Gershwin by George!: Full Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Jerry Brubaker's medley captures the full spectrum of Gershwin's genius in a single, expertly paced work that moves seamlessly from the bright exuberance of "Strike Up the Band!" through the bluesy introspection of "Summertime" to the virtuosic thrill of "Rhapsody in Blue." The arrangement balances each movement's character while maintaining momentum across nearly six minutes, giving orchestras the chance to experience Gershwin's range without fragmenting the program. Grade 4 orchestras find genuine musical substance here—complex scoring that rewards careful sectional work and expressive playing without overwhelming younger musicians.

A journey through American optimism, urban energy, and lyrical warmth. The medley moves from the brass-driven excitement of early Gershwin through sultry blues and romantic melody into the electrifying virtuosity of the Rhapsody, capturing the composer's restless creativity and gift for writing music that swings, soars, and stays in the listener's memory long after the final chord.

Full orchestras at the Grade 4 level seeking repertoire that combines genuine artistic depth with accessibility and immediate appeal. Directors building programs around American music, jazz-inflected styles, or concert pops also find this medley ideal for audiences eager to hear Gershwin's most recognizable works performed live.

• Balance the jazz idioms throughout: the swing rhythms in "I Got Rhythm" and "Strike Up the Band!" require a relaxed approach to the backbeat, even as the ensemble maintains ensemble precision.
• Use the shifts in orchestration to shape phrases and keep energy moving between movements; highlight the solo passages that emerge (particularly in "An American in Paris" and "Rhapsody in Blue") so they cut through without soloists drowning out the accompaniment.
• Pay attention to dynamic layering, especially in the fuller sections where Gershwin's thick textures can muddy if all parts play at equal volume; thin the middle voices strategically to keep clarity.
• Approach the blues elements (particularly in "Prelude II" and "Summertime") with warmth and slight rhythmic flexibility; these passages resist metronomic rigidity and gain character from subtle rubato.

This medley serves as an excellent centerpiece for a concert celebrating American composers or exploring jazz's influence on concert music. It also works well as a gateway to Gershwin's larger works; students encountering these movements here often pursue deeper study of the complete "Rhapsody in Blue" or "An American in Paris." The variety of moods and styles makes it a strong closer for a mixed-repertoire program, offering both emotional satisfaction and crowd appeal.

• Playing swing rhythms and jazz articulations with precision
• Managing sectional independence while maintaining ensemble blend in thickly orchestrated passages
• Navigating stylistic shifts between popular idiom and concert music language
• Balancing solo passages with accompaniment texture
• Reading and performing syncopated rhythmic figures in a medley context