George Gershwin (1898-1937) was an American composer who bridged classical music and popular song with unprecedented sophistication. His melodies became the foundation of American musical theater and the standard repertoire, and his harmonic language shaped how generations of musicians understood the intersection of jazz idioms and traditional song form.
Why we love this
Gershwin's harmonic vocabulary in this standard rewards close attention to voice leading and chromatic movement. The Richard Walters edition honors the song's emotional directness while giving singers and pianists clear guidance on phrasing and interpretation, making it accessible without sacrificing the sophistication that makes this tune endure.
What to expect
There is an aching simplicity to this song despite its harmonic sophistication. The melody sits naturally for the voice, but the accompaniment reveals Gershwin's gift for coloring emotion through unexpected chord progressions and chromatic passing tones. It feels both timeless and distinctly of its era.
Who it's for
Singers preparing standard repertoire for auditions, recitals, or jazz vocal study will find this a foundational text. Pianists developing their accompanying skills benefit from the careful harmonic editing and the chance to support a strong melodic line.
How to get the most out of it
Shape the melody through the extended phrases rather than breaking at every bar line; Gershwin's gift was long, singable lines that feel inevitable even when harmonically rich.
Balance the piano accompaniment so it supports without overwhelming. The harmonic detail matters, but it serves the lyric and vocal line.
Attend to the bridge's harmonic movement with particular care. Small shifts in tempo or dynamics here can illuminate how Gershwin modulates without losing the song's emotional center.
Work the relationship between breath and phrase ending. Where the vocalist breathes will shape how the pianist voices the transitions.
How to use it
Include this on a recital exploring American song standards, pairing it with other Gershwin works or contemporary composers from the golden age of Broadway. It also serves well as a performance vehicle for singers in jazz or vocal music courses where the tradition of interpreting standards is central to the curriculum.
Skills your students will build
Interpreting rubato and phrase shaping in American songwriting
Reading and executing chromatic harmonic movement
Collaborative listening between voice and piano
Stylistic understanding of 1920s-30s Broadway idiom
Managing longer melodic phrases with natural phrasing points
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