Third Prelude: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
By George Gershwin / Transcription by Ben Hawkins
Grade: 5
Item: 98-PK-0000080
$130.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
Looking for a high-impact opener? Or a brilliant closer to bring your audience to their feet? George Gershwin's Third Prelude is just the thing! The composer reportedly called this his "Spanish" prelude, and the colors and rhythms he employed reflect that atmosphere in this new transcription for band by Ben Hawkins.
Third Prelude: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts 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:
RWS - Symphony Band
Publisher:
RWS Music Company
SKU:
98-PK-0000080
More about this title
About the Composer: George Gershwin
George Gershwin (1898–1937) bridged classical composition and American popular music with remarkable fluency. His Preludes for Solo Piano, written in 1926, showcase his gift for melodic invention and harmonic sophistication; they remain staples of piano repertoire and have been transcribed countless times for various ensembles.
Gershwin's ability to capture geographic and cultural atmosphere through music made him a natural choice for film and theatrical work. The "Spanish" Prelude exemplifies his skill at evoking place and mood through rhythmic vitality and colorful harmonic language, qualities that translate powerfully to the concert band medium.
Why we love this
Ben Hawkins' transcription captures the Gershwin sound with genuine flair; the orchestration sits naturally on band instruments and lets the Spanish character breathe without overshooting the original's elegance. At Grade 5, this sits perfectly for ensembles ready to tackle concert programming with style, and its compact length makes it ideal for festivals or as the anchor piece in a mixed concert.
What to expect
Rhythmically urgent and harmonically rich, this prelude pulses with Mediterranean energy and blue note sophistication. The Spanish idiom runs through the piece like a thread of color; it's dance-like without being literal, sophisticated without being austere.
Who it's for
Conductors seeking a sophisticated concert opener or finale that showcases band sound without requiring an enormous ensemble. This works equally well for Grade 5 concert programs, festival competitions, or as a bridge piece between more substantial works.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the Spanish rhythmic figures against the melodic line; these are equally important voices, not accompaniment and tune.
- Work the harmonic colors deliberately. Gershwin's chromatic voice leading should sing, not blur.
- Shape phrases across the bar line rather than resetting at each barline. Let the momentum carry through.
- Approach the dynamic contrasts as character shifts, not just volume changes; each level should feel intentional and distinct.
How to use it
Consider this as a concert opener that immediately signals to your audience that you're serious about sound and style. Alternatively, use it as a finale that sends listeners home with sophistication and energy intact. Its compact form also makes it a strong competition piece for ensembles wanting to program thoughtfully within time constraints.
Skills your students will build
- Balancing melodic and rhythmic independence across sections
- Interpreting chromatic voice leading and jazz-influenced harmony
- Executing Spanish/Latin rhythmic figures with precision
- Shaping dynamic contrasts as structural markers
- Sustaining phrasing across bar lines in lyrical passages