The Gershwin Collection

I think this is a good book for beginning//intermediate adults. There are songs at many levels and they are of course, great songs!

The Gershwin Collection is a songbook containing music from Gershwin's most popular songs, including "Someone To Watch Over Me," "Nice Work If You Can Get It," "Embraceable You," and "Love Is Here To Stay." Piano transcriptions are provided as well as guitar chords and lyrics where applicable. Gershwin's symphonic/ concert works are not included in this collection. Almost all the works here are Gershwin's popular works, most of which originated from Broadway musicals and film. Also included are songs from Porgy and Bess, the first American Folk Opera. "Summertime," "I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'," and "My Man's Gone Now" are among works included from the opera Porgy and Bess.

The Gershwin Collection is a songbook containing music from Gershwin's most popular songs. Piano transcriptions are provided as well as guitar chords above the staves and lyrics where applicable. There is no inclusion of Gershwin's symphonic or concert hall works here. Almost all the works here are from Gershwin's Broadway musicals and Hollywood films. Also included are songs from the folk opera Porgy and Bess, widely 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," "'SWonderful," "Lady Be Good," "Somebody Loves Me" and "Love Walked In." Together, these songs comprise a big chunk of the American Songbook.

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.

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.