It's All About Love!: Viola

This medley captures three of the Gershwins' most beloved love songs in a single, versatile package that works for Grade 3 orchestras of any instrumentation level. Jack Bullock's arrangement maintains the melodic beauty and harmonic sophistication of the originals while building from strings plus optional piano up to full orchestra, giving you genuine programming flexibility. The emotional directness of these melodies makes them deeply satisfying to perform and listen to, whether you're opening a concert or building toward a finale.

The music unfolds with the warmth and directness that made these Gershwin standards timeless. Each melody has an unhurried lyricism that invites players and audiences to settle into genuine emotion, never sentimental but always sincere. The harmonies shimmer with subtle jazz influences, giving classical contexts just enough sophistication to feel fresh.

This is ideal for full orchestras, string orchestras with wind reinforcements, and programs looking for accessible yet musically substantial 20th-century American music. Directors of intermediate orchestras will appreciate the built-in flexibility to scale up or down based on instrumentation and the opportunity to teach students how standard tunes gain new dimension through orchestral color.

• Balance the melody clearly across the three songs so each tune receives its due weight; the familiar nature of these pieces means audiences will listen for the singing line above all else.
• When adding winds to the string foundation, use the optional parts deliberately rather than automatically doubling all instruments; selective doubling preserves clarity and lets each section contribute distinctly.
• Attend to the harmonic sophistication beneath the melodies; Gershwin's jazz-influenced chords need clear voice leading and intentional part balance to shine.
• Shape each song's phrases generously, allowing the lyrical content to guide your tempos and dynamics even though these are instrumental arrangements.

Program this medley in a concert celebrating American composers or film music, where it will resonate with both younger and adult audiences. It also works beautifully as the anchor of a pops concert, paired with other mid-century standards, or as a thoughtful choice in a concert exploring the intersection of concert music and musical theater.

• Shaping lyrical phrases in instrumental contexts
• Balancing melody and harmonic accompaniment across orchestral sections
• Responding to jazz-influenced harmonic movement and voice leading
• Adjusting part balance and instrumentation on the fly
• Performing recognizable melodies with appropriate emotional weight