Rhapsody in Blue: Full Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$180.00 USD

Rhapsody in Blue: Full Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Rhapsody in Blue: Full Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 36-A927990
Price: 180.00 USD
Availability: InStock

For Orchestra

By George Gershwin / arr. Tom Myron

Item: 36-A927990

$180.00

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This symphonic version of Rhapsody in Blue was written by American composer and arranger Tom Myron. It is based on Gershwin's original two piano arrangement of the piece. In this version, both the original solo piano part and the accompanying second piano part have been reimagined to exploit the full color and energy of a 21st century symphony orchestra. Everette Longstreth of Berklee College of Music and arranger for Tony Bennett and Bob Hope described it as: "Unbelievable. Absolutely the best arrangement of Rhapsody in Blue that I've ever heard."

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Series: Kalmus Signature Edition

Publisher: Keiser Productions, Inc.

UPC: 735816272425

SKU: 36-A927990

Instrumentation: Full Orchestra

More about this title

About the Composer: George Gershwin

George Gershwin (1898-1937) bridged classical and popular music in ways that few American composers have matched. His gift for melody, harmonic sophistication, and orchestral color made him a natural voice for the jazz age, and his concert works remain central to the orchestral repertoire because they speak to both trained musicians and general audiences with equal authority.

Rhapsody in Blue, premiered in 1924, stands as Gershwin's masterpiece. It emerged from his study of composition with Nadia Boulanger and reflects his deep engagement with both American vernacular music and European concert traditions. The work's harmonic language, improvisatory freedom, and sheer vitality have made it one of the most performed American compositions of the 20th century.

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Why we love this

Tom Myron's orchestration honors Gershwin's original vision while unleashing the full palette of a modern ensemble. Rather than simply transplanting the two-piano original into orchestral colors, Myron reimagines how each musical idea can breathe and sparkle across forty instruments, giving soloists new moments to shine and the ensemble textures that make repeated performances feel fresh.

What to expect

Rhapsody in Blue pulses with the energy and optimism of 1920s New York. The solo piano voice dances over a rippling orchestral landscape, playful and daring by turns. Moments of genuine lyricism emerge from the jazz harmonies, and the work builds to an ecstatic conclusion that celebrates both the soloist's virtuosity and the orchestra's power.

Who it's for

This arrangement serves orchestras seeking to program a beloved American classic with fresh orchestral vitality. It works equally well for collegiate orchestras exploring their concert repertoire and advanced high school orchestras ready for a piece that demands technical facility and musical maturity.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the solo piano line against the orchestra carefully in rehearsal; mark the dynamic threshold where the piano remains audible without the ensemble having to back off dramatically.
Attend to the jazz inflections and rubato that define Rhapsody in Blue. This is not music that sits in a strict tempo; conductors and soloists must collaborate on breathing room and rhythmic flexibility.
Highlight the sectional dialogue between strings and brass in the lyrical passages. These conversations drive the piece's emotional arc and deserve independent attention in sectional rehearsals.

How to use it

Position this as a centerpiece in a concert that celebrates American music, or pair it with other early 20th-century works that blend popular and concert idioms. The piece works as a closing number on pops concerts or as the dramatic heart of a concert focused on American identity and artistic innovation.