Irving Berlin, His Life and Music
S 2021

Description

“Irving Berlin (1888-1989) has no place in American music, he is American music,” wrote Jerome Kern about the composer of “Alexander’s Ragtime Band, “God Bless America,” and White Christmas.” In a career that spanned nine decades, Berlin wrote some 1500 tunes. James Kaplan’s new biography (2019) “Irving Berlin: New York Genius” captures Berlin as he grows up in New York City as a self -made man and as a witty, wily, tough Jewish immigrant. With this core book, that has excellent reviews from the New York Times, we will explore Irving Berlin’s life and music. What motivated his songs? How did his music change America?

 

Weekly Topics

1.     Musical overview of Berlin’s work, New York City’s environment (1888 – 1898) and core book preface 

2.     Ch.1: The Fugitive 

Ch.2: I have Discovered a Great Kid

3.     Ch.3: You can Never Tell Your Finish When You Start

Ch.4: I Sweat Blood

4.     Ch.5: At the Devil’s Ball

Ch.6: Play a Simple Melody

5.     Ch.7: I Wasn’t Much of a Soldier

Ch.8: Work for yourself

6.     Ch.9: What Shall I Do

Ch.10: Always

7.     Ch.11: Never Saw the Sun Shining so Bright

Ch.12: Good God, Another Review

8.     Ch.13: Before They Ask Us to Pay the Bill

Ch.14: Write Hits Like Irving Berlin

9.     Ch. 15: While the Storm Clouds Gather

Ch.16: What is a War Song?

10.  Ch. 17: This is the Army Mr. Jones

Ch. 18: To War

11.  Ch.19: And Back

Ch. 20 There is America’s Folk Song Writer

12.  Ch.21: I’ve Never Been in a Tougher Spot

Ch.22: We’ll Never Get Off the Stage

13.  Ch. 23: A worried Old Man on the Hill

Ch.24: What Have You Written Lately?

14.  Movie: “This is the Army” available on Amazon Prime

Summary

 

Bibliography

Kaplan, James, Irving Berlin: New York Genius 2019 Yale University Press