Jascha Heifetz (1901-1987) and George Gershwin (1898-1937), two of the best known figures in American music, were good friends and often played together. Heifetz had urged Gershwin to write a violin concerto for him,but unfortunately Gershwin died before the project got off the ground. These transcriptions by Heifetz are the next best thing. The five excerpts from Porgy and BessŒ¬ and the Three Preludes are well known and Heifetz often played them as encores, but the substantial concert excerpt fromAn American in ParisTM has never been published before and may not have been performed by Heifetz in public at all. The infectious rhythms and gorgeous tunes of this American classic are brilliantly served by Heifetz as transcriber, and the Porgy excerpts (which include "Bess, You Is MyWoman Now,"Summertime" and "My Man's Gone Now") sizzle with virtuoso pizzazz in these wonderful arrangements. This edition is a must-have forlovers of the violin and the music of Gershwin!
