I Got Rhythm: SATB Choral Octavo
With "Fascinating Rhythm"
Music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin / arr. Kirby Shaw
Level: Moderate
Item: 00-PO-0002560
$2.25
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
One moment…
Description
Two Gershwin® classics are combined in a driving Latin style choral as only Kirby Shaw could. Whether you're looking for a change of pace for your concert choir or an upbeat staged number for your show choir, take a look at this one. You'll be glad you did!
I Got Rhythm: SATB Choral Octavo isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.
Request This Title
Tell us you want it.
Start Your Free Trial
Explore everything that's ready to play right now.
Sample Audio
1
Audio File
--:--
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Pop Choral Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0002560
More about this title
About the Composer: George Gershwin
George Gershwin (1898-1937) stands among America's most influential composers, bridging classical forms and popular idioms with unprecedented sophistication. His melodies became the soundscape of 20th-century American culture, and his gift for memorable, singable lines made his work ideal for choral adaptation long after his death.
Ira Gershwin, George's lyricist brother, crafted witty, singable texts that matched George's harmonic inventiveness phrase for phrase. Together they created some of musical theater's most enduring songs, works that remain central to choral repertoire because their melodic strength transcends genre.
Why we love this
Kirby Shaw's treatment captures the swagger and drive of Gershwin's originals while reshaping them for ensemble voices in a Latin groove that feels fresh, not dated. The arrangement balances accessibility with musical substance: your singers get energetic, engaging material that audiences recognize immediately, and the movement and staging possibilities mean this works as beautifully in concert as in a show setting.
What to expect
High-octane and sophisticated in the same breath. The Latin percussion and steady harmonic underpinning give it momentum and modern appeal, while Gershwin's unmistakable melodic DNA keeps it anchored in one of America's greatest songbooks.
Who it's for
Concert and show choirs singing at Grade 3 and ready for something with genuine style and choreography appeal. Directors seeking a crowd-pleaser that doesn't sacrifice musicality will find the arrangement gives singers substantive material to work with, not just simplification.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock the rhythmic groove with your rhythm section. The Latin feel only lands when percussion and piano are locked; have them rehearse together before adding voices.
- Shape the melodic phrases as if they're jazz solos. Even in a choral octavo, Gershwin's lines want space and phrasing, not mechanical uniformity.
- Keep the tempo consistent and driving. Resist the urge to slow down on held notes; maintain forward motion through the form.
- Highlight the soloists or section moments that Shaw writes. This arrangement gives spotlight passages to different voice parts; let those moments breathe and shine.
How to use it
Pair this with other jazzy or contemporary choral work to build a set that showcases versatility within a single concert, or use it as the opener or closer to energize your audience and set a celebratory tone. The staged possibilities also make it ideal for a mid-winter or spring concert that balances formal works with theatrical presentation.
Skills your students will build
- Latin rhythm and groove reading
- Syncopation within harmonic context
- Ensemble phrasing and shape in popular song idiom
- Integration of movement with sung text
- Balancing rhythmic precision with lyrical phrasing