Summertime, from the folk opera Porgy and Bess, is a haunting, languid melody created by the highly esteemed American composer and pianist, George Gershwin. Gershwin was one of the twentieth-century’s most influential, beloved composers, and a multitalented musical genius. He composed numerous orchestral works for piano and jazz orchestra, and created popular musical compositions for several stage works and films. Gershwin’s most famous piece, however, is undoubtedly Rhapsody in Blue. I have admired and revered Gershwin’s musical virtuosity for the greater portion of my life; thus, I was ecstatic when my piano instructor chose Rhapsody in Blue as my senior recital piece. The song was incredibly complicated, and took the greater part of a year
