This piece was conceived during a wonderful online flute class during the Corona Virus lockdown. Hence, the title, “Gershwin- itis”. Thinking about the myriad diseases that are occurring during this time, I use the term as a pun describing my personal disease shutdown. Gershwin’s Preludes that I learned early on as a piano student were among my favorite pieces. The opening of this piece solo mimics the opening phrase of Prelude #1. As a young woman, I longed to be a jazz singer and this piece reminds me of the smoky voices of June Christy and Peggy Lee: Jazzy, sultry, sexy, and playful: even on the bass clarinet!