Semester Offered: Fall 0.5 unit(s) George Gershwin (1898-1937) occupies a unique position in the history of early twentieth-century American music: he wrote dozens of Broadway musicals filled with memorable songs; a number of substantial works for orchestra (the Rhapsody in Blue; the Concerto in F and An American in Paris among them); and a full-fledged opera (Porgy and Bess). With his extraordinary gifts and boundless energy, Gershwin sought to bridge the gap between “high” and “low” art, a project that many later composers (particularly Leonard Bernstein) have continued to pursue. This course examines representative examples from all of these genres. Musical literacy is not required. Brian Mann.