two pianos.
Available Format: Sheet Music
Transcribed from the 1926 and 1928 disc recordings made by the composer. Includes Clap Yo' Hands, Maybe, 'S Wonderful, and more. A major addition to American piano literature.
Available Format: Sheet Music
Ellena Taylor - Sheet Music and Books Manager
