Composer?
George Gershwin
Piece based on what?
An opera based on novel and play by DuBose Hayward
Musical characteristics?
Improve and syncopation
Complicated piano parts
Favored a jazz feel
What was the premiere like?
It was really long and later songs were cut
Showings later had changes to dialogue
Early life?
Got music job at 14 at Publishing house
Became pianist for theatre then wrote own music
Porgy and Bess?
Looking for folk opera
Worked with performers and wasn’t strict with what was written
Why a masterpiece?
Lyrics depicting lullaby
Blend of blues and classical
Widely covered song in American music history; themes of black experience