Gershwin’s ‘Summertime’ from Porgy and Bess Arranged for the Left Hand Alone by McCarthy

The opera Porgy and Bess is based on Dubose Heyward’s novel Porgy (1925) about a crippled street-beggar in the black community of the USA. Gershwin infused this work with unforgettable melodies, lush harmonies and a jazz, ragtime and blues feel. Summertime is first sung by Clara, a young mother in the story, to her baby as a lullaby.

Nicholas McCarthy was born in 1989 without his right hand and only began to play the piano at the late age of 14. Having once been told that he would never succeed as a concert pianist, Nicholas would not be discouraged and went on to study at the prestigious Royal College of Music in London. McCarthy notes “To me, Gershwin’s songs and music are as fresh today as they were eighty or so years ago. I just love his music and so I wanted to make my own arrangement of this emotive work. Summertime has proved very popular with my audiences and I hope you will enjoy playing it.”