Porgy and Bess®, Highlights from: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Featuring: Summertime / I Got Plenty o' Nuttin' / Bess, You Is My Woman / Oh Lawd, I'm on My Way
Words and music by George Gershwin, DuBose Heyward, Dorothy Heyward, and Ira Gershwin / arr. Douglas E. Wagner
Grade: 3 (Medium Easy)
Item: 00-PK-0005547
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Description
From its first performances in 1935 to its return to the Broadway stage in 2012, the American folk opera Porgy and Bess has endured as a national musical treasure, acclaimed by critics and enjoyed by audiences worldwide. This medley for concert band (with optional choir) includes four popular classics from the score, arranged in the order they appear in the opera: "Summertime," "I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'," "Bess, You Is My Woman," and "Oh Lawd, I'm On My Way." With or without the optional choir parts, this arrangement is a winner! (5:00)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Porgy and Bess®, Highlights from: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Pop Concert Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
240
SKU:
00-PK-0005547
More about this title
About the Composer: George Gershwin
George Gershwin (1898-1937) bridged classical and popular music with a compositional voice that was distinctly American. His 1935 folk opera Porgy and Bess, created in collaboration with lyricist Ira Gershwin and librettist DuBose Heyward, remains one of the most performed operas in the United States and has profoundly influenced how concert music incorporates jazz, blues, and vernacular idioms.
Gershwin's ability to write music of immediate emotional appeal without sacrificing harmonic sophistication made him a pivotal figure in music education repertoire. Teachers and conductors continue to turn to his work because it engages students with recognizable melodies and genuine artistic substance, proving that accessibility and depth are not opposing forces.
Why we love this
This medley captures four of Gershwin's most iconic melodies in an arrangement that sounds effortless without being simplistic. The Grade 3 scoring keeps the band engaged with genuine musical content, and the optional choir parts create programming flexibility for directors working across both ensembles.
What to expect
The arc moves from the sultry introspection of "Summertime" through the carefree humor of "I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'," then into the tender lyricism of "Bess, You Is My Woman," before closing with the spiritual warmth of "Oh Lawd, I'm On My Way." This five-minute journey captures the emotional range of the opera itself, offering performers and listeners a genuine dramatic experience within a concert setting.
Who it's for
Concert bands at the intermediate level who want to perform recognizable, culturally significant music without requiring advanced technical demands. Directors programming a pops concert, school assembly, or community event will find this medley both engaging for students and satisfying for audiences.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the opening "Summertime" with warm, sustained phrasing in the woodwinds; resist the urge to rush this haunting melody despite its slow tempo.
- Balance the ensemble carefully during the transition into "I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'," allowing the rhythmic energy to emerge naturally from the lower voices.
- If you include the optional choir, rehearse the band and singers separately first so each ensemble understands its role before combining them.
- Bring out the infectious syncopation in the final number without letting it overshadow the clarity of the ensemble's articulation.
How to use it
Open a pops concert with this medley to establish a sophisticated tone while remaining accessible to a mixed audience. Its familiar melodies make it ideal for community events or educational outreach performances where you want to honor American musical heritage. The optional choir parts also allow you to program it as a collaborative feature that brings together your instrumental and vocal ensembles.
Skills your students will build
- Playing with sustained legit tone in slower ballad-style passages
- Maintaining rhythmic precision during syncopated ensemble writing
- Balancing melody and accompaniment across multiple sections
- Managing dynamic shape across contrasting musical moods within a continuous medley