Lullaby for Strings
George Gershwin 

[c. 1919]

Before Rhapsody in Blue made George Gershwin a star, and long before An American in Paris had taxi horns honking in concert halls, he wrote this quiet gem as a student assignment. Composed while studying harmony with pianist Edward Kilenyi, Lullaby wasn’t meant for the spotlight—it was a private experiment, shared among friends and tucked away for decades.

In 1919, Gershwin was just 20 but already a working musician, known as a Broadway rehearsal pianist and accompanist. That same year, his song “Swanee” became a runaway hit, selling millions and launching his fame. Lullaby opens with a gentle, blues-tinged cello melody. The strings join in with soft harmonies and subtle syncopation, blending classical grace with the easy swing of early jazz. A reflective middle section adds depth before the main theme returns, ending with a playful pizzicato pluck—like a musical wink.

Though modest in scale, Lullaby is unmistakably Gershwin: lyrical, curious, and quietly confident. It’s both the oldest piece on the program and, in a way, the newest—his first “serious” work, premiered decades later by the Juilliard Quartet in 1967.

Strings