1956rif. 148861Los Angeles: Dominant Pictures 1956. Vintage studio still photograph from the 1956 Dominant Pictures re-release of the 1945 film showing noted musician actress and activist Hazel Scott. A fictionalized account of the life of composer George Gershwin which features several of Gershwin's real-life acquaintances including Paul Whiteman Al Jolson and Oscar Levant. 10 x 8 inches. Very Good plus with light edgewear and a few small closed tears. Dominant Pictures unknown books
1944rif. 163101Hollywood CA: Film Music Notes 1944. Three vintage gatherings of the periodical "Film Music Notes" FMN comprising all 26 issues published in 1942 through 1944 bound in three volumes each with titled wrappers "Film Music Notes / 1942" "Film Music Notes / 1943" and "Film Music Notes / 1944" with manuscript graphite red and blue pencil annotations on 39 pages of fourteen issues. The three gatherings found here comprise the first full three years of the periodical's publication beginning with "Volume I / January 1942 / Number IV" and ending with "Volume IV / December 1944 / Number III." Detailed inventory available upon request. The three bound gatherings are: "Film Music Notes / 1942" comprised of all eight issues published in 1942 from Vol. 1 No. IV through Vol. II No. III with each issue ranging from seven to nine pages. In 1942 FMN published only eight issues rather than the nine found in 1943 and 1944 combining the May and June issues into one "May-June 1942" issue Vol. II No. III. "Film Music Notes / 1943" comprised of all nine issues published in 1943 from Vol. II No. IV through Vol. III No. III with each issue ranging from eight to twelve pages. "Film Music Notes / 1944" comprised of all nine issues published in 1944 from Vol. III No. IV through Vol. IV No. III with each issue ranging from eleven to twenty three pages. The first issue of FMN Vol. 1 No. 1 not included in the bound volumes here was published in October 1941 and was spearheaded largely by the efforts of a group of Hollywood women on behalf of the National Federation of Music Clubs the Federation. On June 1 1941 as part of the "Festival of Motion Pictures" at the Federation's biennial American Music Festival the Federation feeling the Academy Awards were not adequately recognizing musicians and composers held their first film music awards night. The overwhelming success of the awards night as well as growing requests from music educators for resources and advise on how to teach about film music lead Federation members headed by chairperson Grace Widney Mabee to begin the publication of the groundbreaking periodical four months later which during its inception was largely built upon the Federation's existing structures and resources. In 1943 FMN was integral to the formation of the National Film Music Council NFMC created largely by Federation members and FMN contributors and editors Mabee Sigmund Spaeth FMN Advisory Chairman Constance Purdy FMN editor and others and was announced in the "Foreword" of FMN Vol. 2 No.1 October 1943 found in the volumes offered here. FMN continued publication for seventeen years ending in 1958. Issues of FMN are generally comprised of a "Foreword" followed by "Comments and Open Forum" which by the November 1942 issue Vol. II No. II had transitioned to "News Items" film reviews which focus on the use of music in film and range from five to 28 reviews per issue as well as various articles essays and biographies. Regular contributing authors found in the three bound volumes here include: Gail Kubik composer Margery Morrison FMN Associate Editor Purdy actress musician and FMN Editor Naomi Reynolds of The Musician's Congress and Spaeth musicologist author and FMN Advisory Chairman. Contributing authors found in the volumes on offer here include: Composers: Scott Bradley Rudy De Saxe Adolph Deutsch Nat W. Finston Arthur Kleiner William Lava Vernon Leftwich Alfred Newman Miklós Rózsa David Rudhyar Jack Schaindlin Max Steiner Herbert Stothart Franz Waxman Roy Webb and Charles Wolcott. As well as: Alice Evans Field MPPDA studio liason Chauncey Haines Jr. musician Hal Hall "The American Cinematographer" editor John Huntley British film historian Isabel Morse Jones LA Times critic and musician Jay Leyda experimental filmmaker Louis Lipstone head of Paramount Pictures music department Harry Mines LA Daily News critic Ivan Narodny Russian revolutionary and émigré Mildred Norton LA Daily News critic Cecil Stokes creator of the Auroratone and Dr. Bruno David Ussher musicologist and LA music critic. Articles found in the volumes on offer here include: "Cartoon Music of the Future" "George Pal's Puppetoons" "The Auroratone" "Scoring the Jungle Book" "Russian Music" "The Importance of Motion Picture Music" "Music in Government Films" a "Special Article" on Constantin Bakaleinikoff composer and Director of Music Department of RKO-Radio "Music of the Americas" "Screen Music Assumes New Stature" "Procedure of Preparing a Musical Score for a Picture" "José Iturbi Comes to the Screen" "Dmitri Shostakovich - Film Composer" "A Visit to the Music Recording Stage at Warner Bros." "What Music Arranging Does for the Pictures" "An Afternoon in the Home of Erich Wolfgang Korngold" "New Russian Music Born of War" "The Sixth Sense in Film Mechanics" "Notes on the Life and Works of Aaron Copland" "Rhapsody in Blue: A Day on the Gershwin Set" "British Film Music" "Mexican Films in Hollywood" and "An Institute of Music in Contemporary Life" among many others. All three volumes Very Good or better pages supple mimeograph duplication each bound with two gold brads. "Film Music Notes / 1942:" Tan titled wrappers eight issues 61 pages total. Pages Near Fine wrapper Very Good plus with light soiling and edgewear bound with two gold brads. "Film Music Notes / 1943:" Blue titled wrappers nine issues 85 pages total. Pages Near Fine wrapper Very Good plus with light soiling and edgewear bound with two gold brads. "Film Music Notes / 1944:" Tan titled wrappers nine issues. 132 pages total. Pages Near Fine with five paperclips on five different articles wrapper Very Good plus with light soiling edgewear and light dampstaining to the bottom left corner bound with two gold brads. Film Music Notes unknown books
1946rif. 161075Burbank CA: Warner Brothers 1946. Four vintage studio still photographs from the 1945 film. A fictionalized account of the life of composer George Gershwin featuring several of Gershwin's real-life acquaintances including Paul Whiteman Al Jolson and Oscar Levant. 10 x 8 inches. Very Good plus with light edgewear and faint age toning. Warner Brothers unknown books
1932rif. 55367New York: Random House 1932. Near fine. Signed limited first edition - in a lovely modern Art Deco binding - from this "quintessentially American composer" whose music helped establish "the groundwork for the Great American Songbook" Cambridge Companion to Gershwin. SONG-BOOK presents piano music transcriptions of many of Gershwin's most beloved songs with colorful Art-Deco illustrations by Alajalov. Tunes include: "'S Wonderful" "Strike Up The Band" "Swanee" "The Man I Love" "Nobody But You" "Fascinating Rhythm" and "Oh Lady Be Good" among others. Published just one year after Gershwin was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in Music for his musical OF THEE I SING a striking edition capturing one of the US's finest songwriters at the height of his powers and popularity. 12.5'' x 9''. Modern auburn full crushed morocco rebound to match style of original deluxe binding. Top edge gilt. Grey cloth endpapers. Photographic frontispiece of Gershwin at the piano by Maurice Goldberg. 4 xii 168 6 pages. "Mischa Yasha Toscha Sascha" booklet present in pocket at rear. With an introduction by Gershwin and a foreword on Alajalov by Samuel M. Kootz. One of 300 numbered copies signed by Gershwin and Alajalov on the colophon this #233. Minor rubbing at extremities spine mildly sun darkened. Presents beautifully. Random House unknown books
1932rif. 69154New York: Simon and Schuster 1932. GERSHWIN George; ALAJALOV. composer. ALAJALOV illustrator. George Gershwin's Song-Book. Alajalov Illustrator. New York: Simon and Schuster 1932. Full Description: GERSHWIN George composer. ALAJALOV illustrator. George Gershwin's Song-Book. Alajalov Illustrator. New York: Simon and Schuster 1932. First trade edition first printing. With a full page signed inscription and musical quotation by Gershwin on the front free endpaper. Quarto 12 5/8 x 9 5/8 inches; 320 x 245 mm. xi 1 blank 167 5 blank pp. With eighteen songs of printed music each which include a full or double- page color illustrations by Alajalov. Title-page with a illustrated vignette and printed in red and black. Inscription reads "For Ella-/In memory of many/ happy times together./With love/from/George." Followed by a hand-drawn musical notation of four bars and six notes along with lyrics reading "No-body but you" and then dated "September 16 1932." The printed music of this line can be found at the top of page 14. Inscription is in black ink and takes up the full page. Full page Gershwin inscriptions are very rare. This might possibly be inscribed to Ella Fitzgerald as they were friends and Fitzgerald sung songs from Gershwins song book. Quarter rust flocked cloth over tan woven cloth boards. Front board ruled and lettered in blue. Spine lettered in blue. Some rubbing and scuffing to boards and spine. Title-page a little frayed. A bit of toning mainly to endpapers. Still a very good copy with a wonderful provenance. The "Ella" in the inscription refers to Ella W. Aarons Crouch who was a concert pianist and wife of Alexander Alfred Aarons who was a producer on most of Gershwin's Broadway productions. HBS 69154. $7500. Simon and Schuster unknown books
1936rif. 181291936. Playbill from American folk opera "Porgy and Bess" composed by George Gershwin. Philadelphia 1936. Measures 6 x 9 inches. 4 pages. Includes full production credits cast list scene synopsis and list of musical numbers. From the post-Broadway tour stop at the Forrest Theatre in Philadelphia. The play featured a cast of classically trained African-American singers a risk on Broadway where it was initially unpopular. It would remain relatively obscure until a 1976 production in Houston received rave reviews and helped make this opera one of the best known and most frequently performed since. The story follows Porgy a disabled black beggar living in the slums of Charleston where he tries to rescue his beloved Bess from an abusive lover. Known for composing classics like "Rhapsody in Blue" George Gershwin deviated from category with "Porgy and Bess" a commercial failure for decades until time redeemed it. Faint middle crease where playbill was folded. Very good condition. unknown books
1935rif. 181301935. African-American Music Sheet music from George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess. Gershwin Publishing Corporation: New York 1935. Measures 9 x 12 inches. 6 pages. Features the opening aria entitled "Summertime" in Gershwin's 1935 American folk opera Porgy and Bess. Porgy and Bess was first performed in Boston on September 30 1935 before it moved to Broadway in New York City. It featured a cast of classically trained African-American singers-a bold and dauntless artistic choice at the time. The song has been adapted into over 25000 versions mostly famously by artists like Billie Holiday Miles Davis and Janis Joplin. This is the original version. Gershwin's opera was a commercial failure when it opened on Broadway but achieved critical success with later productions. The opera promoted resilience within the African-American community---providing hope for a better future amidst hardships and prejudice. "Summertime" was a beloved score even prior to the opera's formal success. Official sheet music for one of the most notable African-American folk operas of all time. Upper corner of front page bumped and light creasing to front page. In very good condition. unknown books
1932rif. 1903005Random House 1932. Limited Edition. Hardcover. Good. The very limited SIGNED LIMITED edition of this collection of Gershwin's classic music one of 300 numbered copies number 132 bound in the publisher's full morocco and signed by Gershwin. Wear on spine but solid and intact. Original extra sheet music laid in the back in special sleeve built into the binding. Random House hardcover books
1932rif. 1909112Random House 1932. Limited Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. Signed limited edition one of 300 signed by George Gershwin. In publisher's original leather covers. Random House hardcover books
1959rif. 623627New York: Alfred A. Knopf 1959. Hardcover. Very Good. First edition. Ownership signature and stamp of a noted American psychologist on front fly faint dampstain on bottom edge of boards spotting on topstain very good lacking the dust jacket. Alfred A. Knopf hardcover books
1941rif. 30932New York: Random House. Near Fine with no dj. First Edition. Hardcover. no dust jacket nice copy with minimal shelfwear some age-toning to endpapers and pastedowns spine lettering rubbed but still readable. B&W photo frontispiece The first Freudian Broadway musical depicting the dreams and nightmares of a fashion magazine editor played in the original production by Gertrude Lawrence who is undergoing psychoanalyis to deal with career pressures and her unsettled romantic life. The original Broadway production debuted in January 1941 and ran for 16 months 467 performances then went on tour before returning to New York for an additional 83 performances finally closing in May 1943; Gertrude Lawrence remained with the show throughout all these performances. And it made a star of one of her co-stars Danny Kaye although he had moved on to another show "Let's Face It!" in the Fall of 1941. It was adapted into a delirious Technicolor film in 1944 under the direction of Mitchell Leisen and starring Ginger Rogers and Ray Milland. Although not marked as such this book comes from the collection of longtime New York Times film critic Bosley Crowther. . c.1941. Random House hardcover books
1933rif. 557705New York: Alfred A. Knopf 1933. Hardcover. Near Fine/Very Good. First edition. Red white and blue papercovered boards red lettering on blue cloth spine. Lyrics by Ira Gershwin. Illustrated by Donald McKay. Boards a trifle rubbed else fine in spine-sunned very good or better dust jacket. An attractive copy. Alfred A. Knopf hardcover books
rif. 021548Framed Manuscript. Ink blot slightly affecting first notes of the manuscript as well as "G" in "George." Not examined out of the frame but appears to be Near Fine. On a 6" x 6-1/2" piece of paper Gershwin has written three measures of the lyrical theme in E major from the "Andantino moderato" section of his composition RHAPSODY IN BLUE and INSCRIBED it "To Channing Way" and SIGNED "with all good wishes/from/George Gershwin." Matted and framed to an overall size of 17" x 13" with a fragment of the printed music a printed title of the piece with "Dedicated to Paul Whiteman" at the top and a SIGNATURE with sentiment of Paul Whiteman. Commissioned by bandleader Paul Whiteman RHAPSODY IN BLUE was composed by George Gershwin for solo piano and jazz band in early 1924 and premiered in New York City on 12 February 1924 as part of a concert entitled An Experiment in Modern Music. It was originally performed by Gershwin on the piano and by members of Paul Whiteman's band. The combination of elements of classical music with jazz effects was revolutionary for its time. unknown books
1935rif. 1246541935. First Edition. Signed. GERSHWIN George. Porgy and Bess. An Opera in Three Acts. By George Gershwin. Libretto by DuBose Heyward. Lyrics by DuBose Heyward and Ira Gershwin. Production Directed by Rouben Mamoulian. New York: Random House 1935. Folio original full red morocco raised bands black leather label on front cover top edge gilt. Housed in a custom clamshell box. $48500.Deluxe limited edition of the piano-vocal score of Porgy and Bess number 103 of only 250 copies signed by George Gershwin Ira Gershwin DuBose Heyward and director Rouben Mamoulian additionally inscribed by Gershwin to his lover Kay Swift who was intimately involved in the composition of the piece: ÒFor Kay Ñ/ Best Ñ/ George / Nov. 1 1935.Ó According to Ohl ÒbestÓ their code word for ÒloveÓ allowed them to be discreet.This deluxe edition of the piano-vocal score according to Fuld no orchestral score has ever been published was published in 1935 the year of Porgy and Bess premiere almost simultaneously with the first edition and is boldly signed on the limitation page at the rear by George and Ira Gershwin and the other principal creators of Porgy and Bess: librettist DuBose Heyward and director Rouben Mamoulian. Fuld 539. The recipient Kay Swift met Gershwin in 1925. A highly educated beauty of prominent social position she was not yet known as a songwriter her first big hit would be in 1929 with ""Can't We Be Friends"". ""If one measures by the dedication of his Song-Book to her his generous gifts of paintings manuscripts and other keepsakes that betokened affection plus the many hours he spent with her Gershwin obviously had a special place in his heart for Kay SwiftÉ With Kay Gershwin probably came as close to settling down with one woman as he ever did"" Schwarz 190. Swift was extensively involved with the composition of Porgy and Bess almost from the beginning: Swift was Gershwin's guest at the premiere of the play version by Heyward's wife. When composing the operaÑmuch of which occurred at a cottage on Swift's country estateÑSwift was often in her words Gershwin's ""soundboard"" for new ideas. ""'He'd call me and tell me to rush over to play the orchestra part of a song. He couldn't sing. Neither could Ira. But we'd all sing Ira's or DuBose Heyward's lyrics sounding like a chorus of crowsÉ Each day as the work grew a few of usÑBill Daly his close friend and favorite conductor and myself Ira of course and DuBose Heyward who wrote the libretto as well as some of the lyrics were probably present much of the time. It was thrilling to hear the themes develop the recitatives build into such an inevitable part of the score that they flowed as naturally as spoken words would. The whole sparkled with a fantastic quality of imaginationÉ She also had an even more direct part in the opera's development. In addition to listening singing and playing the work in progress Swift sometimes notated portions of pieces for Gershwin evidently to expedite his later work on the compositions. He believed she wrote faster and more neatly than she could."" Extensive portions of the original manuscript now in the Gershwin collection at the Library of Congress are in Swift's hand demonstrating ""her role as an assistant to the composer and signify the trust he must have placed in her and her notational and musical abilities"" Ohl 95-96. During actual production Swift attended most rehearsals and was present at many of the casting decisions. After the preview run in Boston it was clear that the four-hour opera was too long so ""Gershwin Mamoulian composer Alexander Steinert and Kay Swift walked the Boston Common in the early hours of the morning deciding which portions to cut""; one month later at the premiere in New York ""Swift was seated between George and Ira"". Later Swift would deliver lectures throughout the country as part of the promotion of Porgy and Bess. ""Ira recalled that she had memorized the entire 559-page score and would be illustrating songs from it at the piano"" Ohl 97-98. ""After her yeoman's effort during Porgy and Bess he presented her with a leather-bound autographed score the present copy that reads simply 'Tosic Kay. Best. George.' 'Best' their code word for 'love' allowed them to be discreet"" Ohl 115. Interior fine spine somewhat toned light rubbing to spine ends. A near-fine copy with an extraordinary association. hardcover books
1987rif. 59925NY: Doubleday 1987. First edition. xv 436 pp w/index. A few small spots of foxing to page edges else near fine in fine dust jacket. Illustrated. NY: Doubleday unknown books
1948rif. BK0120Atlanta Georgia: Atlanta Music Club 1948. Illustrated program 18 pp. 10 ¾ x 8 ½ inches stapled in illustrated blue wrappers. Near fine condition. A program for Paul Whiteman's all-Gershwin concert at Atlanta's Municipal Auditorium on November 6 1948 built around Whiteman's close place in the history of Gershwin's concert music. Whiteman had commissioned Rhapsody in Blue and conducted its celebrated first performance at Aeolian Hall in 1924 with Gershwin himself at the piano. More than two decades later and eleven years after Gershwin's death Whiteman returned to the composer's work with this touring "musical tribute." The program ranges across Gershwin's popular and concert works opening with an instrumental medley of "Swanee" "Do It Again" "Of Thee I Sing" "Someone to Watch Over Me" and "Love Is Sweeping the Country." Vocalists Eugenie Baird and Russell McIntyre appeared alongside guitarist Mike Pingitore and saxophonist Al Gallodoro while pianist Jane Anderson performed a variation on "I've Got Rhythm" the first movement of the Concerto in F and as the finale Rhapsody in Blue. The booklet also contains a photographic portrait of Whiteman and several essays reviewing his career and his role in the development of American popular and concert music including "The Dean of Modern American Music" and "Tops' Moves to the Blue." . Atlanta Music Club unknown books
1933rif. 502090Bold Signature in black ink on a stiff gray card 1933. 3 1/2" x 6 1/4". Together with a mailing envelope bearing 2 cancelled stamps postmarked New York April 21 1933 and with Gershwin's holograph return address on verso. books
1944rif. 550425Lynbrook N.Y.: Boosey and Hawkes 1944. Softcover. Fine. First edition. Tall octavo. 11pp. Stapled illustrated wrappers. Slight age-toning else about fine. Sheet music with words by Gershwin music by Copeland and arranged by Frederic Fay Swift. Boosey and Hawkes unknown books
1924rif. 467813New York: New World Music 1924. Hardcover. Near Fine. Sheet music measuring 9" x 12". 5pp. A tear on the fold toning and creasing else very good with publisher's notations on the front wrapper and penciled notes on the pages. Sheet music for the song "The Man I Love" from the Gershwin musical Strike up the Band. New World Music hardcover books
1929rif. 468143New York: New World Music / Harms 1929. Softcover. Very Good. Sheet music N.W. 85-4. Cover art by Gil Spear. Quarto wrappers. 6pp. Small chipping on top edges of pages 3-4 bottom corners lightly creased very good. "Edgar Selwyn Presents Clark & McCullough in Strike Up the Band." Piano ukulele. New World Music / Harms unknown books
1933rif. 468168New York: New World Music Corp 1933. Softcover. Good. Sheet music S-354-4. Ukulele arrangement by S.M. Zoltai. Pictorial wrappers. Quarto. 6pp. Short tears and chips on edges good only. Score for piano vocal banjo and ukulele. "Alex. A. Aarons & Vinton Freedley Present The New Musical Comedy Girl Crazy. New World Music Corp unknown books
1930rif. 468171New York: Remick Music Corp 1930. Softcover. Very Good. Sheet music 1097-4. Pictorial wrappers. Quarto. 6pp. Wrappers corners nicked very good. Score for piano ukulele guitar vocal. "Billy Rose Presents James Barton Fannie Brice George Jessel in Sweet and Low. Remick Music Corp unknown books
1924rif. 468325New York: Harms 1924. Softcover. Very Good. Sheet music 7081-4. Quarto wrappers. 6pp. Lightly age-toned very good. "From George White's Scandals." Piano. Harms unknown books
1938rif. 468703New York: Gershwin Publishing Corp. / Chappell & Co 1938. Softcover. Very Good. Sheet music. Quarto wrappers. 4pp. Short tears on edges very good. Goldwyn Follies. Piano ukulele guitar and banjo. Gershwin Publishing Corp. / Chappell & Co unknown books
2009rif. 417453New York: The Library of America 2009. Hardcover. Fine/Fine. First edition. Small octavo. Fine in a fine dust jacket. "American Poets Project" Volume twenty-nine only. The Library of America hardcover books
