Schott Gershwin - Lullaby - String Quartet

Summary of This Score

Different from the grand concert works like Rhapsody in Blue or the Piano Concerto in F, Lullaby reveals another side of George Gershwin (1898-1937): more intimate, more chamber-like, yet always immediately expressive. Ira Gershwin himself spoke of the "charming" character of this piece, distinguished by its fine writing and unique atmosphere.

Composed in 1919-1920, at a time when Gershwin still found time to write occasional works outside his stage projects, this lullaby for string quartet holds a special place in his catalog. Apart from Short Story for violin and piano, it is one of the few original chamber music works by the composer (excluding solo piano pieces). A real asset for quartets wishing to enrich their program with a short, distinctive, and instantly recognizable piece.

In listening and rehearsal, Lullaby captivates with its contrasts: flowing and singing lines, delicate textures, and at times more powerful accents that awaken the sound material. Gershwin would later reuse this theme in his stage music Blue Monday in 1922, demonstrating the importance he placed on this musical idea.

Long performed in private settings, the work had its first public concert performance only on October 29, 1967. Today, this piece is a reliable choice to bring an American color and rhythmic refinement to a string quartet program, while remaining at an intermediate difficulty level conducive to working on balance, articulation, and dynamic palette.

Technical specifications

Musical Genre

Classical

Composer	George Gershwin	Difficulty	intermediate
Instrumentation	string quartet	Pages	28
Genre	chamber music