Porgy and Bess: Choral Instrumental Pak
Arranged by Ed Lojeski
Item: 35-PK00379915
$125.00
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Description
The classic Ed Lojeski choral setting of Gershwin's famous "Porgy and Bess" is once again available! Masterful choral writing, opportunities for solos and colorful scoring make this a wonderful option for school and community programming! This 12:45 medley includes: "Bess, You Is My Woman; I Got Plenty o' Nuttin'; It Ain't Necessarily So; My Man's Gone Now; Oh Lawd, I'm On My Way; Summertime."
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00379915
More about this title
About the Arranger: Ed Lojeski
Ed Lojeski has shaped the sound of American choral music for decades, earning recognition as one of the most performed arrangers in schools and concert halls. His gift lies in crafting vocal writing that respects the integrity of beloved source material while opening it up for ensemble performance, balancing accessibility with musical substance.
Why we love this
Lojeski's command of this score reveals why Porgy and Bess endures. He builds momentum across six numbers without feeling rushed, allows singers moments to shine individually while maintaining ensemble cohesion, and keeps the orchestration alive without overwhelming the voices. The medley structure lets you program something substantial that lands with real emotional weight in under thirteen minutes.
What to expect
You're moving through the emotional landscape of Gershwin's opera in miniature. The ache of 'Bess, You Is My Woman' gives way to the resilient humor of 'I Got Plenty o' Nuttin', then the spiritual determination of the closing songs. It feels lived-in, full of character, and genuinely moving.
Who it's for
Choirs with intermediate to advanced singers who want repertoire that connects to American musical theater history and offers real depth despite its accessibility. This works equally well for school concert choirs and community ensembles looking to impress audiences with something widely recognized.
How to get the most out of it
- Honor the character and dialect of these songs by coaching singers on the text's dramatic context, particularly in 'My Man's Gone Now' and 'Oh Lawd, I'm On My Way,' where emotional authenticity shapes the entire phrase.
- Balance the solo opportunities throughout the medley so that different voice parts get moments to carry the melody, preventing any one section from feeling sidelined.
- Let the recorded accompaniment guide your tempo relationships between numbers, especially during transitions where keeping forward momentum matters more than strict adherence to metronomic time.
- Shape the harmonic richness Lojeski wrote into the supporting voices; this arrangement lives in its colorful writing underneath the main melody.
How to use it
Place this as your concert closer or anchor your spring pops program with something that carries real theatrical presence. It pairs beautifully alongside other American songbook standards, or stands alone as a substantial final piece that reminds audiences why these melodies have lasted a century.
Skills your students will build
- Sustained phrasing and legit vocal production across longer musical lines
- Blend and balance in four-part harmony with active inner voices
- Stylistic interpretation of American musical theater diction and character
- Navigation of key changes and harmonic movement between medley sections
- Solo performance confidence in featured vocal passages