3 comments about Porgy and Bess: Vocal Score.

1. This is a very well set out piano reduction of the original. Useful and easy to follow. Worthwhile for any Porgy and Bess fan.



2. These are really fun songs to play. I especially enjoy playing Summertime. While the songs are a challenge to learn, they're worth the effort.



3. This is the complete piano score of Gershwin's epic musical/opera. Every note is here! It's expensive, but if you're a music director mounting a performance of Porgy and Bess, look no further.

2 comments about The Complete Gershwin Preludes for Piano.

1. George Gershwin was a tremendously popular composer in the 1920's and 30's. He went beyond just writing popular tunes, and tried to branch out into more serious music. Not to say that the songs he wrote aren't masterpieces in their own right. Listen to the Gershwin Songbook as played by Andre Watts, a concert pianist. The Gershwin songbook contains arrangements of songs by the composer himself. Full of melody, charm and rhythm, true American classics.
   
   The Preludes in this edition are more of the same. With a jazzy feel to them, they are very rewarding to play. They feel different under the hand, and remain a great opportunity for the classically trained pianist to expand his technique and ear.
   
   This edition is well printed and easy to read. A fine edition of some very good music.
   
   Highly recommended



2. I'm no Gershwin scholar, but the musicological and performance notes are informative and engraving is well-organized and clear.

2 comments about The Complete Gershwin Keyboard Works (Essential Box Sets).

1. Beginning as a song plugger, the self-taught Gershwin became a master of the piano. What better way to indulge in this music than to paly it yourself! This collection contains piano arrangements of his greatest works, inclduing Rhapsodie in Blue for solo piano, and the overly ignored and infrequently heard Concerto in F. There are also two piano arrangements of orchestral peices, i.e. Cuban Overture. Be advised, the arrangements are difficult. Learning to play them will definitely take time. However, if you're into studying the works, or following along as you listen, then this is for you. Two copies will be necessary if you're going to perform them.



2. I had to search high and low for Zizzo's edition of the rarer preludes. Here, you have all of the Gershwin keyboard works, including the short preludes I, II and III, as well as those rare preludes "Novelette in Fourths" and "Sleepless Nights." The "I've Got Rhythm" variations are virtuoso--so beware, this book ranges from the playable to the shockingly difficult. But I can't tell you what a pleasure it is to have it all in one book finally. Thank you, Ms. Zizzo. Even if I can't play all of these, it's "S'wonderful" to be able to read the scores.

1 comments about The Annotated Rhapsody in Blue.

1. Being a professional pianist for over 10 years, I heard Rhapsody in Blue after buying the Fantasia 2000 CD. I was astonished. I immediately went to Sam Ash and I found this book. It is by far THE MOST COMPLETE sheet music book of this piece. The piano 4 hands or version for 2 pianos doesn't come close to what this book has. In the first several pages, it describes all of the changes and improvisations put on the piece since its debut. Then, it gives the player and FULL version, including, orchestra parts that can be played on the piano. Granted, it's a very difficult piece, but it sounds wonderful. Even if you're a beginner or intermediate player, you will find much information and joy from this book. I highly recommend it!

4 comments about Rhapsody in Blue: Solo Piano (Original).

1. This is a great edition of this great piece of music. It one of the only full and true editions for the piano. It's a challenge that's for sure. But I'm very happy about my purchase.



2. Overall excellent. Deviates in some areas from traditional orchestral renditions -- leaves out a few minor portions and adds in others. Some sections very difficult (e.g. apparently carry-overs from 4-hand/2 piano version). But a great work nonetheless.



3. Simply said, I am using this as the feature of my senior piano performace recital at my college. This brilliant work is something to behold in its concerto form, something to enjoy it its orchestral form, and something that every one should study in its piano solo form.
   
   Gershwin himself wrote this arrangement, so it can be safe to assume that everything in this piece is exactly how Gerswhin wanted it. I would imagine he would best realize what he original thought to be the important parts...
   
   Ryan



4. This two-piano version has been corrected and updated to reflect the original Gershwin "chamber" version, which is now commonly available for full orchestra. If you are listening to recordings, it is the version used by James Levine in his recording with the Chicago Symphony, as opposed to the old classic Bernstein/NY Phil. A great buy for the price, very accurate and easy to read, with a helpful analysis of the work at the beginning.

3 comments about Crazy for You: Complete Vocal Selections.

1. The music to "Crazy For You" is just plain fun, for lack of a better word. With classics like Embraceable You, Someone To Watch Over Me, I've Got Rhythm, They Can't Take That Away From Me, and more, how can anyone pass this up? For any music lover or lover of musicals, this songbook is a must-have for your collection.



2. This selection is a must have!!! When I saw the musical "Crazy for You" i knew that it was the best thing that my eyes have ever seen and thats why I started listening and watching musicals. This is a must have for everyone. The music is great and you will love it!!! I want to say even if you cant sing or cant act or anything like that you can always learn too and this is a great learning tool. GO NORTH VIKING'S DRAMA!!!



3. I am doing this show in December and this was a really useful book to rehearse from! A brilliant buy!

No comments about Gershwin Three Preludes For The Piano (Masterworks).

4 comments about The Gershwin Collection.

1. I myself take voice lessons and all the pieces I sing are taken from this book. It is full of wonderful Gershwin songs and is a great buy.



2. Collected here are many of the true standards, the true classical works of American song. These are the songs played through the Muzak, the songs at the background of so much of American life and experience.
   I confess to walking and singing many of these songs as I go. There is a special spirit in them, a spirit of youth and yes a spirit of American optimism and freedom. Even the songs of disappointed love have in them a kind of optimism given by what might be called the 'elegance and tenderness of their beauty'.
   I have never read or heard a real analysis of 'Summertime ' and 'Embraceable you' of 'I got rhythm' or 'It Ain't Necessarily so' but my sense the vitality, the vibrancy of youth is at the heart of these songs. And then too a real sympathy with suffering.



3. 'The Gershwin Collection' is a collection of sheet music the most popular Gershwin songs. Piano transcriptions are provided as well as guitar chords above the staves and lyrics where applicable. There is barely any inclusion of any of Gershwin's symphonic or concert hall works. Almost all the works here are lifted straight from the most popular Gershwin Broadway shows and films, as well as the opera 'Porgy and Bess', often considered the first American folk opera. "Summertime," "I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'," "A Woman Is A Sometime Thing," and "My Man's Gone Now" are among the works included from the opera 'Porgy and Bess.'
   
   My favorite songs in this book are "Someone To Watch Over Me," "A Foggy Day," "Love Is Here to Stay," "Fascinating Rhythm," "You Can't Take That Away From Me," "But Not For Me," "The Man I Love," "I Got Rhythm," "Strike Up The Band," "Could You Use Me," "Nice Work If You Can Get It," "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off," "S'Wonderful," "Lady Be Good," "Somebody Loves Me" and "Love Walked In." You can smell the American songbook from a mile away, and these songs, together, take up a pretty big chunk of what is considered the American popular songbook.
   
   The piano arrangements in 'The Gershwin Collection" are straightforward and fairly accurate. There is everything needed to produce a rendition of these Gershwin songs. With access to recordings of these songs, the musician can go even further to produce a performance with the style that these songs have taken on based on historical precedent of Judy Garland, Charlie Parker, and Ella Fitzgerald.
   
   The simplicity, innocence, authenticity, purity, beauty, and honesty of these tunes draw me into them emotionally and intellectually, making me want to play them and listen to them. This book helps to bridge the two and brings me to a greater appreciation of the songs. Thank you, George Gershiwn. And Ira, too.



4. I guess I should have asked, but I read all the reviews and no mention was made that this is for the "beginning" piano player. I'm not "concert" talent but this is for someone just beginning......say two/three years........(think, "big notes")so............I was disappointed. If you're just looking for vocal/guitar music, this might fill the bill.
   
   I returned the book and was given full credit. Nice to deal with an understanding seller.

5 comments about The House That George Built: With a Little Help from Irving, Cole, and a Crew of About Fifty.

1. This is a comprehensive, enthusiastic and entertaining book about the greats of American popular music in the 1920s, 1930s and beyond.



2. The author is very knowledgeable about the individuals and about the music which he writes, however, his style of prose is somewhat difficult to follow. As one of the reviews cites, the author writes in a gossip stlyle of writing. The chapters on Berlin and Gershwin are by far the best. After that I think he wanders far too much astray and mentions material that I consider oblique and unnecessary. Needless to say, I was disappointed in the book.



3. I bought this book because of my interest in the subject matter. I was disappointed in the author's (Wilfred Sneed) writing style which became laborious, and at times redundent. I do not, however, argue with his opinion of the various composers...it's his book and he's entitled to state his views. I would recommend this book to anyone with a desire to learn about the great 20th century composers, but unless they have a deep interest I believe they will tire of it before they finish the Berlin and Gershwin chapters.



4. There are some wonderful stories and insights in this book, but the reader has to battle through Sheed's annoyingly 'cute' prose to get to them. If you can ignore his style, you will learn new things about each of the great American songwriters. The chapters on some of the less heralded composers - such as Lane and Whiting - are major contributions to our understanding of an art form that had a glorious but all too brief flowering.



5. I have to agree with many of the other reviewers that refer to the author's "cute" and "self-absorbed" writing style. I could forgive that, however--the man did actually meet and/or know many of the figures he writes about, so his pedestal-perching is somewhat deserved. What I can't overlook is how he glosses over what I thought this book would be all about--the songs themselves. He drops titles here and there, but rarely goes into any depth regarding their creation or impact. More space is devoted to Cole Porter's wardrobe than his entire score for "High Society." If you're looking for a song-by-song breakdown of the impact these men had on popular music, this ain't it. If you're looking for a more gossipy "dish" on what composer did what and where with whom and what they were wearing, you will not be disappointed.

2 comments about 50 Gershwin Classics.

1. This is one tremendous find! THe Gershwins wrote some very memorable tunes, and the piano arrangements (also includes vocals and guitar chords) are lush and exquisite! I have been looking for a book of Gershwin for piano awhile now and this is PERFECT! Lots of fun and pleasure, though it is not "EASY PIANO". Moderate ability is required, but you can always fake it by playing the chords and melody line. I love it!



2. I am not a musician and so I cannot comment on what is really the heart of this work, the sheet music, its arrangements etc.
   I would however say that it is a pleasure to look at the lyrics of the great Gershwin songs. And it is too a great pleasure to hum in mind and heart the tunes which still keep a lot of people humming and hoping in the world.
   The Gershwins were the greatest brother team music ever knew.
   Ira later on worked with many other first- rate composers and was a master of writing lyrics.
   But it is the great George Gershwin taken from us early whose music seems to define not simply a whole era of music, the hope of jazz, and classic combined in a new folk popular swinging
   and refined elegance.
   The American soul for all time.