Two songs from “Porgy and Bess” George Gershwin, arr. Jascha Heifetz
George Gershwin's folk opera “Porgy and Bess” is a classic American work whose many enduring melodies have been performed by an enormous variety of singers and instrumentalists in every conceivable style.Jascha Heifetz wrote five transcriptions of tunes from the opera for violin and piano during the autumn of 1944 at his house in Harbor Island, California.He hewed very closely to the original songs, with only a few minor interpolations and the addition of double stops and harmonics that enliven the violinist's melodies in the absence of the Dubose Heyward and Ira Gershwin lyrics that one would hear a singer perform."Bess, you is my woman now" is a love duet between the opera's titular characters."It ain't necessarily so" is the irreverent credo of the drug-dealing character Sportin’ Life.Heather Wittels
Classical Music | Violin Music
George Gershwin
Bess, You Is My Woman Now, from Porgy and Bess Play
Recorded on 03/14/2012, uploaded on 06/20/2012
Musician's or Publisher's Notes
Two songs from “Porgy and Bess” George Gershwin, arr. Jascha Heifetz
George Gershwin's folk opera “Porgy and Bess” is a classic American work whose many enduring melodies have been performed by an enormous variety of singers and instrumentalists in every conceivable style. Jascha Heifetz wrote five transcriptions of tunes from the opera for violin and piano during the autumn of 1944 at his house in Harbor Island, California. He hewed very closely to the original songs, with only a few minor interpolations and the addition of double stops and harmonics that enliven the violinist's melodies in the absence of the Dubose Heyward and Ira Gershwin lyrics that one would hear a singer perform. "Bess, you is my woman now" is a love duet between the opera's titular characters. "It ain't necessarily so" is the irreverent credo of the drug-dealing character Sportin’ Life. Heather Wittels
More music by George Gershwin
Prelude 1, Allegro ben ritmato e deciso
Three Preludes
Extract from Porgy and Bess
Embraceable You
Prelude 2, Andante con moto e poco rubato
Piano Concerto in F Major
Rhapsody in Blue
Rhapsody in Blue
"It Ain't Necessarily So," from Porgy and Bess
Selections from Porgy and Bess
Performances by same musician(s)
"It Ain't Necessarily So," from Porgy and Bess
Romanian Folk Dances
Polonaise Brillante in A Major, Op. 21
Violin sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 100
Cortège
Violin Sonata No. 2 in D Major, Op. 94 bis
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