PeriodFourLesson4TheNewAustraliansⅠ
阅读理解AGeorgeGershwin,bornin1898,wasoneofAmerica’sgreatestcomposers
Hepublishedhisfirstsongwhenhewaseighteenyearsold
Duringthenexttwentyyearshewrotemorethanfivehundredsongs
ManyofGershwin’ssongswerefirstwrittenformusicalplaysperformedintheatresinNewYorkCity
Theseplayswereapopularformofentertainmentinthe1920sand1930s
Manyofhissongshaveremainedpopularasever
Overtheyearstheyhavebeensungandplayedineverypossibleway—fromjazztocountry
Inthe1920stherewasadebateintheUnitedStatesaboutjazzmusic
Couldjazz,somepeopleasked,beconsideredseriousmusic
In1924jazzmusicianandorchestraleaderPaulWhitemandecidedtoorganizeaspecialconcerttoshowthatjazzwasseriousmusic
Gershwinagreedtocomposesomethingfortheconcertbeforeherealizedhehadjustafewweekstodoit
Andinthatshorttime,hecomposeda