Gee, Officer Krupke (from West Side Story) (arr. Paul Murtha): Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Arranged by Paul Murtha
Grade: 4
Item: 35-PK01198435
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Description
Sung by the Jets gang in Bernstein's West Side Story, this familiar song is filled with energy and rambunctious humor. With the melodic phrases being bounced from section to section, this clever adaptation by Paul Murtha is a great way to liven up the concert stage.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK01198435
More about this title
About the Arranger: Paul Murtha
Paul Murtha is a prolific arranger and composer whose work spans concert band, jazz ensemble, and wind band literature. His arrangements are known for preserving the character of original compositions while tailoring them for educational ensembles, making well-known theatrical and popular works accessible to student musicians at various levels.
Why we love this
Murtha captures the anarchic spirit of the Jets without losing sight of Bernstein's melodic gift. By distributing the main theme across multiple sections, he gives the entire band ownership of the tune and creates natural points for dynamic contrast and sectional independence that keep students engaged.
What to expect
Raucous and irreverent. The piece bounces with the mischief of teenage street gang members caught in a moment of carefree defiance. There's swagger in the rhythm and humor threaded through every phrase, making it as fun to perform as it is to hear.
Who it's for
Band directors programming a Grade 4 concert that needs an immediate lift in energy and audience engagement. This works equally well for ensembles looking to connect with students through familiar, high-interest material or for those seeking a lighter moment in a mixed repertoire concert.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the tune as it travels between woodwinds, brass, and reeds. Each section that takes the melody should project it clearly, but not overshadow the harmonic support underneath.
- Keep the rhythmic energy crisp and aligned. The humor of this piece lives in rhythmic precision and articulation, so lock the ensemble's attacks and releases together from the first rehearsal.
- Find the comedy in the phrasing. Bernstein wrote this tune with comedic timing in mind, so allow for slight breath space and clarity between ideas rather than rushing through the musical jokes.
- Emphasize the brass section's rhythmic figures in the accompaniment. These riffs are what give the piece its cheeky personality and propel the forward momentum.
How to use it
Place this in the second half of a concert, after you've established the ensemble's control with a more demanding work. Its infectious energy and accessible melody make it an ideal palette cleanser and audience favorite that leaves the concert on a high note without requiring excessive rehearsal time relative to more substantial pieces.
Skills your students will build
- Passing a melodic line between sections cleanly and maintaining phrase continuity
- Rhythmic precision and ensemble alignment in syncopated figures
- Dynamic contrast and sectional independence within a unified ensemble
- Musical interpretation and character work in a comedic context
- Stylistic awareness of Broadway idiom and vernacular musical language