Classical: DXIX. GERSHWIN, George: Three Preludes for Piano

DXIX. GERSHWIN, George (1898-1937)

Three Preludes for Piano (1926)
1. Allegro ben ritmato e deciso
2. Andante con moto e poco rubato
3. Allegro ben ritmato e deciso
Evgeny Kissin, piano
(6:23)

Apparently, Gershwin originally intended a set of 24 -- the usual number if the set is to include one in each major and minor key.

Eventually, seven appeared in manuscript form, and that number was reduced to the present three; dropping four: two were rearranged for violin and piano for Short Story; one in G Major was excluded because it was too similar to a section of the Concerto in F; and the fourth was left out for unknown reasons.

First movement

The entire piece can be said to derive from these first ten notes:

In the initial phrase, the leading tone to the third (C-Sharp) is followed by the fifth and the root, creating a pure B-Flat Major triad. The next phrase is identical, except for the final note (A-Flat), the flatted seventh -- giving us the hint of the jazz to come.

Moving up by minor thirds, The chords fly by -- all dominant seventh chords with the sixth on top (in jazz terminology, the chords would be called b7/13) -- Bb / Db / E / G -- which resolves to C Major -- note how Gershwin waits a tad until introducing the flatted seventh! He then repeats the same idea a whole step higher.

a virtuoso finish, rolling up the keys in fourths before pounding on the tonic.

Second movement

The deep purple key of C-Sharp Minor! The tempo indication poco rubato gives the player the freedom to relax the phrasing.

The movement to the subdominant major (F-Sharp) gives way to more blues feelings with Gershwin teasing the third from major to minor (A-Sharp to A-Natural) ...