A Foggy Day: 3-Part Mixed Choral Octavo
Music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin / arr. Russell Robinson
Level: Moderate
Item: 00-PO-0004831
$2.25
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
A very singable vocal jazz setting of the Gershwin® favorite from Russell Robinson. It's got a few challenges but it's well worth the effort. A welcome addition to any concert program.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Pop Choral Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0004831
More about this title
About the Composer: George Gershwin
George Gershwin (1898-1937) bridged classical composition and American popular song with a fluency that few composers have matched. His melodies became the soundtrack to the Jazz Age, and pieces like "A Foggy Day" showcase his gift for writing singable, memorable lines that feel both sophisticated and immediately accessible. Gershwin's concert works and theatrical scores established him as a defining voice in 20th-century American music.
Ira Gershwin, George's lyricist brother, crafted witty, singable lyrics that matched George's melodic inventiveness phrase for phrase. Together they created some of the most enduring songs in the American songbook, with "A Foggy Day" remaining a favorite across jazz, classical, and popular contexts.
Why we love this
Russell Robinson's arrangement captures the urbane sophistication of the original while keeping the vocal writing genuinely singable for a mixed choir. The piece strikes that rare balance between having substance (it demands attention to musicality and ensemble blend) and accessibility (singers grasp the melody quickly), making it rewarding for both ensemble and audience.
What to expect
Stepping into a New York jazz club on a misty evening, with cool sophistication and just a touch of wistfulness. The melody floats over a steady harmonic foundation, and the 3-part texture creates depth without overcrowding the intimate character of Gershwin's iconic song.
Who it's for
Treble and lower voice singers in community choirs, church choirs, and secondary music programs looking to perform a standard that feels contemporary and sophisticated. Directors seeking a piece that satisfies both singers and audiences without requiring advanced vocal technique.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the tempo early in rehearsal and let singers feel the easy swing of the accompaniment; rushing kills the sophisticated ease this song requires.
- Work the vowel consistency across all three parts, especially in the sustained moments where blend determines whether the harmony reads as lush or scattered.
- Attend to the jazz inflections and interpretive flexibility the arrangement invites; straight, classical phrasing will flatten the character Gershwin and Robinson built into this song.
How to use it
Pair this with other jazz standards or Gershwin repertoire for a focused concert set, or place it as a contrasting moment in a program mixing classical and contemporary work. The moderate difficulty and relatively short length make it an excellent anchor piece for a concert section without requiring an entire program around jazz.
Skills your students will build
- Jazz articulation and swing phrasing in a choral context
- Harmonic independence in three-part mixed voicing
- Vowel consistency across sustained chords and moving lines
- Interpretation of syncopated rhythms and jazz inflections