Embraceable You: Score
Vocal Feature
Words by Ira Gershwin, music by George Gershwin / arr. Dave Wolpe
Grade: 3 (Medium)
Item: 00-PR-0003055
Pickup currently not available
Description
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Embraceable You: Score comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
Jump straight in and assign it today.
Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.
Sample Audio
Sample Video
Additional Details
More about this title
About the Composer: George Gershwin
George Gershwin (1898-1937) bridged the worlds of classical concert music and American popular song with unprecedented ease. His gift for melody and harmonic sophistication made him one of the most performed composers of the twentieth century, and his influence on jazz, musical theater, and art music remains profound.
Ira Gershwin (1896-1983) provided the lyrics that made George's melodies unforgettable. Working in close partnership with his brother, Ira crafted lyrics of wit, elegance, and emotional directness. Together they created some of the American songbook's most enduring standards, including pieces that have become central to jazz repertoire.
Why we love this
Dave Wolpe's dual-key arrangement solves a real casting challenge without sacrificing the song's sophisticated harmonic language. The back-to-back printing is a practical stroke that makes rehearsal seamless, and the Grade 3 scoring gives your ensemble plenty to sink their teeth into while keeping the focus on the vocalist's lyrical storytelling.
What to expect
Warm, intimate, and swaying. The arrangement captures the Gershwin touch: blues-tinged harmonies that feel both modern and timeless, with space for the vocalist to settle into the lyric. There's an ease and elegance here that invites genuine connection between performer and listener.
Who it's for
Directors leading jazz ensembles with vocalist soloists who need sophisticated yet accessible repertoire. This arrangement works equally well for a single featured vocalist or as a recital piece for a student exploring the American songbook with jazz accompaniment.
How to get the most out of it
- The rhythm section should listen closely to the vocalist's phrasing rather than locking rigidly to click. Gershwin's melodies breathe, and the jazz ensemble works best when it supports that natural elasticity.
- Balance the ensemble texture so that the horn section frames the vocalist without overwhelming. This is a love song, not a showstopper, and clarity of the vocal line matters most.
- Rehearse the vocalist and rhythm section together early. Once that core relationship is solid, layer in the horns for a cohesive whole.
How to use it
Place this in a spring concert as a bridge between your ensemble's more driving charts and a classical finale, or feature it as the centerpiece of a jazz standards program. The romantic quality and clear melodic focus make it an excellent vehicle for showcasing both your soloist and the ensemble's ability to accompany with sensitivity.
Skills your students will build
- Accompanying a solo vocalist with sensitivity and flexible ensemble balance
- Playing jazz comping and rhythm section patterns in two different keys
- Interpreting swing style within a melodic, ballad context
- Reading and performing from a full score with multiple transpositions