A Gershwin Portrait! The Music of George and Ira Gershwin: SAB Choral Octavo
The Music of George and Ira Gershwin
Words and music by George and Ira Gershwin / arr. Mac Huff
Item: 00-PO-0003109
$9.95
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Pop Choral Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
80
SKU:
00-PO-0003109
More about this title
About the Composer: George Gershwin
George Gershwin (1898-1937) bridged popular song and concert music in ways that still define American musical identity. His gift for melody, harmonic sophistication, and rhythmic vitality made him a transformative figure in twentieth-century composition, equally at home writing for Broadway, radio, and the concert hall.
Gershwin's collaborations with his brother Ira produced some of the most durable songs in the American songbook. Their work together shaped the sound of the Jazz Age and beyond, and their influence on music education remains central; teachers and students encounter Gershwin's music as both a gateway to jazz harmony and a masterclass in craft.
Why we love this
Mac Huff's arrangement captures the swagger and sophistication of Gershwin's writing without demanding operatic voices or advanced ranges from your singers. The SAB setting makes this collection genuinely accessible to mixed ensembles at the high school and community level, while the orchestration and harmonic detail keep directors engaged across 80 pages of genuine musical substance.
What to expect
Urbane, sophisticated, and alive with the energy of the Jazz Age. These songs shimmer with melodic invention and harmonic color; even in SAB voicing, the arrangements retain the elegance and harmonic detail that made Gershwin's music endure.
Who it's for
Intermediate to advanced high school choirs and community ensembles looking for a mixed-voice collection that swings without crossing into jazz-specific vocal demands. Directors who want to program recognizable American standards alongside more contemporary pop arrangements will find this both musically rewarding and audience-friendly.
How to get the most out of it
- Keep the rhythmic drive forward, especially in songs built on syncopation. Gershwin's melodies can sound pedestrian if they're not sung with rhythmic precision and momentum.
- Balance clarity of the melody line against the harmonic richness surrounding it. SAB voicing requires intentional blend so accompanying parts don't overshadow the tune.
- Use the recorded accompaniment to lock in style and tempo. Gershwin's songs live in specific grooves; hearing them right shapes how your singers understand the idiom.
- Pay attention to the jazz inflections and blue notes built into the arrangements. They're easy to sing straight if you're not listening for them.
How to use it
This collection works beautifully as a concert block celebrating American popular song and its composers. Program it alongside art song or classical choral work to show how Gershwin elevated the vernacular, or use individual selections as concert pops that give your ensemble both fun and musical credibility.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and performing jazz-inflected melodies and blue notes
- Balancing melody and harmony in close-voiced SAB arrangements
- Executing rhythmic precision in syncopated and swing contexts
- Understanding harmonic language and voice leading in popular song
- Shaping lyrical phrasing across extended melodic lines