George Gershwin's songbook: Influences of Jewish music, ragtime and Jazz

Doctoral dissertation (University of Kentucky. The 18 piano transcriptions in the 'George Gershwin song-book' reflect Gershwin's abilities as a pianist and his fascination with the early 20th music. In America's melting-pot of cultures, the influences of ragtime, jazz and traditional Jewish music may be found. Gershwin wrote for the piano in a remarkable free fresh and innovative fashion. Improvisations as a genre and not as a style are brilliantly captured in this opus.