George Gershwin DuBose Heyward: Porgy And Bess: Piano: Instrumental Work

The famous opera by George and Ira Gershwin from the novel 'Porgy' by DuBose Heyward. George and Ira Gershwin joined DuBose Heyward in Charleston to write the opera which had been germinating in George's imagination for several years. Porgy and Bess was George Gershwin's longest and most ambitious creation but it was not truly successful during his lifetime. Some of the songs had achieved popularity before Gershwin's death in 1937 but the work earned real approval and favor only after the 1940 Theater Guild presentation of a slightly revised version. For years it was performed more frequently in Europe where it was considered a true American opera. Arranged for viola andpiano by Alan Arnold.

For Saxophone Choir-There’s a Boat Dat’s Leavin’ Soon for New York/It Ain’t Necessarily So/Summertime/I Got Plenty o' Nuttin’ is a song from the American opera Porgy and Bess composed in 1935 by George Gershwin (1898-1937) to a libretto by DuBose Heyward and his brother Ira Gershwin after Heyward’s novel Porgy - a story about the love between the crippled negro beggar Porgy and the girl Bess in the city of Charleston in South Carolina. The première - not a huge success - took place on 10 October 1935 in New York.With his opera Gershwin wanted to gain recognition as a composer of classical music. Incidentally he demanded that all parts were sung by black performers; only a few unimportant parts without sung lyrics were allowed to be performed by white actors. This rule still applies: Gershwin has stated in the terms of his will that only black people were allowed stage the opera.Porgy & Bess has become popular only after Gershwin’s death. In 1959 a wonderful film was made; the soundtrack won a Grammy Award. The work is not very often performed possibly because of the difficulty of finding a whole cast of black opera singers. However various pieces from the opera are still regularly performed in numerous arrangements.

George Gershwin and DuBose Heyward's Summertime from Porgy and Bess arranged by William Stickles for SSA choir.

This series of graded albums providing a wealth of jazz repertoire. It contains well-known tunes in accessible arrangements and new pieces specially commissioned from top jazz musicians and educators. The CD with each album provides 'minus-one' backing tracks as well as recordings of full performances.

The AB Real Book is a unique jazz resource. It is an exciting compilation for all jazz musicians but is specifically concieved for less experienced musicians. It contains lead sheets for a hundred tunes together with specially commissioned arrangements including those for Grade 4 or 5 examinations for jazz Clarinet Sax Trumpet and Trombone.

This classic American song from Porgy and Bess® deserves only the finest choral treatment and Mark Hayes has certainly given it that with a rich lush setting. The Piano accompaniment carries the voices on a dramatic journey appropriate to the nature of the piece. A song that every singer should know and will love.