George Gershwin (1898-1937), during his short but prolific career, produced a varied body of work that combined symphonic composition with the musical styles popular in his era, including jazz and Negro spirituals. Known primarily for his jazz-tinged orchestral work Rhapsody in Blue , his folk opera Porgy and Bess , and his many wonderful songs featured in the films of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Gershwin and his lyricist brother Ira were key...