George Gershwin - ‘I Got Rhythm’ Variations
for Solo Piano and Chamber Orchestra George Gershwin (1898-1937) composed his 'I Got Rhythm' Variations in 1933-4 on a holiday in Palm Springs, Florida. The piece was for a concert tour that Gershwin was undertaking with the Leo Reisman Orchestra, with the composer as the piano soloist. Gershwin based the work on the hit song from his musical Girl Crazy, and exploits it in a series of colourful, witty variations. Notable features are a precise rhythmic intricacy, the use of a waltz and “Chinese” stylistic elements, and typically, a suave sophisticated jazz variation. This arrangement for chamber orchestra reduces the symphonic scale of the original to a lighter, chamber quality. Available to hire or purchase from Aria Editions here Instrumentation: Flute, Oboe, 2 Clarinets in Bb, 2 Bassoons, 2 Horns in F, 2 Trumpets in C, Percussion (2 players): Timpani, Xylophone, Glockenspiel, Chinese gong, drum kit (snare drum, kick bass drum, suspended cymbal, wood block), strings (must be at least a medium-sized section, eg. 4,3,3,2,1) |
It has been recorded by Simon Crawford-Phillips with the Vasteras Sinfonietta here
Watch a performance of the arrangement here:
Watch a performance of the arrangement here: