Gershwin by George!: Baritone T.C.
Featuring: Strike Up the Band! / I Got Rhythm / Embraceable You / Summertime / Prelude II / An American in Paris / Rhapsody in Blue
By George Gershwin / arr. Jerry Brubaker
Grade: 4 (Medium)
Item: 00-PC-0016800_BTC1
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Description
The name George Gershwin is legendary in the world of American music and has spanned both popular and classical genres. This medley includes "I Got Rhythm," "Embraceable You," some symphonic works such as "An American in Paris," "Rhapsody in Blue," "Summertime" from the opera Porgy and Bess, and the seldom heard "Piano Prelude No. 2." Hey leader, Strike Up the Band! (6:15)
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Additional Details
Series:
Pop Symphonic Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
252
SKU:
00-PC-0016800_BTC1
More about this title
About the Composer: George Gershwin
George Gershwin (1898–1937) bridged popular song and concert music with an ease that few composers have matched. His melodies became part of American culture almost immediately upon publication, while his larger works—especially Rhapsody in Blue—proved that jazz idioms and symphonic ambition could coexist in serious concert halls.
Gershwin's early success in musical theater gave him the craft and ear for memorable melody. He applied those gifts to instrumental works that drew on blues, jazz, and folk traditions, creating a distinctly American voice at a time when concert music often looked back to European models. His output was cut short by his death at 38, but his influence on how American music is composed, heard, and taught remains enormous.
Why we love this
Jerry Brubaker has crafted a medley that moves beyond simple tune-stringing by letting each excerpt breathe and connect with purpose. The balance between Gershwin's most recognizable hits ("I Got Rhythm," "Embraceable You") and deeper cuts ("Piano Prelude No. 2") means your audience gets both immediate pleasure and pleasant surprise. At Grade 4, the arrangement sits right at the sweet spot where technical demands don't overshadow the joy of performing these iconic American melodies.
What to expect
Gershwin's gift for writing lines that get under your skin is on full display here. Transitions move you from the toe-tapping energy of "I Got Rhythm" to the elegance of a Tin Pan Alley ballad to the sophisticated syncopation of his concert works, all without feeling scattered. The whole package evokes Manhattan sophistication and American optimism in equal measure.
Who it's for
Band directors seeking a Grade 4 concert piece that combines popular appeal with genuine musical substance will find this medley invaluable. It works equally well for students who know Gershwin's melodies from film and radio and for those discovering his voice for the first time. The piece rewards careful ensemble work without demanding virtuosity from individual players.
How to get the most out of it
- Treat "I Got Rhythm" as a rhythm section vehicle. Lock the percussion and low brass into a tight groove so the melody instruments can sit on top with ease and lift.
- Shape the lyrical sections ("Embraceable You," "Summertime") with real breath and rubato. These moments contrast sharply with the driving material and deserve conductor attention to phrasing, not just tempo.
- Balance the orchestration during "An American in Paris" and "Rhapsody in Blue" passages. The lush harmonies work only if inner voices register without drowning out the principal melody.
- Give "Piano Prelude No. 2" space to shimmer. The reeds and brass need clarity and restraint here; think chamber-like transparency rather than full concert band weight.
How to use it
This medley anchors a "Gershwin Celebration" concert or serves as your closer when programming American music across the twentieth century. It also fits beautifully in a pops concert where you want to include substantive concert arrangements alongside lighter fare. The six-plus minute runtime and genre range make it substantial enough to be a concert centerpiece without overcommitting rehearsal time at this grade level.
Skills your students will build
- Balancing melody and accompaniment across changing orchestrations
- Executing rhythmic precision in jazz-inflected passages
- Shaping extended melodic lines with stylistic awareness (ballad vs. up-tempo sections)
- Reading and playing through frequent key changes and harmonic language of the early twentieth century
- Ensemble transparency and clarity during fast harmonic movement