Description:

Gershwin George 1898 - 1937 George Gershwin check signed while "Porgy and Bess" was on Broadway!




Partly printed check No. 3313 signed "George Gershwin" and dated October 11, 1935. Drawn from Gershwin's personal bank account at the National City Bank of New York, imprinted with his home address "132 East 72nd Street", and made payable to "Schneider & Co." for $8.54. Stamped endorsement verso provides payee's Manhattan address, and tine bank cancellation holes do not touch the composer's bold signature. In very fine condition, measuring 6.375" x 2.75".

George Gershwin (1898-1937) dropped out of high school to pursue his musical career, working as a demonstration pianist for a Detroit-based piano roll publishing firm at age 15. He began arranging and composing while still a teenager. Gershwin collaborated with songwriters, lyricists and his older brother Ira (1896-1983) to compose popular Broadway musicals such as Lady, Be Good (1924), and many others. During the remainder of his short career, Gershwin composed classical, musical, and "folk opera" oeuvres, including Rhapsody in Blue (1924), An American in Paris (1928), Porgy and Bess (1935), and Hollywood music scores.

Although his interest in music started later than many other musical protégés, Gershwin made up for lost time. In the mid-1920s, Gershwin traveled to Europe with the intent to study intensively under more well-established musicians, but on several occasions, he was pointedly turned away. Ultimately, Gershwin did forge his own distinct musical language. Gershwin once said, "true music must reflect the thought and aspirations of the people and the time. My people are Americans. My time is today."

Gershwin's "folk opera" Porgy & Bess had opened on Broadway to rave reviews the day before Gershwin signed this check, on October 10, 1935. The musical ran for 124 performances until closing in January 25, 1936. Theatre critic Brooks Atkinson's New York Times opening night review was entitled "Dramatic Values of Community Legend Gloriously Transposed in New Form With Fine Regard for Its Verities," while Times music critic Olin Downes's headline was "Exotic Richness of Negro Music and Color of Charleston, S.C., Admirably Conveyed in Score of Catfish Row Tragedy".

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June 14, 2017 10:30 AM EDT
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