All these tales of people sitting down and composing symphonies just as though they were writing a letter are very much exaggerated; at least, it isn't that way in my work. — George Gershwin Copy Share Image
The composer does not sit around and wait for an inspiration to walk up and introduce itself…Making music is actually little else than a matter of invention aided and abetted by emotion. In composing we combine what we know of… — George Gershwin Copy Share Image
True music must repeat the thought and inspirations of the people and the time. My people are Americans and my time is today. — George Gershwin Copy Share Image
The extraordinary thing about my mother, she's so modest about me. — George Gershwin Copy Share Image
Porgy is...an interesting example of what can be done by talent in spite of a bad setup. With a libretto that should never have… — George Gershwin Copy Share Image
Gershwin's melodic gift was phenomenal. His songs contain the essence of New York in the 1920s and have deservedly become classics of their kind,… — George Gershwin Copy Share Image
Not many composers have ideas. Far more of them know how to use strange instruments which do not require ideas. — George Gershwin Copy Share Image
I didn't even start playing the piano until I was about 13 or 14. I guess I must have had a little talent or… — George Gershwin Copy Share Image
Jazz I regard as an American folk music; not the only one, but a very powerful one which is probably in the blood and… — George Gershwin Copy Share Image
Out of my entire annual output of songs, perhaps two, or at the most three, came as a result of inspiration. We can never… — George Gershwin Copy Share Image
True music must repeat the thought and inspirations of the people and the time. — George Gershwin Copy Share Image
