top of page

First performed by the composer at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York in 1926, The Piano Preludes (or Three Preludes) are a collection of short pieces by George Gershwin, show casing early-20th-century American classical music, as influenced by jazz. Gershwin originally planned to compose 24 preludes, wrote seven, performed only six publically and was further reduced to three when first published.

 

The work was dedicated to friend and musical advisor Bill Daly. The first prelude begins with a five-note blues motif. It features syncopated rhythms based on the Brazilian baião and minor-seventh chords throughout. The second prelude, which Gershwin said was "a sort of blues lullaby" consists of two sections: the first a "lazy" melody upon a steady beat of crotchets; the second the bass takes the melody, continuing with the steady beats. The third prelude was called "Spanish" by Gershwin, and features a question-and-answer type melody, starting in a minor tonality and ending in major one.

 

This arrangement is for the British-style brass band, with alternative parts for horns in F and bass-clef lower brass.

 

To view a follow-the-score video please visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqIQ0j1SWlc

 

PDF download includes score and parts.

 

Sheet music available from:

UK - www.brassband.co.uk

USA - www.solidbrassmusic.com

 

Difficulty Level: 1st Section +

 

Instrumentation:

Soprano Cornet Eb

Solo Cornet Bb

Repiano Cornet Bb

2nd Cornet Bb

3rd Cornet Bb

Flugel Horn Bb

Solo Horn Eb

1st Horn Eb

2nd Horn Eb

1st Baritone Bb

2nd Baritone Bb

1st Trombone Bb

2nd Trombone Bb

Bass Trombone

Euphonium Bb

Bass Eb

Bass Bb

Timpani

Drum Kit

Mallet Percussion

 

 

The Piano Preludes (Brass Band) George Gershwin arr. Rob Bushnell

SKU: BWBB137
$44.99Price
    bottom of page