The Music of Gershwin (Composers of the Twentieth Century Serie)
George Gershwin was an American original, but as Gilbert points out, "original" is often equated with "primitive" and deemed not worthy of serious consideration. With this book, Gershwin's music finally gets the attention it deserves. While previous books have included some analysis?Alec Wilder's American Popular Song (Oxford Univ. Pr., 1972) and more recently Deena Rosenberg's Fascinating Rhythm (LJ 10/15/91)?this is the first title to focus exclusively on Gershwin's music, with in-depth musical analysis in the Schenkerian method. Gilbert, coauthor of the prominent text Introduction to Schenkerian Analysis (Norton, 1982), is well suited to the task. He notes the influence of the composer's studies with Joseph Schillinger, as well as some parallels with the music of Stravinsky and other "serious" composers of the day. Gilbert's book is not for the casual reader, since it requires an understanding of music theory and notation. Recommended for all serious music collections.?Michael Colby, Univ. of California Lib., DavisCopyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.