Course detail: The Life and Music of George Gershwin

One of the leading musical figures in the history of the United States, George Gershwin (1898-1937) combined influences from Tin Pan Alley, classical music, jazz, and blues into a distinctive music style heard in his numerous Broadway musicals, songs for Hollywood films, and concert works like the famous Rhapsody in Blue. This course explores his biography and each aspect of his musical output.


Instructor Bio: Paul Laird is professor emeritus of musicology at the University of Kansas, where two of his teaching specialties were Baroque music and music of the United States. He has published widely on such topics as Leonard Bernstein and American musical theater and won the 2021 KU Chancellor's Club Career Teaching Award. Paul has taught many Osher classes since the program's inception at KU.


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Available sessions

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