George Gershwin Medley: SSA Choral Octavo

$3.95 USD

George Gershwin Medley: SSA Choral Octavo

Name: George Gershwin Medley: SSA Choral Octavo
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-CMM00004
Price: 3.95 USD
Availability: InStock

The music of George Gershwin / arr. Bill Holcombe

Item: 00-CMM00004

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This wonderful medley of George Gershwin titles includes: I Got Rhythm, Fascinating Rhythm, Someone to Watch Over Me, 'S Wonderful, Who Cares?, Bidin' My Time, and Strike Up the Band! The unique arrangement for SSA offers children's choirs as well as women's groups an opportunity to sing Gershwin at his best.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, George Gershwin Medley: SSA Choral Octavo comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Series: Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Pop Choral Series

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 28

UPC: 654979009221

SKU: 00-CMM00004

More about this title

About the Composer: George Gershwin

George Gershwin (1898-1937) bridged the concert hall and Broadway stage with unmatched fluency, creating music that was equally at home in a symphonic orchestra or a jazz ensemble. His gift for melody and his instinctive understanding of how to blend American vernacular idioms with classical forms made him one of the most influential composers of the 20th century. For choral musicians, Gershwin's songs represent a gateway into sophisticated popular music, where harmonic invention and rhythmic vitality demand serious musicianship.

Gershwin composed for theater, film, and concert stages throughout the 1920s and 1930s. His melodies have become part of the fabric of American music education, offering arrangers and students access to genuinely great material that rewards careful preparation. Songs like "I Got Rhythm" and "Someone to Watch Over Me" contain the harmonic depth and melodic grace that distinguish his work from typical popular songs of any era.

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Why we love this

Bill Holcombe's arrangement captures the unmistakable Gershwin sound while tailoring it specifically for the SSA ensemble, preserving those signature rhythmic surprises and jazz-inflected harmonies without requiring a large or mixed voice group. The medley format allows singers to experience the breadth of his theatrical genius in a single piece, moving from the driving syncopation of "I Got Rhythm" through the sophistication of "Someone to Watch Over Me." This is Gershwin writing that singers can genuinely feel ownership of, not a simplified version.

What to expect

Stepping into the world of 1920s-30s American theater, where joy and sophistication coexist. The medley sparkles with rhythmic energy and melodic generosity, moving from the infectious exuberance of "I Got Rhythm" to moments of tender lyricism, all delivered through some of the most memorable tunes ever written.

Who it's for

Children's choirs and women's vocal ensembles seeking material that offers both accessibility and genuine artistic substance. SSA voicing makes it practical for younger singers and standard community choirs while the Gershwin pedigree and Bill Holcombe's craftsmanship ensure the piece rewards serious musical attention.

How to get the most out of it

Keep the jazz vocabulary conversational rather than over-emphasized; Gershwin's syncopation works best when it feels natural to the phrasing, not forced or mechanical.
Attend closely to the transition points between songs so the medley flows as a cohesive narrative rather than a series of disconnected numbers.
Balance harmonic sophistication with lyrical clarity; these melodies deserve to ring through even when the accompaniment becomes complex.

How to use it

Program this as a standalone feature that celebrates American musical theater and the vitality of Gershwin's legacy, or use it to anchor a concert exploring 20th-century American popular song. The variety of moods and the recognizable titles make it an engaging concert closer that audiences universally enjoy.

Skills your students will build

Singing syncopated rhythms and jazz articulations with accuracy and style
Navigating harmonies with chromatic movement and seventh chords
Maintaining musical continuity across multiple melodic ideas within a single piece
Interpreting the balance between rhythmic vitality and lyrical phrasing
Ensemble blend across SSA voicing while featuring distinct melodic lines