Rhapsody in Blue 2020 Edition
by
George Gershwin
“Mark my words: for the next 50 years,
this is the edition everyone will play.”
— Dr. Lucy Ginther, conductor of the premiere performance of Rhapsody in Blue 2020 Edition.
“It’s so clean!” say players when they first see their part.
“The bar numbers save rehearsal time,” say conductors.
“These parts are gorgeous,” say librarians.
“No more rental fees!” exclaim managers.
Maintaining reverence toward Gershwin’s musical intent while taking full advantage of modern notation and printing practices resulted in a Rhapsody in Blue that sounds lush, is easier for players to read, and is more efficient for conductors to rehearse.
Title: Rhapsody in Blue 2020 Edition
Composer: George Gershwin/Orchestrated by Tim Berens
Description: After George Gershwin’s masterpiece entered the public domain in 2020, Tim and Louise Berens returned to Gershwin’s handwritten two piano score to create this edition. Prepared with unflinching attention to detail, it remains faithful to Gershwin’s musical intent, while taking full advantage of modern music engraving and printing practices.
The result is a Rhapsody in Blue that sounds lush, is easier for players to read, and more efficient for conductors to rehearse.
The form of this edition exactly matches the form of the 1924 Two Pianos Four Hands edition. This edition is available for purchase, not rental, with no future performance fees.
Explore Rhapsody in Blue 2020 Edition in detail.
Instrumentation: This orchestration enables a lush performance by either triple or double wind orchestras.
3333/4331/Timp+2/Banjo(opt.)/Piano Solo/Strings
or
2222/4331/Timp+2/Banjo(opt.)/Piano Solo/Strings
String Part Count: This edition includes 8/7/6/5/4 string parts.
Length: 18:00
Purchase Price: $450.00 for parts. $29.00 for the score. Note this is a purchase, not a rental.
Video and Audio Recording Performed by
The Ohio Valley Symphony
Michael Chertock, Pianist
Tim Berens Conductor
Rhapsody in Blue 2020 Edition was recently filmed by The Ohio Valley Symphony, with soloist Michael Chertock.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this edition perfectly match the 1924 and 1942 editions in form?
The form is identical to the 1924 Two Pianos Four Hands edition, and to the 1942 orchestration. A pianist who already knows Rhapsody in Blue can play this edition at the first rehearsal. The orchestration was inspired by the detailed orchestration instructions in George Gershwin’s handwritten original composition. Pianists are delighted by this new orchestration as it does not cover up the piano part in certain loud passages. For example, in bar 161, just after rehearsal mark 16 in the original, conductors strain themselves to hold back the brass from covering up the piano part. This edition eliminates the brass in that bar altogether, which enables the piano to project.
Will a pianist who already knows Rhapsody in Blue be able to play this edition effortlessly?
Yes. A pianist who already knows the original 1924 George Gershwin piano solo part will play this edition effortlessly at the first rehearsal.
Will a conductor who already knows Rhapsody in Blue be able to learn this score quickly?
Yes. A conductor who already knows the 1942 edition will be able to easily learn Rhapsody in Blue 2020 Edition. A conductor who knows the 1942 edition will find this edition much more efficient to rehearse. The modern bar numbering methods speed up navigation through the parts for players in rehearsal, and the cues in their parts make them feel much more confident about their entrances after lengthy rests, which is particularly helpful for young musicians encountering this masterpiece for the first time. And the modern printing and music engraving make the score and parts much easier to read.
Does this edition sound as good as the 1942 edition?
This edition sounds better. The orchestrator, Tim Berens, has performed Rhapsody in Blue 50+ times with symphony orchestras, 35 times as an orchestral banjoist, performing with Erich Kunzel, Michael Tilson Thomas, Marin Alsop, Marcus Roberts, Michael Chertock, John Morris Russell and 16 times as a soloist performing his transcription of the solo piano part for two guitars. During those performances and the dozens of rehearsals preparing for the concerts, he heard areas where the orchestration could be improved. This edition includes those improvements. For example, the 1942 edition scores measure 153 as a quartet for brass principals. The physical distance between the brass principal players on the stage often makes this bar sound awkward. This edition scores that bar for string principals, and it always sounds lush, silky and relaxed, as Gershwin intended.
Can this edition be performed by triple and double wind orchestras?
Yes. This orchestration includes cues in vital passages to enable it to sound rich with a double wind or triple wind instrumentation. For example, in the passage between measures 227 and 242, the Bass Clarinet and Contrabassoon parts are notated as cues in the Bassoon 1 and Bassoon 2 parts, enabling a rich sound with 2222 woodwinds.
Is this a scholarly edition of Rhapsody in Blue?
Yes. The orchestrator, Tim Berens, Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting, returned to the original handwritten score created by George Gershwin in 1924 to orchestrate this edition. All editorial choices are clearly documented in the score and piano parts. This edition was prepared with an unflinching attention to detail.
