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Bess, You Is My Woman

African American Museum

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    Object Details

    Published by

    Gershwin Publishing Corp.

    Written by

    George Gershwin, American, 1898 - 1937
    Ira Gershwin, American, 1896 - 1983
    DuBose Heyward, American, 1885 - 1940

    Illustrated by

    Ben Jorj Harris, 1904 - 1957

    Subject of

    Rouben Mamoulian, American, 1897 - 1987

    Description

    Sheet music for “Bess, You Is My Woman." The front cover is a black and white illustration with an off-white margin. Across the top margin is the title "BESS YOU IS MY WOMAN." The illustration, done in the style of woodcuts, depicts several vignettes. The foremost vignette is a profile of a man and woman, face to face. Beyond them is a palm tree, under which is the silhouette of a goat-drawn cart. In the cart is a reclining figure of a man with a crutch. Along the right hand side are two wooden cabins with a boat and ocean beyond them. In the top right corner is the outline of a city skyline. There is a large arm, stemming from the profile of the front man, with a large hand pointing toward the city skyline. In the top left quarter are the words "The Theatre Guild presents/ PORGY and BESS/ Music by GEORGE GERSHWIN/ Libretto by/ DUBOSE HEYWARD/ Lyrics by/ DUBOSE HEYWARD and IRA GERSHWIN/ Production direction by/ ROUBEN MAMOULIAN." At the bottom right corner are the words "Gershwin Publishing Corp. / RKO Bldg. New York, N.Y. / Chappell & Co. Inc. / Sole Selling Agent/ Made in U.S.A."

    Credit Line

    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Vicki Gold Levi

    Date

    1935

    Object number

    2013.223.34

    Restrictions & Rights

    © 1935 by George Gershwin
    Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

    Type

    sheet music

    Medium

    ink on paper

    Dimensions

    H x W: 12 × 9 in. (30.5 × 22.9 cm)

    Place printed

    New York City, New York County, New York, United States, North and Central America

    See more items in

    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

    Classification

    Written Music

    Data Source

    National Museum of African American History and Culture

    Topic

    African American
    Musical Theatre
    Opera (Music)

    Metadata Usage

    CC0

    Link to Original Record

    http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd55eb28d41-1d25-4efe-a647-1a65594ea7f0

    Record ID

    nmaahc_2013.223.34

    Discover More

    Sheet Music Cover Mary Lou Williams

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