Gershwin: Two Piano Preludes

George Gershwin’s Two Piano Preludes bring together the rhythmic energy and sophistication of jazz with the expressive warmth of the blues. This brass quintet arrangement captures that distinctive Gershwin character while remaining accessible to advanced-intermediate and community ensembles. The First Prelude has been notated in 4/4 rather than the original 2/4, effectively placing the music in half time and making its syncopated rhythms and ensemble entrances considerably easier to rehearse and perform. Short musical cells are passed from player to player throughout the arrangement, giving each member of the quintet opportunities to take the lead. Several of the original piano’s more demanding gestures have also been reimagined as idiomatic brass writing, resulting in an arrangement that retains the character and excitement of the original without the technical demands found in many other brass quintet arrangements. The Second Prelude provides a contrasting, more languid mood. Transposed down a third and featuring flugelhorns in place of trumpets, its darker, more relaxed character comes to the forefront. The tuba takes the featured melody in the expressive middle section, with the lower key keeping the solo in a comfortable and highly playable range. A colorful and substantial addition to the brass quintet repertoire, Two Piano Preludes offers players plenty of musical interest without demanding professional-level technique. Difficulty: Advanced Intermediate Length: Approximately 4 minutes